Orkney Islands Council is advising that applications are now open for assistance towards the cost of supporting young people to continue their studies.
There are two type of grants available through the Council:
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMAs)
EMAs were introduced across Scotland in 2004 to help reduce financial barriers that may hinder young people aged 16 and over from remaining in education. EMAs are payments of £30 per week, normally paid fortnightly in arrears, dependent on your attendance and conduct at your school, college or learning centre. To be eligible for an EMA your household income must be below a certain threshold depending on the number of dependent children within the household. (Dependent children are those up to the age of 16, and those between the ages of 16 and 25 who are in full-time Further or Higher Education). The household income thresholds for 2019 to 2020 are:
- Up to £24,421 for households with one dependent child.
- Up to £26,884 for households with more than one dependent child.
Further Education Bursaries (FEBs):
An FEB is an award made by Orkney Islands Council to help a student beyond school leaving age who is undertaking a qualifying course within or outwith Orkney. To be eligible, you must be beyond statutory school leaving age and have left school and be studying a full-time, non-advanced course up to a maximum level of National Certificate (NC) within or outwith Orkney. Note that there is a limited budget for FBEs and awards will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, it is important to submit your application and all supporting documents as soon as possible.
How to apply
To qualify for either grants, you must also meet age and residency requirements.
There is a single application form covering both these grants. Families can apply for one or both grants, depending on student circumstances.
Full eligibility requirements and other details are available on the Council website:
For assistance with completing an application, contact our Education Grants team on 01856873535 extension 2416 or 2450 or by email.
