The Education (Student Support) (No.2) (Amendment) and Education (Student Loan) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Amendment of the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

50.  In regulation 11 (Timing of payments: general)—

(a) in paragraph (2), for “A”, substitute “Subject to paragraphs (2A) to (2D), a”; and

(b) after paragraph (2), insert—

“(2A) Where a borrower obtains a student loan which is a distance learning fee loan or a part-time fee loan, the borrower is not required to repay any part of that student loan until the earlier of—

(a) the start of the following tax year commencing on 6^th April after the borrower ceases to be eligible for financial support under regulations made pursuant to Article 3 of the Order whether by reason of having completed that course or otherwise; or

(b) the start of the following tax year commencing on 6^th April after the fourth anniversary of the course start date.

(2B) Subject to paragraphs (2C) and (2D), a borrower who obtains a student loan and who changes their mode of study between full-time, (other than a designated distance learning course), and part-time study is required to repay—

(a) where there is a change from a full-time course to a part-time course, in accordance with paragraph (2A);

(b) where there is a change from a part-time course to a full-time course before the requirement to repay under paragraph (2A) applies, in accordance with paragraph (2);

(c) where there is a change from a part-time course to a full-time course and the requirement to repay under paragraph (2A) applies, in accordance with paragraph (2A).

(2C) A borrower who obtains a student loan and who changes their mode of study between a designated distance learning course and a designated part-time course is required to repay in accordance with paragraph (2A).

(2D) A borrower who obtains a student loan and who changes their mode of study, in accordance with the 2009 Regulations, between a designated course, (which is not a designated distance learning course), and a designated distance learning course is required to repay—

(a) where there is a change from a designated course into a designated distance learning course, in accordance with paragraph (2A);

(b) where there is a change from a designated distance learning course into a designated course before the requirement to repay under paragraph (2A) applies, in accordance with paragraph (2);

(c) where there is a change from a designated distance learning course into a designated course and the requirement to repay under paragraph (2A) applies, in accordance with paragraph (2A).

(2E) Paragraphs (2) to (2D) have effect notwithstanding the fact that a borrower may become eligible for further financial support under regulations made pursuant to Article 3 of the Order.”.