Conversion of status – eligible distance learning students transferring to designated coursesN.I.
118.—(1) Where an eligible distance learning student ceases to undertake a designated distance learning course and transfers to a designated course at the same or at another institution, the Department must convert the student’s status as an eligible distance learning student to that of an eligible student in connection with the course to which the student is transferring where—
(a)the Department receives a request from the eligible distance learning student to do so; and
(b)the period of eligibility has not terminated.
(2) The following applies to a student who transfers under paragraph (1)—
(a)where the Department has determined to pay an amount of disabled distance learning students’ allowance to the student in periodic instalments no payment in respect of that amount of grant must be made in respect of any instalment period beginning after the date on which the student became an eligible student;
(b)any support to which the student is entitled under this Part in respect of the academic year in which the student transfers is ignored in determining the amount of support to which the student may be entitled in respect of that year under Parts 4 to 6;
(c)the maximum amount of any support under Part 5 or 6 to which the student would, apart from this regulation, be entitled in connection with a designated course in respect of that academic year is reduced by one third where the student became an eligible student during the second quarter of that academic year and by two thirds where the student became such a student in a later quarter of that year; and
(d)where an amount of disabled distance learning students’ allowance for any purpose has been paid to the student in a single instalment, the maximum amount of disabled students’ allowance payable under Chapter 3 of Part 5 for that purpose is reduced (or, where sub-paragraph (c) applies, further reduced) by the amount of disabled distance learning students’ allowance paid to the student for that purpose and where the resulting amount is nil or a negative amount that amount is nil.
[F1(3) This paragraph makes provision for distance learning fee loan and fee loan where a student (“A”) transfers under paragraph (1)—
(a)no payment in respect of any distance learning fee loan must be made in respect of any instalment period beginning after the date on which A became an eligible student;
(b)where the designated course into which A transfers continues in the same quarter of the same academic year of the designated distance learning course from which A transferred, the maximum amount of fee loan to which A would, apart from this regulation, be entitled to borrow in connection with that academic year of the designated course is reduced by one third where A became an eligible student in the second quarter of the academic year and by two thirds where A became such a student in a later quarter of the academic year;
(c)where the academic year of the designated course into which A transfers begins on a later date than the academic year of the designated distance learning course from which A is transferring, the maximum amount of fee loan to which A would be entitled to borrow in respect of that academic year, provided that A qualifies for a fee loan in respect of that year, is the lesser of—
(i)the amount specified in regulation 25(1)(a), (2)(a), (2A)(a) or (2B)(a) as the case may be; and
(ii)the fees payable by the student in connection with that year.]
Textual Amendments
F1Reg. 118(3) added (with application in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Education (Student Support) (No.2) (Amendment) and Education (Student Loan) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/7), regs. 1(1), 18
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 118 in operation at 17.12.2009, see reg. 1(1)