Amendment of the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

11.  After regulation 110 (Amount of support), insert—

“Amount of the distance learning fee loan under regulation 109(1)(aa)

110A.— (1) The maximum amount of distance learning fee loan in respect of an academic year of a designated distance learning course must not exceed the lesser of—

(a) £3,022.50; and

(b) the fees payable by the student in connection with that year.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (6), the distance learning fee loan to which an eligible distance learning student is entitled is calculated as follows—

where

• DFC is the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (1);

• DFG is the grant paid under regulation 109(1)(a), if any.

(3) If a student’s status as an eligible distance learning student is transferred from one designated distance learning course to another under this Part and the circumstances in paragraph (4) apply, the student may apply to the Department to borrow an additional amount by way of distance learning fee loan in respect of the academic year of the course to which that student transfers.

(4) The circumstances are—

(a) the fees payable in respect of the academic year of the course to which the eligible distance learning student transfers exceed the fees payable in respect of the academic year of the course from which the student is transferring; and

(b) the academic year of the course to which the eligible distance learning student transfers does not begin on a later date than the academic year of the course from which the student is transferring.

(5) Where the circumstances in paragraph (4) apply, the maximum additional amount that the eligible distance learning student may borrow in respect of the academic year to which that student transfers, provided that the student qualifies for a distance learning fee loan in respect of that year, is determined by deducting the amount of any distance learning fee loan the student has taken out under this Part in respect of the academic year from which the student is transferring from the lesser of—

(a) the amount specified in paragraph (1)(a); and

(b) the fees payable by the student in respect of the academic year to which the student is transferring,

minus any grant paid under regulation 109(1)(a) in respect of the academic year from which the student is transferring.

(6) If a student’s status as an eligible distance learning student is transferred from one designated distance learning course to another under this Part and the circumstances in paragraph (7) apply, the student may apply to the Department for a distance learning fee loan in respect of the academic year of the course to which the student transfers.

(7) The circumstances are that the academic year of the course to which the student transfers begins on a later date than the academic year of the course from which that student is transferring.

(8) Where the circumstances in paragraph (7) apply, the maximum amount of distance learning fee loan that the eligible student may borrow in respect of the academic year to which that student transfers, provided that the student qualifies for a distance learning fee loan in respect of that year, is the lesser of—

(a) the amount specified in paragraph (1)(a); and

(b) the fees payable by the student in connection with that year;

minus any grant paid under regulation 109(1)(a) in connection with that year.

(9) Where an eligible distance learning student has applied for a distance learning fee loan of less than the maximum amount available in relation to an academic year, that student may apply to borrow an additional amount which when added to the amount already applied for does not exceed the maximum amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (2) or determined in accordance with paragraphs (5) or (8), whichever is applicable.”.