Education Maintenance Allowance Scheme and Welsh Government Learning Grant (Further Education) Scheme: academic Year 2026 to 2027 (SFWIN 05/2026)

This Information Notice provides details of the following income assessed further education grant schemes for the 2026 to 2027 academic year:

• Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
• Welsh Government Learning Grant (Further Education) (WGLG (FE)). 

The schemes are available to view on the funding and finance for students webpage.

Please ensure that this Information Notice is circulated to all staff and colleagues who help to administer the schemes.

The Student Finance Wales application service will open on 27 April 2026 for academic year 2026 to 2027. 

An application form can be completed online at Student Finance Wales or by requesting a paper form the learning centre. 

For information and advice contact the Student Finance Wales bilingual customer service on 0300 200 4050.

The qualifying EMA household income thresholds have been increased for academic year 2026 to 2027. 

EMA income thresholds in academic year 2025 to 2026:

• £23,400: households with one dependent child.
• £25,974: households with two or more dependent children.

EMA income thresholds in academic year 2026 to 2027:

• £24,570: households with one dependent child.
• £27,273: households with two or more dependent children.

The £40 weekly EMA rate will be maintained for academic year 2026 to 2027. 

The online and paper EMA application form and notes for academic year 2026 to 2027 show the new household income thresholds. The 2026 to 2027 form should only be completed by new students or continuing students who are applying for EMA for the first time.

The WGLG (FE) grants and income thresholds have been maintained at the same levels as academic year 2025 to 2026.

The following eligibility changes have been made to the EMA and WGLG (FE) schemes for academic year 2026 to 2027, ensuring consistent criteria for maintenance support arrangements between FE and HE student support. 

Bereaved partners and children of Gurkha and Hong Kong military veterans discharged before 1 July 1997

We have extended the scope of the protected partners’ eligibility category to include bereaved partners of Gurkha and Hong Kong military veterans discharged before 1 July 1997 and their children.

Persons awarded indefinite leave to enter or remain under the Afghanistan Response Route 

We have extended the scope of the eligibility category for a person with leave to enter or remain as a relevant Afghan citizen to include the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR).

If you have queries about applications, how to apply, payments or any other aspect of the service, please contact Student Finance Wales.

If you have any queries about this Information Notice, please email the Tertiary Education Strategy and Funding Division, Welsh Government. 

Large print, Braille and alternate language versions of this document are available on request. 

We welcome correspondence in Welsh or English.