3A

For the purposes of the definition of “full-time student" in paragraph (3) but subject to paragraph (3D), a person shall be regarded as attending or, as the case may be, undertaking a course of study or as being on a sandwich course—

a

subject to paragraph (3B), in the case of a person attending or undertaking a part of a modular course which would be a full-time course of study, for a period beginning on the day on which that part of the course starts and ending—

i

on the last day on which he is registered with the educational establishment as attending or undertaking that part as a full-time course of study; or

ii

on such earlier date (if any) as he finally abandons the course or is dismissed from it;

b

in any other case, throughout the period beginning on the date on which he starts attending or undertaking the course and ending on the last day of the course or on such earlier date (if any) as he finally abandons it or is dismissed from it.

3B

For the purpose of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (3A), the period referred to in that sub-paragraph shall include—

a

where a person has failed examinations or has failed to successfully complete a module relating to a period when he was attending or undertaking a part of the course as a full-time course of study, any period in respect of which he attends or undertakes the course for the purpose of retaking those examinations or that module;

b

any period of vacation within the period specified in that paragraph or immediately following that period except where the person has registered with the educational establishment to attend or undertake the final module in the course and the vacation immediately follows the last day on which he is required to attend or undertake the course.

3C

In paragraph (3A), “modular course" means a course of study which consists of two or more modules, the successful completion of a specified number of which is required before a person is considered by the educational establishment to have completed the course.

3D

A full-time student shall not be regarded as undertaking a full-time course of advanced education or a full-time course of study for the period specified in paragraph (3E) if—

a

at any time during an academic year, with the consent of the relevant educational establishment, he ceases to attend or undertake a course because he is—

i

engaged in caring for another person; or

ii

ill;

b

he has subsequently ceased to be engaged in caring for that person or, as the case may be, he has subsequently recovered from that illness; and

c

he is not eligible for a grant or a student loan (as defined in regulation 130) in respect of the period specified in paragraph (3E).

3E

The period specified for the purposes of paragraph (3D) is the period beginning on the day on which he ceased to be engaged in caring for that other person or, as the case may be, the day on which he recovered from that illness and ending on the day before—

a

the day on which he resumes attending or undertaking the course; or

b

the first day of the following academic year,

whichever shall first occur.