50.—(1) A person (the “applicant”) shall apply for a grant under this Part in connection with each academic year of a designated postgraduate course by completing and submitting to the Secretary of State an application in such form and accompanied by such documentation as the Secretary of State may require.
(2) The application must reach the Secretary of State as soon as is reasonably practicable.
(3) The Secretary of State may take such steps and make such inquiries as she considers necessary to determine whether the applicant is an eligible postgraduate student, whether he qualifies for a grant and the amount of grant payable, if any.
(4) The Secretary of State shall notify the applicant of whether or not he qualifies for a grant and, if he does qualify, the amount payable in respect of the academic year, if any.