Figures this calculator uses
- Weekly payment
- £40, paid fortnightly
- Income limit, only young person
- £24,570
- Income limit, with siblings in FE
- £27,273
- Age on 31 August 2026
- 16, 17 or 18
- Course
- 12+ hours a week, 10+ weeks
Who can get EMA in Wales
You can get EMA if all of these are true for the 2026/27 year:
- you live in Wales
- you are 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August 2026
- you study full time at a school or college for at least 12 guided learning hours a week, on a course lasting at least 10 weeks
- your household income is £24,570 or less, or £27,273 or less if another young person in your household is in full-time further education and eligible for Child Benefit
Care leavers apply through a separate route and their household income isn’t assessed in the same way. Contact Student Finance Wales to check.
Worked example
Rhys lives in Cardiff, turned 16 in March 2026 and starts A levels at his school sixth form in September, about 18 hours a week. His mum earns £23,500 and he’s the only one in his household in further education.
- He’s under the £24,570 limit, so he qualifies.
- He gets £40 a week, paid as £80 every two weeks when he meets his attendance agreement.
If his mum earned £26,000 and his older sister were also at college and getting Child Benefit, the £27,273 limit would apply instead and he would still qualify.
How to apply
Apply online through Student Finance Wales. You can apply before you get your GCSE results or before you’ve chosen where to study, and you’ll need evidence of household income. Your school or college will then set up a learning agreement covering attendance.
Questions people ask
How much is EMA in Wales?
Up to £40 a week, paid every two weeks straight into your bank account. You only get paid for weeks where you meet your attendance agreement with your school or college.
What is the household income limit for EMA Wales in 2026/27?
£24,570 a year if you’re the only young person in the household in full-time further education. If there are other young people in the household who are eligible for Child Benefit, the limit is £27,273.
How old do I need to be for EMA?
You need to be 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August 2026 for the 2026/27 school year. That means born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2010.
Can I get EMA if I’m at school rather than college?
Yes. EMA is for full-time study in a school sixth form or at a further education college, as long as you live in Wales and the course is at least 12 guided learning hours a week.
Does EMA affect my family’s benefits?
No. EMA isn’t counted as income for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, it doesn’t stop your family getting Child Benefit, and earnings from a part-time job don’t reduce it.
Is there EMA in England?
No. EMA ended in England in 2011 and was replaced by the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, which your school or college runs. Scotland and Northern Ireland still have EMA, with their own rules.