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

Payment of postgraduate doctoral degree loan

14.—(1) The Welsh Ministers may pay the postgraduate doctoral degree loan for which a student qualifies under these Regulations—

(a) either as a lump sum or by instalments; and

(b) at such times, and in such manner, as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

(2) If the Welsh Ministers think it appropriate to make payments by transfer into a bank or building society account they may require an eligible student to provide details of such an account in the United Kingdom into which payments may be made.

(3) If the requirement described in paragraph (2) is imposed, the Welsh Ministers may not make any payment of postgraduate doctoral degree loan until the eligible student has complied.

(4) In the case of an eligible prisoner, the Welsh Ministers must pay the postgraduate doctoral degree loan for which an eligible prisoner qualifies to the institution to which the eligible prisoner is liable to make payment for the fees payable in connection with the designated course or to such third party that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate for the purpose of ensuring the payment of such fees to the relevant institution.

(5) The Welsh Ministers must—

(a) not make a payment of postgraduate doctoral degree loan in excess of £10,609 in respect of any one academic year of an eligible student’s designated course;

(b) in determining the amount of postgraduate doctoral degree loan for which an eligible student qualifies, disregard any completed academic years.

(6) In this regulation, “completed academic years” means academic years of the designated course completed by the eligible student prior to the Welsh Ministers’ receipt of the student’s application under regulation 9(1).

(7) The relevant academic authority must, as soon as reasonably practicable after being requested to do so, provide the Welsh Ministers with the date on which—

(a) an eligible student’s designated course starts; and

(b) the ordinary period of registration for that course ends.

(8) Subject to paragraph (9), the Welsh Ministers must not make any payment of postgraduate doctoral degree loan in respect of an academic year of an eligible student’s designated course unless, in respect of that year, they have received from the relevant academic authority confirmation (in such form as may be required by the Welsh Ministers) that—

(a) the student is not, in connection with the designated course, in receipt of any allowance, bursary or award paid out of funds provided—

(i) by a Research Council;

(ii) by, or on behalf of, United Kingdom Research and Innovation;

(b) the student is in attendance or is undertaking the designated course, or continues to attend or undertake that course (as applicable);

(c) at least half of the teaching and supervision that comprise the designated course is provided in the United Kingdom;

(d) the academic authority considers that it will be possible for the student to complete the designated course within the ordinary period of registration for the course;

(e) there has not been bestowed on or paid to the student, in connection with the designated course, any allowance, bursary or award made under the KESS 2 Scheme.

(9) An academic authority is not required to provide the confirmation described in paragraph (8)(a) if it is unable to do so.

(10) Where an event mentioned in paragraph (11) occurs in respect of an eligible student (“A”), the relevant academic authority must as soon as reasonably practicable after the event occurs—

(a) notify the Welsh Ministers; and

(b) provide such additional information about the event as the academic authority thinks the Welsh Ministers may require for the purposes of these Regulations.

(11) The events are—

(a) the academic authority becomes aware that A is, in connection with A’s designated course, in receipt of any allowance, bursary or award paid out of funds provided—

(i) by a Research Council;

(ii) by, or on behalf of, United Kingdom Research and Innovation;

(b) A withdraws, is suspended or is expelled from A’s designated course, or is otherwise absent;

(c) the academic authority no longer considers it possible for A to complete A’s designated course within the ordinary period of registration for that course;

(d) A submits their initial thesis in connection with A’s designated course before the ordinary period of registration for that course ends; and

(e) the academic authority becomes aware that there has been bestowed on or paid to A, in connection with A’s designated course, any allowance, bursary or award made under the KESS 2 Scheme.

(12) For the purposes of paragraphs (8)(d) and (11)(c), the academic authority must have regard to—

(a) any increase in intensity of study that would be required for the student to complete the course within the ordinary period of registration;

(b) any parts of the course which the student has been required to repeat.