There are different types of financial support students might be eligible for on full- or part-time Further Education (FE) courses in Wales. FE is often for those aged 16-18, although adults can study too; it is usually delivered through local colleges and school sixth forms.
This article is a general guide to what’s available and does not cover everyone’s situation. Further information is available from each individual sixth form or college, and from Student Finance Wales.
Tuition fees
Students aged 16-18 don’t normally have to pay tuition fees. Those aged 19 or over might be charged a tuition fee, so students should check with the institution they are considering, or currently studying at.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is for full-time learners (at least 12 hours per week) from low income households, who are in further education, aged between 16-18 and who live in Wales.
There are a range of eligibility criteria for EMA, and Student Finance Wales will ask for evidence during the application to check against them. The criteria include the course being studied and the school or college participating in the scheme. There are nationality and residency criteria as well; to be eligible learners need to live in Wales, but don’t need to study in Wales.
A person’s household income and family circumstance are key factors when determining eligibility for EMA. There are two different household income thresholds which depend on learner’s family circumstance; namely the number of dependent children (including the learner). There’s a lower income threshold for households with one dependent child (£24,570 from September 2026) and a higher income threshold for two or more dependent children (£27,273 from September 2026).
If eligible, a learner can receive a weekly payment of £40 with payments being made every two weeks. There is an EMA agreement between the learner and their school or college which includes attendance criteria in order for the payments to be made.
For further information, Student Finance publishes a Little Book of EMA which is updated for each academic year.
Welsh Government Learning Grant FE (WGLG FE)
The WGLG FE is a grant for learners aged 19 or over at the start of the academic year (1 September) they would start studying. It’s available for both part- and full-time study.
There are a range of eligibility criteria for WGLG FE, and Student Finance Wales will ask for evidence during the application to check against them. There are nationality and residency criteria; to be eligible learners need to live in Wales, but don’t need to study in Wales.
The course must be at level 3 or below, such as GCSEs, AS or A-Levels, BTEC or NVQ. The college or place of study also has to be involved in the WGLG FE scheme. If a learner has received the WGLG FE funding previously for a course of the same level or higher than that they’re applying for, they won’t be eligible for it again.
As with EMA, a key eligibility criteria is a person’s household income. The amount of funding a learner could receive depends on a number of income thresholds and whether they’re studying part- or full-time. Student Finance Wales has a FE calculator for learners to work out how much they could get.
If eligible, a learner will receive payments three times a year. There is a WGLG FE agreement between the learner and their college which includes attendance criteria in order for the payments to be made.
For further information, Student Finance publishes a Guide to WGLG FE which is updated for each academic year.
Financial Contingency Fund (FCF)
The Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) is money provided by the Welsh Government so colleges in Wales can help learners who might be facing financial difficulties or are likely to leave their education. Some colleges may call them Student Support Funds or Student Hardship Funds.
The money is given to colleges so it is for them to administer on a discretionary basis. Each college is responsible for distributing the funding to ensure that support can be tailored to the needs of their learners. Medr (a Welsh Government arms-length body) published guidance on the FCF.
Financial support for travel
While local authorities are not required to offer free transport after compulsory school age (16), they do have the discretion to provide transport to FE learners. This will differ between local authorities and regions. Learners may be able to get free or subsidised transport during their course, if they are:
- over 16, studying at their local school and travelling over a set distance to get there;
- 16 to 19 and studying full-time at a FE college; or
- 19 or over, or studying part-time.
For further information on eligibility for free or subsidised transport, a learner should contact their college or local authority.
If a learner is aged 16-21 and lives in Wales they can apply for a mytravelpass which gives 30% off weekly, monthly or yearly bus tickets. Currently, 16-21 year olds with a mytravelpass can purchase £1 single tickets or £3 unlimited daily travel as part of a pilot scheme which is running until August 2026.
Funding for other areas of education
There are various options available to young people when they finish school or college including carrying on studying, doing an apprenticeship, or entering the workplace. The Young Person’s Guarantee sets out some options and includes further information for young people.
In terms of apprenticeships, they combine working alongside studying to gain a qualification. Medr covers the full cost of the training programme for the apprentice, and the apprentice is paid a wage by their employer. The apprenticeship must be with one of the approved training providers.
Senedd Research has also published funding guides for university (higher education) study, including for undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Article by Lucy Yarham, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament