The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Qualifying conditions for the loan for living costs – new system students

54.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), a new system student qualifies for a loan for living costs in connection with his attendance on a designated course if he meets the following conditions—

(a) he is under the age of 60 on the relevant date; and

(b) he does not have an honours degree from an institution in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland for which he received financial support under previous regulations.

(2) The condition in paragraph (1)(b) does not apply where—

(a) the designated course is considered to be a single course under regulation 5(5) and (6);

(b) the designated course leads to qualification as a social worker;

(c) the new system student is eligible to receive any bursary or award of similar description under Article 44 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, or section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 the amount of which is calculated by reference to his income; or a Scottish healthcare allowance the amount of which is calculated by reference to his income in respect of any academic year of the course; or

(d) the new system student is on a course for the initial training of teachers.

(3) A new system student does not qualify for a loan for living costs if—

(a) he is in receipt of funding from the Department to participate in a management development programme known as the Business Education Initiative; or

(b) the only paragraph in Part 2 of Schedule 1 into which he falls is paragraph 9.

(4) To receive a loan for living costs, a new system student must enter into a contract with the Department.