The Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2018

CHAPTER 1 DESIGNATED COURSES

Designated courses

5.  In these Regulations (and for the purposes of section 22 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”)), a course is a designated course if it—

(a) satisfies each of the conditions in regulation 6(1), and

(b) does not fall within any of the exceptions in regulation 7(1).

Designated courses – conditions

6.—(1) The conditions are—

Condition 1

The course is one of the following—

(a) a first degree course;

(b) a course for the Diploma of Higher Education;

(c) a course for the Higher National Diploma or Higher National Certificate of—

(i) the Business and Technology Education Council, or

(ii) the Scottish Qualification Authority;

(d) a course for the certificate of Higher Education;

(e) a course for the initial training of teachers;

(f) a course for the further training of youth and community workers;

(g) a course in preparation for a professional examination of a standard higher than that of—

(i) an examination at advanced level for the General Certificate of Education or at higher level for the Scottish Certificate of Education, or

(ii) an examination for the National Certificate or the National Diploma of either of the bodies mentioned in paragraph (c),

so long as a first degree (or equivalent qualification) is not normally required for entry to the course;

(h) a course—

(i) providing education (whether or not in preparation for an examination) the standard of which is higher than that of a course mentioned in paragraph (g) but not higher than that of a first degree course, and

(ii) for entry to which a first degree (or equivalent qualification) is not normally required.

Condition 2

The course is either—

(a) a full-time course,

(b) a sandwich course, or

(c) a part-time course.

Condition 3

The duration of the course is at least one academic year.

Condition 4

Where the course is a full-time course, it is provided by—

(a) a recognised educational institution (whether alone or in conjunction with an institution situated outside the United Kingdom),

(b) a charity within the meaning given by section 1 of the Charities Act 2011(1) on behalf of a Welsh regulated institution, or

(c) a publicly funded institution on behalf of an English regulated institution.

Where the course is a part-time course, it is provided by a publicly funded institution (whether alone or in conjunction with an institution situated outside the United Kingdom).

Condition 5

At least half of the teaching and supervision which comprise the course is provided in the United Kingdom.

Condition 6

The course leads to an award granted or to be granted by a body falling within section 214(2)(a) or (b) of the Education Reform Act 1988(2) unless the course falls within paragraph (c) or (e) of Condition 1.

(2) For the purposes of Condition 4—

(a) a course is provided by an institution if it provides the teaching and supervision which comprise the course, whether or not the institution has entered into an agreement with the student to provide the course;

(b) a university and any constituent college, or constituent institution in the nature of a college, of a university is regarded as a recognised educational institution if either the university or the constituent college or institution is a recognised educational institution;

(c) an institution is not regarded as a recognised educational institution by reason only that it is a connected institution within the meaning of section 65(3B) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 which receives from the governing body of another institution the whole or part of any grants, loans or other payments provided to that other institution in accordance with section 65(3A) of that Act(3).

(3) In this regulation, if paragraph (4) applies to a course, it is considered to be a single course for a first degree (or equivalent qualification) even if the course leads to another degree or qualification being conferred before the degree (or equivalent qualification) (regardless of whether part of the course is optional).

(4) This paragraph applies to a course—

(a) the standard of which is not higher than a first degree, and

(b) which leads to a qualification as a medical doctor, dentist, veterinary surgeon, architect, landscape architect, landscape designer, landscape manager, town planner or town and country planner.

Designated courses – exceptions

7.—(1) The exceptions are—

Exception 1

A course taken as part of an employment-based teacher training scheme.

Exception 2

A course falling within paragraph (g) or (h) of Condition 1 of regulation 6(1) if the governing body of a maintained school has arranged for the provision of the course to a pupil of the school.

(2) For the purposes of Exception 1, “employment-based teacher training scheme” means—

(a) a scheme established by the Welsh Ministers under Regulation 8 of the Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications) (Wales) Regulations 2004(4) or under Regulation 8 of the School Teachers’ Qualifications (Wales) Regulations 2012(5) whereby a person may undertake initial teacher training in order to obtain qualified teacher status while being employed to teach at a maintained school, independent school or other institution except a pupil referral unit;

(b) a scheme established by the Secretary of State whereby a person may undertake initial teacher training in order to obtain qualified teacher status while being employed to teach at a school, city college, Academy, independent school or other institution except a pupil referral unit.

(3) For the purposes of Exception 2, “maintained school” means—

(a) a community, foundation or voluntary school,

(b) a community or foundation special school, or

(c) a maintained nursery school.

Designation of other courses

8.—(1) The Welsh Ministers may specify that a course is to be treated as a designated course despite the fact that, but for the specification, it would not otherwise be a designated course(6).

(2) The Welsh Ministers may suspend or revoke the specification of a course made under paragraph (1).

(1)

2011 c. 25.

(2)

1988 c.40; section 214(2) was amended by the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13), section 93 and Schedule 8.

(3)

1992 c. 13; subsections (3B) and (3A) of section 65 were inserted by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 (c.30), section 27.

(4)

S.I. 2004/1729 (W. 173), as amended by S.I. 2007/2811 (W. 238), S.I. 2008/215 (W. 26) and S.I. 2010/1142 (W.101). S.I. 2004/1729 was revoked, with savings, by S.I. 2012/724 (W. 96).

(5)

S.I. 2012/724 (W. 96)

(6)

See http://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/practitioners/policy-information/designated-courses.aspx for a list of designated courses specified, suspended or revoked by the Welsh Ministers under this regulation.