​​SWANSEA MS’S WELCOME INCREASE IN EDUCATION MAINTENACE ALLOWANCE

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), designed to support 16 to 18-year-olds from eligible households with further education costs such as transport or meals, will be going up to £40 a week. The household income threshold will also be increasing, meaning more families will benefit.
In Swansea, for the Academic Year 2022/2023, over 1, 270 young people had approved applications for the Grant.

Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, said:
“Whilst the EMA was scrapped under the Tories in England in 2011, the Labour Welsh Government has continued to prioritise helping post-16 learners to continue studying academic or vocational courses. Helping young people to stay in education and achieve their potential is one of the best investments we can make.”

Wales has the most generous EMA offer in the whole of the UK at £40/week, contrasting with no EMA in England, and an offer of £30/week in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 
 
Mike Hedges MS, Member of the Senedd for Swansea East said:
“My experience as a college lecturer is that, without EMA, many students would not have been able to undertake their studies. Many more, driven by their family’s economic circumstances have had to drop out. Many of my former students ended up in well-paid ICT jobs, helping both them and the economy.”

There are currently around 16,000 learners in Wales in receipt of EMA.

Julie James MS, Member of the Senedd for Swansea West, added:
“EMA highlights our commitment to supporting young people in their pursuit of education. This vital financial support empowers students to focus on their studies without the burden of financial barriers, demonstrating the Welsh Labour Government’s dedication to ensuring equal opportunities for all. In Swansea West, I’ve seen firsthand how EMA helps our young learners thrive and build brighter futures, and I am proud that we continue to lead the way in supporting our young people.”

​The increase will begin at the start of the new academic year, September 2025, and will see an extra 3,500 students benefit