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

Amount of assistance

89.—(1) The basic grant varies according to the intensity of study.

(2) The intensity of study is calculated as follows and expressed as a percentage—

where

• FT is the number of academic years ordinarily required to complete a course which is the full-time equivalent of the designated part-time course

• PT is the number of academic years ordinarily required to complete the designated part-time course.

(3) The “basic grant” is—

(a) £750 where the intensity of study is less than 60 per cent. (“level 1”);

(b) £900 where the intensity of study is 60 per cent. or more but less than 75 per cent. (“level 2”);

(c) £1,125 where the intensity of study is 75 per cent. or more (“level 3”).

(4) Subject to paragraph (5) and regulation 96(6), the amount of assistance payable in respect of an academic year is as follows—

(a) the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1) is payable if at the date of his application the eligible part-time student or his partner is entitled—

(i) under Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 to income support or housing benefit; or

(ii) under Part 1 of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(1) to income–based jobseekers allowance or under section 1 of the Employment and Training Act (Northern Ireland)1950(2) to new deal allowance;

(b) where the relevant income is less than £15,345, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1) is payable;

(c) where the relevant income is £15,345, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(b) is payable together with £50 less than the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(a);

(d) where the relevant income exceeds £15,345 but is less than £23,145, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(b) is payable and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 88(1)(a) is the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (5);

(e) where the relevant income is £23,145, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(b) is payable and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 88(1)(a) is £50;

(f) where the relevant income exceeds £23,145 but is less than £23,745, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(b) is payable and no assistance is payable under regulation 88(1)(a);

(g) where the relevant income is £23,745 or more but less than £25,645, no assistance is available under regulation 88(1)(a) and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 88(1)(b) is the amount left after deducting from the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(b) £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the relevant income exceeds £23,745;

(h) where the relevant income is £25,645, no assistance is payable under regulation 88(1)(a) and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 88(1)(b) is £50;

(i) where the relevant income exceeds £25,645, no assistance is payable under regulation 88(1).

(5) Where paragraph (4)(d) applies, the amount of assistance payable under regulation 88(1)(a) is determined by deducting from the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(a) one of the following amounts—

(a) £50 plus a further £1 for each complete £12, £9.75 or £7.61 by which the relevant income exceeds £15,345 according to whether the intensity of study is level 1, 2 or 3, respectively; or

(b) where the basic grant is greater than the actual fees, an amount equal to that left after deducting from the amount calculated under sub-paragraph (a) the difference between the basic grant and the actual fees (unless the amount is a negative number in which case the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 88(1)(a) is payable).

(1)

S.I. 1995/2705 (N.I. 15) Schedules 2 and 3; see also Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11)), Schedule 8 Part IV

(2)

1950 c. 29 (N.I.) Section 1(1) was substituted and sub-sections 1(A), 1(B) and 1(C) inserted by Article 3 of the Employment and Training (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (S.I. 1988/1087 (N.I. 10))