Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022

15 Support for lifelong learning

(1) After section 28 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 insert—

“28A Modules of courses: modification of Chapter in relation to powers of the Secretary of State

(1) Section 22 has effect, so far as it confers power exercisable by the Secretary of State, as if—

(a) in subsection (1), after paragraph (b) there were inserted “or

(c) modules of higher education courses or further education courses,”;

(b) in subsections (2) to (3) and (4B), references to a higher education course or further education course (however expressed) included references to a module of such a course;

(c) in subsection (2), after paragraph (b) there were inserted—

“(ba) prescribing, or providing for the determination of, a maximum (a “lifetime limit”) in relation to a person in respect of all such loans or alternative payments made, or made available, under this section as may be prescribed, taken together (whether by reference to a monetary amount, course characteristics or otherwise);”;

(d) in subsection (2), after paragraph (c) there were inserted—

“(ca) for two or more modules of a higher education course or further education course to be treated as a single module of that course for any purpose of the regulations;”;

(e) after that subsection, there were inserted—

“(2ZA) Regulations under this section may prescribe the meaning of “module” in relation to a higher education course or further education course (and may, in particular, provide for it to include—

(a) a module lasting less than one full academic year, or comprising less than the equivalent of one full academic year of study;

(b) a module undertaken otherwise than as part of the higher education course or further education course of which it forms part).

(2ZB) Nothing in subsection (2)(b) is to be taken to limit the power conferred by this section to prescribe a maximum amount in relation to any grant, loan or alternative payment otherwise than in relation to an academic year.”;

(f) after subsection (2A) there were inserted—

“(2B) The provision which may be made by virtue of subsection (2)(ba) includes provision for amending any lifetime limit that has effect in relation to a person.”

(2) Section 23 has effect, so far as it relates to a function exercisable by virtue of regulations under section 22 made by the Secretary of State, as if the reference in subsection (1)(b) to courses included a reference to modules of higher education courses or further education courses.

(3) Section 28(2) has effect, so far as it confers power exercisable by the Secretary of State, as if—

(a) after “courses” in the first place where it occurs there were inserted “or modules”;

(b) after “higher education courses” there were inserted “or modules of such courses”.”

(2) Until section 86(2) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (power to make alternative payments) comes into force—

(a) the following provisions that are treated as inserted into section 22 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 by section 28A(1) of that Act have effect with the omission of references to alternative payments—

(i) paragraph (ba) of subsection (2);

(ii) subsection (2ZB);

(b) section 28A(1)(b) of that Act has effect with the omission of the reference to section 22(4B) of that Act.