Can my son get financial help to go to college after his GCSEs?

This information applies to Northern Ireland

A Library Board does not have to give financial help to any student over the age of 16. However, it does have the power to help if it chooses to. Each Library board has its own rules for helping students in further education. They may give a certain amount of money in the form of either an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) or a further education award.

It is also possible that your son may get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit or rate relief. However, the rules for claiming these benefits if you are a student are restricted to certain kinds of students and many will not be able to get help in this way.

Colleges also have their own funds that can be used to help individual students. Each college has its own rules for giving out these funds which are called ‘Access Funds’. Your son can find out more about these from the college itself.

For more information about EMA, go to the Northern Ireland Government website at www.delni.gov.uk.

For information about other financial help, see Help with school costs.

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