Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2016 No. 354

Education

The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Made

27th September 2016

Coming into operation

1st September 2017

The Department for the Economy makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 4(8) and 14(4) of the Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005(1).

In accordance with Article 4(11)(a)(i) and (b)(i) the Department is satisfied that the increases to the basic and higher amounts are no greater than are required to maintain the value of those amounts in real terms.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 and shall come into operation on 1st September 2017.

Amendment of Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

2.  The Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(2) shall be amended as provided by regulations 3 to 5.

3.  In regulation 2 (Interpretation)—

(a)omit the definition of “the 2003 Regulations”;

(b)after the definition of “the 2005 Order” insert—

“the 2009 Regulations” means the Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(3);;

(c)for the definition of “academic year”, substitute—

“academic year” has the meaning given to it in regulation 2(1) of the 2009 Regulations;; and

(d)for the definition of “sandwich course”, substitute—

“sandwich course” has the meaning given to it in regulation 2(10) of the 2009 Regulations..

4.  In regulation 3 (Prescribed basic and higher amounts)—

(a)for “£1,555” substitute “£1,595”; and

(b)for “£3,925” substitute “£4,030”.

5.  In regulation 4 (Prescribed basic and higher amounts for specified courses)—

(a)for “£760” substitute “£780”; and

(b)for “£1,955” substitute “£2,005”.

Revocation

6.  The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(4) are revoked.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for the Economy on 27th September 2016.

Legal seal

Mr Trevor Cooper

A senior officer of the Department for the Economy

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (“the 2005 Regulations”) by increasing the basic and higher amounts prescribed in the 2005 Regulations. In each case the increases are by less than 3%, and will come into operation on 1st September 2017.

The 2005 Regulations prescribe the basic and higher amounts which higher education institutions in Northern Ireland may charge by way of tuition fees. Regulation 3 of the 2005 Regulations sets out the basic and higher amounts which ordinarily apply. Regulation 4 sets out the lower basic and higher amounts which apply in respect of an academic year of specified courses.

The 2005 Regulations were last amended by the Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, which came into operation on 1st September 2016 and are revoked by these Regulations.