Students are being urged to apply now to start receiving Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in September.

EMA is a financial incentive paid to young people who continue to study after 16 on a wide range of courses such as vocational courses up to NVQ level 3, academic courses such as A-levels or GCSE retakes at school or college.

Young people who turn 17 or 18 during the academic year which starts in September can apply now, in order for the EMA payments to kick in at the beginning of the new term.

To be eligible for the means tested payment, young people in this age group need to be from households with incomes of up to £30,000 and will receive EMA payments of £10, £20 or £30 a week, paid directly into their bank accounts, in return for regular attendance and commitment on their course.

The Learning & Skills Council predicts approximately 50 per cent of all 16-year-olds, currently in their GCSE year will be eligible for EMA in 2005/2006. EMA encouraged an estimated additional 35,000 young people to participate in further education last year than would have done before the policy was introduced, the vast majority of whom would have entered low paid work or unemployment.

You can pick up application forms from schools, sixth form or further education colleges, Connexions personal advisers or by calling 080 810 16219 or by logging onto www.direct.gov.uk/ema