Support funds – update for students

The Government has recently announced two new schemes to help 16-19 year-old students with funding for study. This is great news for students like you at City of Bristol College!

The Government has also announced some good news for students who receive the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), which will continue if you received funding in 2009/10 and 2010/11.

We know how important the EMA has been to our students, so together with other colleges across the country we did a lot of lobbying to save it. Our staff wrote to local MPs and the College raised awareness through a local media campaign. The fact that it will continue for current students is a great result.

What funding will be available to you in future?

You will be able to apply for support from one of the following:

• Bursary: the first new scheme is a bursary, which will be aimed at those who receive income support or who are severely disabled, young parents, care leavers or in care
• Learner Support Fund: the second scheme is an enhanced support fund for colleges to administer. This will help students from low income families to pay for things like transport, equipment and the cost of trips

We are expecting to receive guidelines for the new schemes in late May and will let you know more when we have the details.

• EMA: students who first applied for the EMA in 2009/10 will continue to receive payments at the same level until the end of the 2011/12 academic year
• Also, students who are now in their first year of post-16 study who received the maximum weekly payment of £30 will be able to receive £20 each week until the end of the 2011/12 academic year

The EMA will also continue for students who live in Wales.

We will let you know the criteria when we have received the guidelines. In the meantime, please contact our Learner Services team on 0117 312 5000 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions.