The Education (Postgraduate Doctoral Degree Loans) (Wales) Regulations 2018

PART 1 E+W GENERAL

Title, commencement and application E+W

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Education (Postgraduate Doctoral Degree Loans) (Wales) Regulations 2018.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 25 June 2018 and apply in relation to Wales.

(3) These Regulations apply in relation to the provision of postgraduate doctoral degree loans to students in relation to courses which begin on or after 1 August 2018 whether anything done under these Regulations is done before, on or after 1 August 2018.

Interpretation E+W

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 1998 Act” (“Deddf 1998”) means the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998;

“the 2017 Master's Degree Loans Regulations” (“Rheoliadau Benthyciadau at Radd Feistr 2017”) means the Education (Postgraduate Master's Degree Loans) (Wales) Regulations 2017 M1 ;

“the 2017 Student Support Regulations” (“Rheoliadau Cymorth i Fyfyrwyr 2017”) means the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2017 M2 ;

“the 2018 Student Support Regulations” (“Rheoliadau Cymorth i Fyfyrwyr 2018”) means the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2018 M3 ;

[F1 “the 2020 Citizens’ Rights Regulations” (“Rheoliadau Hawliau Dinasyddion 2020”) means the Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020;]

“academic authority” (“awdurdod academaidd”) means, in relation to an institution, the governing body or other body having the functions of a governing body and includes a person acting with the authority of that body;

“course” (“cwrs”) means, unless the context otherwise requires, a taught programme of study, a programme of research, or a combination of both, which may include one or more periods of work experience, and which leads, on successful completion, to the award of a postgraduate doctoral degree, but a course which leads to a higher doctorate or a course which leads to a doctorate by publication is not a course;

“course which leads to a doctorate by publication” (“cwrs sy'n arwain at ddoethuriaeth drwy waith cyhoeddedig”) means a course which leads to a postgraduate doctoral degree awarded to a person (“P”) on the basis of a thesis consisting of associated published research papers, whether or not P is required by the relevant academic authority to—

(a)

register on the course;

(b)

undertake a particular programme of study; or

(c)

undertake a final examination;

“course which leads to a higher doctorate” (“cwrs sy'n arwain at ddoethuriaeth uwch”) means a course which leads to a qualification awarded to a person (“P”)—

(a)

of an academic level which is higher than a postgraduate doctoral degree; and

(b)

for distinction regarding P's contribution to the advancement of science or learning;

“designated course” (“cwrs dynodedig”) means a course designated by regulation 4(1) or by the Welsh Ministers under regulation 4(5);

“Directive 2004/38” (“Cyfarwyddeb 2004/38”) means Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council M4 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely in the territory of the Member States;

“distance learning course” (“cwrs dysgu o bell”) means a course in relation to which a student undertaking the course is not required to be in attendance by the institution providing the course, other than to satisfy any requirement imposed by the institution to attend any institution—

(a)

for the purpose of registration, enrolment or any examination;

(b)

on a weekend or during any vacation; or

(c)

on an occasional basis during the week;

“electronic signature” (“llofnod electronig”) is so much of anything in electronic form as—

(a)

is incorporated into or otherwise logically associated with any electronic communication or electronic data; and

(b)

purports to be so incorporated or associated for the purpose of being used in establishing the authenticity of the communication or data, the integrity of the communication or data, or both;

“eligible prisoner” (“carcharor cymwys”) means a prisoner—

(a)

who begins a designated course or on after 1 August 2018;

(b)

who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in the United Kingdom;

(c)

who has been authorised by the prison Governor or Director or other appropriate authority within the custodial institution to study the designated course; and

(d)

whose earliest release date is within 8 years of the first day of the first academic year of the designated course;

“eligible student” (“myfyriwr cymwys”) has the meaning given in regulation 3;

[F2 “English plan provider” (“darparwr cynllun Seisnig”) means a registered English institution which has an access and participation plan approved by the Office for Students under section 29 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and which remains in force;]

[F2 “English regulated institution” (“sefydliad rheoleiddiedig Seisnig”) means a registered English institution subject to a fee limit condition under section 10 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017;]

“equivalent or higher qualification” (“cymhwyster cyfatebol neu uwch”) means a qualification determined in accordance with paragraph (2) to be an equivalent or higher qualification;

“EU national” (“gwladolyn UE”) means a national of a Member State of the EU;

“fees” (“ffioedd”) has the meaning given in section 57(1) of the Higher Education (Wales) Act 2015 M5 ;

F3 ...

“healthcare bursary” (“bwrsari gofal iechyd”) means a bursary or award of similar description under section 63(6) of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 M6 or Article 44 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 M7 ;

“immigration rules” (“rheolau mewnfudo”) means the rules laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971 M8 ;

“information” (“gwybodaeth”) includes documents;

“Islands” (“Ynysoedd”) means the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;

“KESS 2 Scheme” (“Cynllun KESS 2”) means the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships 2 Scheme which is funded, in part, by the European Social Fund M9 ;

[F2 “Northern Irish funded institution” (“sefydliad a gyllidir gan Ogledd Iwerddon”) means an institution maintained or assisted by recurrent grants out of funds provided by the Northern Ireland Executive;]

“ordinary period of registration” (“cyfnod arferol y cofrestriad”) means the number of academic years ordinarily required to complete a course;

“period of eligibility” (“cyfnod cymhwystra”) has the meaning given in regulation 5 in relation to an eligible student;

“periods of work experience” (“cyfnodau o brofiad gwaith”) means—

(a)

periods of industrial, professional or commercial experience, including research, associated with the course at an institution, but at a place outside that institution;

(b)

periods during which a student is employed and residing in a country whose language is one that the student is studying for that student's course (provided that the period of residence in that country is a requirement of that student's course and the study of one or more modern languages accounts for not less than one half of the total time spent studying on the course);

[F1 “person granted leave to remain as a protected partner” (“person y rhoddwyd caniatâd iddo aros fel partner a ddiogelir”) means a person granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom as either a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse or as a bereaved partner under any of the following provisions of the immigration rules—

(a)

paragraphs 289B and 289D (victims of domestic violence);

(b)

paragraphs D-DVILR.1.1. and D-DVILR.1.2. of Appendix FM (victims of domestic abuse);

(c)

paragraphs 40 and 41 of Appendix Armed Forces (victims of domestic violence who are partners of members of the armed forces);

(d)

paragraph 288, as a person in relation to whom the requirements in paragraph 287(b) of those rules are met (bereaved spouses or civil partners);

(e)

paragraphs D-BPILR.1.1. and D-BPILR.1.2. of Appendix FM (bereaved partners);

(f)

paragraphs 36 and 37 of Appendix Armed Forces (bereaved partners); or

(g)

paragraph 295N, as a person in relation to whom the requirements in paragraph 295M of those rules are met (bereaved unmarried or same sex partners);]

“person granted stateless leave” (“person y rhoddwyd caniatâd iddo aros fel person diwladwriaeth”) means a person who—

(a)

has extant leave to remain as a stateless person under the immigration rules; and

(b)

has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave;

[F1 “person with Calais leave” (“person sydd â chaniatâd Calais”) means a person with extant leave to remain under paragraphs 352J, 352K, 352L or 352T of the immigration rules (Calais leave and “leave in line” granted by virtue of being a dependent child of a person granted Calais leave);]

“person with leave to enter or remain” (“person sydd â chaniatâd i ddod i mewn neu i aros”) means a person (“A” in this definition)—

(a)

[F4 who has—

(i)

applied for refugee status but has, as a result of that application, been informed in writing by a person acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Department that, although A is considered not to qualify for recognition as a refugee, it is thought right to allow A to enter or remain in the United Kingdom on the grounds of F5 ... discretionary leave, and who has been granted leave to enter or remain accordingly;

(ii)

not applied for refugee status but has been informed in writing by a person acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Department that it is thought right to allow A to enter or remain in the United Kingdom on the grounds of discretionary leave, and who has been granted leave to enter or remain accordingly;

(iia)

[F6 been granted leave to remain on the grounds of family life under the immigration rules;]

(iii)

been granted leave to remain on the grounds of private life under the immigration rules; or

(iv)

been informed in writing by a person acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Department that, although A is not considered to qualify for leave to remain on the grounds of private [F7 or family] life under the immigration rules, A has been granted leave to remain outside the rules on the grounds of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights;]

(c)

whose period of leave to enter or remain has not expired or has been renewed and the period for which it was renewed has not expired or in respect of whose leave to enter or remain an appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 M10 ); and

(d)

who has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands throughout the period since A was granted leave to enter or remain;

[F8 “person with leave to enter or remain as a relevant Afghan citizen” (“person sydd â chaniatâd i ddod i mewn neu i aros fel dinesydd perthnasol o Affganistan”) means a person granted—

(a)

[F9 indefinite leave to enter the United Kingdom under paragraph 276BA2 of the immigration rules or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom under paragraph 276BS2 of the immigration rules;]

(aa)

F10 ...

(ab)

[F11 indefinite leave to enter the United Kingdom under paragraph ARAP 6.1 of Appendix Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy of the immigration rules or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom under paragraph ARAP 6.2 of that Appendix of the immigration rules;]

(b)

leave to enter or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom outside the immigration rules on the basis of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme; [F12 or]

(c)

indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom outside the immigration rules on the basis of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; F13 ...

(d)

F13 ...]

[F1 “person with protected rights” (“person sydd â hawliau gwarchodedig”) means—

• [F14 (1)]

  (a)

  a person within the personal scope of the citizens’ rights provisions who—

  (i)

  has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom granted by virtue of residence scheme immigration rules;

  (ii)

  is an Irish citizen who, pursuant to section 3ZA of the Immigration Act 1971, does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom;

  (iii)

  F15 ...

  (iv)

  is an applicant for the purposes of regulation 4 of the 2020 Citizens’ Rights Regulations where the relevant period has not expired; or

  (v)

  [F16 otherwise has rights deemed to apply by virtue of any citizens’ rights deeming provisions; or]

  (b)

  a family member of a relevant person of Northern Ireland for the purposes of residence scheme immigration rules, where that family member has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom granted by virtue of residence scheme immigration rules;]

• ([F17 2)

  (a)

  Article 18(2) and (3) (issuance of residence documents) of the EU withdrawal agreement;a

  (b)

  Article 17(2) and (3) (issuance of residence documents) of the EEA EFTA separation agreement (as defined in section 39(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020); or

  (c)

  Article 16(2) and (3) (issuance of residence documents) of the Swiss citizens’ rights agreement.]

[F2 “person with section 67 leave to remain” (“person sydd â chaniatâd i aros o dan adran 67”) means a person who—

(a)

has extant leave to remain in the United Kingdom under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 and in accordance with the immigration rules; and

(b)

has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave;]

“postgraduate doctoral degree loan” (“benthyciad at radd ddoethurol ôl-raddedig”) means a loan payable to an eligible student under Part 4;

“prisoner” (“carcharor”) includes a person who is detained in a young offender institution;

“private institution” (“sefydliad preifat”) means an institution which is not publicly funded;

[F18 “protected Ukrainian national” (“gwladolyn Wcreinaidd a ddiogelir”) means a person granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom—

(a)

under paragraph 9.1 (Ukraine Family Scheme), 19.1 (Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme) or 27.1 (Ukraine Extension Scheme) of Appendix Ukraine Scheme of the immigration rules; or

(b)

outside the immigration rules, where the person—

(i)

was residing in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022; and

(ii)

left Ukraine in connection with the Russian invasion which took place on 24 February 2022;]

“public funds” (“cronfeydd cyhoeddus”) means moneys provided by Parliament including funds provided by the Welsh Ministers;

“publicly funded” (“a gyllidir yn gyhoeddus”, “cael ei gyllido'n gyhoeddus”) means maintained or assisted by recurrent grants out of public funds, and related expressions are to be interpreted accordingly;

“refugee” (“ffoadur”) means a person who is recognised by Her Majesty's government as a refugee within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 M11 as extended by the Protocol thereto which entered into force on 4 October 1967 M12 ;

[F2 “registered English institution” (“sefydliad Seisnig cofrestredig”) means an institution registered by the Office for Students in the register;]

[F1 “relevant period” (“cyfnod perthnasol”) has the meaning given by regulation 4 of the 2020 Citizens’ Rights Regulations;]

[F1 “relevant person of Northern Ireland” (“person perthnasol o Ogledd Iwerddon”) has the meaning given by residence scheme immigration rules;]

“Research Council” (“Cyngor Ymchwil”) means any of the following research councils—

(a)

Arts and Humanities Research Council;

(b)

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council;

(c)

Economic and Social Research Council;

(d)

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council;

(e)

Medical Research Council;

(f)

Natural Environment Research Council;

(g)

Science and Technology Facilities Council;

[F1 “residence scheme immigration rules” (“rheolau mewnfudo’r cynllun preswylio”) has the meaning given by section 17(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020;]

F19 ...

[F2 “Scottish funded institution” (“sefydliad a gyllidir gan yr Alban”) means an institution maintained or assisted by recurrent grants out of funds provided by the Scottish Ministers;]

“student loans legislation” (“y ddeddfwriaeth ar fenthyciadau i fyfyrwyr”) means the Education (Student Loans) Act 1990 M13 , the Education (Student Loans) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 M14 , the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 M15 and regulations made under those Acts or that Order, the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 M16 and regulations made under that Order or the 1998 Act and regulations made under the 1998 Act;

[F1 “Swiss citizens’ rights agreement” (“cytundeb ar hawliau dinasyddion Swisaidd”) has the meaning given by section 39(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020;]

“Turkish worker” (“gweithiwr Twrcaidd”) means a Turkish national who—

(a)

is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands; and

(b)

is, or has been, lawfully employed in the United Kingdom.

[F2 “Welsh funded institution” (“sefydliad a gyllidir gan Gymru”) means an institution maintained or assisted by recurrent grants out of funds provided by the Welsh Ministers;]

(2) The Welsh Ministers may determine that a qualification is an equivalent or higher qualification if—

(a) an eligible student holds a higher education qualification from any institution whether or not in the United Kingdom; and

(b) the qualification referred to in sub-paragraph (a) is a postgraduate doctoral degree from an institution in the United Kingdom or is of an academic level which, in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers, is equivalent to or higher than a qualification to which the designated course leads.

[F20 (2A) For the purposes of these Regulations, a person is within the personal scope of the citizens’ rights provisions if that person falls within—

(a) Article 10 (personal scope) of the EU withdrawal agreement;

(b) Article 9 (personal scope) of the EEA EFTA separation agreement (as defined in section 39(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020); or

(c) Article 10 (personal scope) of the Swiss citizens’ rights agreement.]

(3) An academic year, in respect of a course, is determined as follows—

(4) identify the period in Column 2 of the Table within which the academic year actually begins;

(5) the academic year is the period of 12 months beginning on the date specified in the entry in Column 1 of the Table corresponding to the period set out in Column 2.

(6) Any reference in these Regulations to an “academic year” is a reference to the year determined in accordance with this paragraph.

Table

Column 1Start date of academic year for the purposes of these Regulations	Column 2Period within which academic year begins
1 September	On or after 1 August but before 1 January
1 January	On or after 1 January but before 1 April
1 April	On or after 1 April but before 1 July
1 July	On or after 1 July but before 1 August

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (25.4.2021) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/481), regs. 1(2), 154(a) (with reg. 2)

F2 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (with application in accordance with reg. 1(3)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/235), regs. 1(3)(a), 62

F3 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (6.5.2022) by virtue of The Education (Postgraduate Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/403), regs. 1(2), 8(a) (with reg. 2)

F4 Words in reg. 2(1) substituted (30.7.2018) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/814), regs. 1(2), 55

F5 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (28.1.2021) by virtue of The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Ordinary Residence) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/9), regs. 1(2), 53

F6 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (9.9.2019) by The Education (Student Finance) (Amendments to Student Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1192), regs. 1(2), 8(2)(a)

F7 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (9.9.2019) by The Education (Student Finance) (Amendments to Student Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1192), regs. 1(2), 8(2)(b)

F8 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (6.5.2022) by The Education (Postgraduate Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/403), regs. 1(2), 11 (with reg. 2)

F9 Words in reg. 2(1) substituted (6.7.2023) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/633), regs. 1(2), 19(a)

F10 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (4.1.2024) by virtue of The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 58(a) (with reg. 2)

F11 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (6.7.2023) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/633), regs. 1(2), 19(b)

F12 Word in reg. 2(1) inserted (4.1.2024) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 58(b) (with reg. 2)

F13 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (4.1.2024) by virtue of The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 58(c) (with reg. 2)

F14 Words in reg. 2(1) renumbered (31.12.2021) by The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1365), regs. 1(2), 44(a)

F15 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (6.5.2022) by virtue of The Education (Postgraduate Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/403), regs. 1(2), 8(b) (with reg. 2)

F16 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (31.12.2021) by The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1365), regs. 1(2), 44(b)

F17 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (31.12.2021) by The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1365), regs. 1(2), 44(c)

F18 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (with application in accordance with reg. 3 of the amending S.I.) by The Education (Student Finance) (Ukrainian Nationals and Family Members) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/764), regs. 2, 47

F19 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1302), regs. 1(3), 35

F20 Reg. 2(2A) inserted (25.4.2021) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/481), regs. 1(2), 154(b) (with reg. 2)

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 2017/523 (W. 109), amended by S.I. 2017/712 (W. 169) and S.I. 2018/277 (W. 53).

M2 S.I. 2017/47 (W. 21), amended by S.I. 2018/191 (W. 42).

M3 S.I. 2018/191 (W. 42).

M4 OJ No L158, 30.04.2004, p. 77-123.

M5 2015 anaw 1.

M6 1968 c. 46; section 63(6) was amended by the Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49), section 20.

M7 S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14).

M8 1971 c. 77.

M9 The European Social Fund is established under Article 162 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

M10 2002 c. 41. Section 104 was amended by the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004 (c. 19), Schedules 2 and 4, the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13), section 9, S.I. 2010/21 and the Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), Schedule 9, Part 4.

M11 Cmnd. 9171.

M12 Cmnd. 3906 (out of print).

M13 1990 c. 6; repealed by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 (c. 30), Schedule 4, with savings see the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/2004) (C. 46) and amended by S.I. 2010/1158, Schedule 4, paragraph 5(2)(e).

M14 S.I. 1990/1506 (N.I. 11), amended by S.I. 1996/274 (N.I. 1), Article 43 and Schedule 5, Part II, S.I. 1996/1918 (N.I. 15), Article 3 and the Schedule and S.I. 1998/258 (N.I. 1), Articles 3 to 6 and revoked, with savings, by SR (N.I.) 1998 No. 306.

M15 1980 c. 44.

M16 S.I.1998/1760 (N.I. 14) to which there have been amendments not relevant to these Regulations.