The Education Student Fees (Approved Plans) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into operation on 1st September 2005, are the first Regulations made under Articles 6 to 10 of the Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (“the Order”). They prescribe for Northern Ireland various matters in relation to plans defined in Article 3 of the Order. These are plans which a higher education institution must have approved by the Department for Employment and Learning before the institution is allowed to charge fees which exceed the basic amount. This amount is prescribed in the Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations Northern Ireland 2005 (S.R. 2005 No. 290) at £1,200 and the circumstances in which it applies are set out in Article 4 (2) of the Order.

Regulations 3 and 4 set out the required contents of the plans. Regulations 5 and 6 make provisions in relation to the approval of plans. Regulation 7 specifies that the maximum duration of a plan is five years. Regulation 8 provides for the variation of plans. Regulation 9 sets out the procedure for the enforcement of plans.

Regulations 10 to 14 make provision for a review of the Department’s decisions.

Regulations 15 to 17 make provision for the appointment of a person or panel to undertake such reviews.

The Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland referred to in regulation 16 may be obtained from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland, A5,34, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, BT4 3SR, website address: http://www.ocpani.gov.uk.