The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Regulation 3

SCHEDULE 1 AMENDMENT OF THE EDUCATION (STUDENT SUPPORT) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2006

1.  The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 shall be amended as provided by paragraphs 2 to 13.

2.  In regulation 2(1)—

(a) after the definition of “college fee loan”, there shall be inserted—

““compressed degree course” means a course determined to be a compressed degree course by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills;

“compressed degree student” means an eligible student who—

(a)

is undertaking a compressed degree course in the United Kingdom (the “course”);

(b)

begins the course on or after 1st September 2006; and

(c)

either—

(i)

is required to be in attendance on the course for part of the academic year for which he is applying for support; or

(ii)

is a disabled student who is not required to be in attendance on the course because he is unable to attend for a reason which relates to his disability;”;

(b) after the definition of “household income”, there shall be inserted—

““intensive course” means an accelerated course or a compressed degree course;”.

3.  For regulation 7(2), there shall be substituted—

“(2) The grounds for transfer are—

(a) on the recommendation of the academic authority the eligible student starts to—

(i) attend another designated course at the institution;

(ii) undertake another compressed degree course in the United Kingdom at the institution; or

(iii) undertake a compressed degree course in the United Kingdom at the institution;

(b) the eligible student starts to—

(i) attend a designated course at another institution; or

(ii) undertake a compressed degree course in the United Kingdom at another institution;

(c) after starting a course for the Certificate in Education, the eligible student is, on or before the completion of that course, admitted to a designated course for the degree of Bachelor of Education either at the same institution or at another institution;

(d) after starting a course for the degree (other than an honours degree) of Bachelor of Education, the eligible student is, on or before the completion of that course, admitted to a designated course for the honours degree of Bachelor of Education either at the same institution or another institution; or

(e) after starting a course for a first degree (other than an honours degree) the eligible student is, before the completion of that course, admitted to a designated course for an honours degree in the same subject or subjects at the institution.”.

4.  For regulation 15, there shall be substituted—

“Students treated as in attendance on a course

15.— (1) A student to whom this regulation applies is treated as if he were in attendance on the designated course for the purpose of qualifying for fee support.

(2) This regulation applies to—

(a) a compressed degree student;

(b) a disabled student who—

(i) is not a compressed degree student; and

(ii) is undertaking a designated course in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland but is not in attendance because he is unable to attend for a reason which relates to his disability.”.

5.  In regulation 32(1) after “attend”, there shall be inserted “or, in the case of a compressed degree course, undertake in the United Kingdom”.

6.  For regulation 37(9), there shall be substituted—

“(9) A student to whom this paragraph applies is treated as if he were in attendance on the designated course for the purpose of qualifying for the following grants—

(a) grant for the students who have left care;

(b) grants for dependants;

(c) maintenance grant or special support grant;

(d) higher education bursary.

(10) Paragraph (9) applies to—

(a) a compressed degree student;

(b) a disabled student who—

(i) is not a compressed degree student; and

(ii) is undertaking a designated course in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland but is not in attendance because he is unable to attend for a reason which relates to his disability.”

7.  In regulation 57 for “an accelerated course” in each place it occurs, there shall be substituted “an intensive course”.

8.  In regulation 59 for “an accelerated course” in each place it occurs, there shall be substituted “an intensive course”.

9.  For regulation 62(2), there shall be substituted—

““2) The loan for living costs is not payable—

(a) in the case of a compressed degree student, in respect of the quarter nominated by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills;

(b) in any other case, in respect of the quarter in which, in the opinion of the Department, the longest of any vacation occurs.”.

10.  For regulation 66, there shall be substituted—

“Students who are treated as in attendance on a course

66.— (1) A student to whom this regulation applies is treated as in attendance on the designated course for the purpose of qualifying for the loan for living costs.

(2) This regulation applies to—

(a) a compressed degree student;

(b) a disabled student who—

(i) is not a compressed degree student; and

(ii) is undertaking a designated course in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland but is not in attendance because he is unable to attend for a reason which relates to his disability.”.

11.  In regulation 78 for “an accelerated course”, in both places where it occurs, there shall be substituted “an intensive course”.

12.  In regulation 79(4)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a) after “attend”, there shall be inserted “or, in the case of a student treated as in attendance under regulation 15, undertake”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b) after “attending”, there shall be inserted “in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or, as the case may be, undertaking in the United Kingdom”.

13.  In regulation 80(5)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a) after “attend”, there shall be inserted “or, in the case of a student treated as in attendance under regulation 15, undertake”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b) after “attending”, there shall be inserted “in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, or, as the case may be, undertaking in the United Kingdom”.