PART 10SUPPORT FOR PART-TIME COURSES
Eligible part-time studentsI184
1
An eligible part-time student qualifies for support in connection with his undertaking a designated part-time course subject to and in accordance with this Part.
2
Subject to paragraph (3), a person is an eligible part-time student in connection with a designated part-time course if the Secretary of State has determined in connection with that course that the person falls within one of the categories set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1.
3
A person is not an eligible part-time student if—
a
there has been bestowed on him or paid to him in connection with the part-time course—
i
a healthcare bursary whether or not the amount of such bursary is calculated by reference to his income;
ii
any allowance under the Nursing and Midwifery Student Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 199258; or
iii
a Scottish healthcare allowance whether or not the amount of such allowance is calculated by reference to his income;
b
he is in breach of any obligation to repay any loan;
c
he has reached the age of 18 and has not ratified any agreement for a loan made with him when he was under the age of 18;
d
he has, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, shown himself by his conduct to be unfitted to receive support; or
e
subject to paragraph (4), he is a prisoner serving a custodial sentence.
4
Paragraph (3)(e) does not apply in respect of an academic year during which the student enters prison to serve a custodial sentence or is released from prison having served such a sentence.
5
For the purposes of paragraphs (3)(b) and (3)(c), “loan” means a loan made under the student loans legislation.
6
In a case where the agreement for a loan is subject to the law of Scotland, paragraph (3)(c) only applies if the agreement was made—
a
before 25th September 1991; and
b
with the concurrence of the borrower’s curator or at a time when he had no curator.
7
Despite paragraphs (2) and (3), a person is an eligible part-time student for the purposes of this Part if he satisfies the conditions in paragraph (8) or (9).
8
The conditions in this paragraph are—
a
the person qualified as an eligible part-time student in connection with an earlier academic year of the current designated part-time course pursuant to regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 22 of the 1998 Act;
b
the person was not ordinarily resident in Wales on the first day of the current designated part-time course; and
c
the person’s status as an eligible part-time student has not terminated.
9
The conditions in this paragraph are—
a
the Secretary of State has previously determined that the person is—
i
an eligible student in connection with a designated course; or
ii
an eligible part-time student in connection with a designated part-time course other than the current designated part-time course;
b
the person’s status as an eligible student or as an eligible part-time student in connection with the course referred to in sub-paragraph (a) has been converted or transferred from that course to the current designated part-time course as a result of one or more conversions or transfers in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 22 of the 1998 Act;
c
the person was not ordinarily resident in Wales on the first day of the first academic year of the course referred to in sub-paragraph (a); and
d
the person’s status as an eligible part-time student has not terminated.
10
An eligible part-time student may not, at any one time, qualify for support for—
a
more than one designated part-time course;
b
a designated part-time course and a designated course;
c
a designated part-time course and a designated postgraduate course.
11
Where one of the events listed in paragraph (13) occurs in the course of an academic year—
a
a student may qualify for a grant in respect of fees in respect of that academic year in accordance with this Part provided that the relevant event occurred within the first three months of the academic year; and
b
a grant in respect of fees is not available in respect of any academic year beginning before the academic year in which the relevant event occurred.
12
Where one of the events listed in sub-paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of paragraph (13) occurs in the course of an academic year—
a
a student may qualify for a grant for books, travel and other expenditure in respect of that academic year in accordance with this Part; and
b
a grant for books, travel and other expenditure is not available in respect of any academic year beginning before the academic year in which the relevant event occurred.
13
The events are—
a
the student’s course becomes a designated part-time course;
b
the student, his spouse, his civil partner or his parent is recognised as a refugee or becomes a person with leave to enter or remain as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 1;
c
the state of which the student is a national accedes to the European Community;
d
the state of which the student is a national accedes to the European Community where the student has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands throughout the three-year period immediately preceding the first day of the first academic year of the course;
e
the student acquires the right of permanent residence as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 1;
f
the student becomes a person described in paragraph 6(1)(a) of Schedule 1; or
g
the student becomes the child of a Swiss national.
Designated part-time coursesI285
1
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a part-time course is designated for the purposes of section 22(1) of the 1998 Act and regulation 84 if—
a
it is a course mentioned in Schedule 2 other than a course for the initial training of teachers;
b
it is of at least one academic year’s duration and does not exceed twice the period normally required to complete a full-time course leading to the same qualification;
c
it is wholly provided by a publicly-funded educational institution or institutions in the United Kingdom or is provided by such institution or institutions in conjunction with an institution or institutions outside the United Kingdom; and
d
it is not designated by or under regulation 5.
2
A course falling within paragraph 6 or 7 of Schedule 2 is not a designated part-time course where the governing body of a maintained school has arranged for the provision of such a course to a pupil of the school.
3
A course that is taken as part of an employment-based teacher training scheme is not a designated part-time course.
4
For the purposes of paragraph (1)—
a
a course is provided by an institution if it provides the teaching and supervision which comprise the course, whether or not the institution has entered into an agreement with the student to provide the course;
b
a university and any constituent college or institution in the nature of a college of a university is to be regarded as publicly funded if either the university or the constituent college or institution is publicly funded; and
c
an institution is not to be regarded as publicly funded by reason only that it receives public funds from the governing body of a higher education institution in accordance with section 65(3A) of the Further and Higher Education Act 199259.
5
For the purposes of section 22 of the 1998 Act and regulation 84(1) the Secretary of State may designate courses of higher education which are not designated by paragraph (1).
Period of eligibilityI386
1
An eligible part-time student retains his status as an eligible part-time student in connection with a designated part-time course until the status terminates in accordance with this regulation.
2
The period for which an eligible part-time student retains his status is the “period of eligibility”.
3
Subject to the following paragraphs, the period of eligibility terminates at the end of the academic year in which the eligible part-time student completes the designated part-time course.
4
The period of eligibility terminates when the eligible part-time student—
a
withdraws from his designated part-time course in circumstances where the Secretary of State has not transferred or converted or will not transfer or convert his status under regulation 95 or 96; or
b
abandons or is expelled from his designated part-time course.
5
The Secretary of State may terminate the period of eligibility where the eligible part-time student has shown himself by his conduct to be unfitted to receive support.
6
If the Secretary of State is satisfied that an eligible part-time student has failed to comply with any requirement to provide information under this Part or has provided information which is inaccurate in a material particular, the Secretary of State may take such of the following actions as she considers appropriate in the circumstances—
a
terminate the period of eligibility;
b
determine that the student no longer qualifies for any particular support or particular amount of support;
c
treat any support paid to the student as an overpayment which may be recovered under regulation 99.
7
Where the period of eligibility terminates before the end of the academic year in which the eligible part-time student completes the designated part-time course, the Secretary of State may, at any time, renew the period of eligibility for such period as she determines.
Assistance for part-time coursesI487
1
For the purposes of this regulation, the assistance available is—
a
a grant in respect of fees not exceeding the lesser of the following amounts—
i
the basic grant, and
ii
the “actual fees”, being the amount of fees charged to the student in respect of an academic year of the designated part-time course; and
b
a grant not exceeding £250 for books, travel and other expenditure in connection with the designated part-time course.
2
An eligible part-time student does not qualify for assistance under paragraph (1)(b) if the only paragraph in Part 2 of Schedule 1 into which he falls is paragraph 9.
3
An eligible part-time student qualifies for assistance—
a
under paragraph (1)(a) if the Secretary of State considers that he is undertaking the designated part-time course in England; and
b
under paragraph (1)(b) if the Secretary of State considers that he is undertaking the designated part-time course in the United Kingdom.
4
An eligible part-time student does not qualify for support under this regulation if he has undertaken one or more part-time courses for eight academic years in aggregate and he has received in respect of each of those academic years a loan or a grant of the kind described in paragraph (5).
5
The loans and grants are—
a
a loan, a grant in respect of fees or a grant for books, travel and other expenditure each made in respect of an academic year of a part-time course pursuant to regulations made under section 22 of the 1998 Act;
b
a loan, a grant in respect of fees or a grant for books, travel and other expenditure each made in respect of an academic year of a part-time course by the Department for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland) pursuant to regulations made under Articles 3 and 8(4) of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 199860; or
c
a loan in respect of an academic year of a part-time course made pursuant to regulations made under sections 73(f), 73B and 74(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 198061.
6
An eligible part-time student does not qualify for support under this regulation if he holds a first degree from an educational institution in the United Kingdom.
7
For the purposes of paragraph (6), a degree is not to be treated as a first degree where—
a
it is a degree (other than an honours degree) that has been awarded to an eligible part-time student who has completed the required modules, examinations or other forms of assessment for his first degree course; and
b
the eligible part-time student is registered to continue the course at the same educational institution after the award of his degree so as to obtain an honours degree on completion of the required modules, examinations or other form of assessment.
Amount of assistanceI588
1
The basic grant varies according to the intensity of study.
2
The intensity of study is calculated as follows and expressed as a percentage—
where
FT is the number of academic years ordinarily required to complete a course which is the full-time equivalent of the designated part-time course
PT is the number of academic years ordinarily required to complete the designated part-time course.
3
The “basic grant” is—
a
£750 where the intensity of study is less than 60 per cent. (“level 1”);
b
£900 where the intensity of study is 60 per cent. or more but less than 75 per cent. (“level 2”);
c
£1,125 where the intensity of study is 75 per cent. or more (“level 3”).
4
Subject to paragraph (5) and regulation 95(6), the amount of assistance payable in respect of an academic year is as follows—
a
the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1) is payable if at the date of his application the eligible part-time student or his partner is entitled—
i
under Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 199262 to income support, housing benefit or council tax benefit; or
b
where the relevant income is less than £15,345, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1) is payable;
c
where the relevant income is £15,345, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(b) is payable together with £50 less than the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(a);
d
where the relevant income exceeds £15,345 but is less than £23,145, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(b) is payable and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 87(1)(a) is the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (5);
e
where the relevant income is £23,145, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(b) is payable and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 87(1)(a) is £50;
f
where the relevant income exceeds £23,145 but is less than £23,745, the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(b) is payable and no assistance is payable under regulation 87(1)(a);
g
where the relevant income is £23,745 or more but less than £25,645, no assistance is available under regulation 87(1)(a) and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 87(1)(b) is the amount left after deducting from the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(b) £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the relevant income exceeds £23,745;
h
where the relevant income is £25,645, no assistance is payable under regulation 87(1)(a) and the amount of assistance payable under regulation 87(1)(b) is £50;
i
where the relevant income exceeds £25,645, no assistance is payable under regulation 87(1).
5
Where paragraph (4)(d) applies, the amount of assistance payable under regulation 87(1)(a) is determined by deducting from the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(a) one of the following amounts—
a
£50 plus a further £1 for each complete £12, £9.75 or £7.61 by which the relevant income exceeds £15,345 according to whether the intensity of study is level 1, 2 or 3, respectively; or
b
where the basic grant is greater than the actual fees, an amount equal to that left after deducting from the amount calculated under sub-paragraph (a) the difference between the basic grant and the actual fees (unless the amount is a negative number in which case the maximum amount of assistance available under regulation 87(1)(a) is payable).
Interpretation of regulation 88I689
1
For the purposes of regulation 88—
a
subject to sub-paragraph (b), “partner” means any of the following—
i
the spouse of an eligible part-time student;
ii
the civil partner of an eligible part-time student;
iii
a person ordinarily living with an eligible part-time student as if he were his spouse where an eligible part-time student is aged 25 or over on the first day of the academic year in respect of which he is being assessed for assistance and where he began the specified designated part-time course before 1st September 2005;
iv
a person ordinarily living with an eligible part-time student as if he were his spouse or civil partner where an eligible part-time student begins the specified designated part-time course on or after 1st September 2005;
b
a person who would otherwise be a partner under sub-paragraph (a) is not to be treated as a partner if—
i
in the opinion of the Secretary of State, that person and the eligible part-time student are separated; or
ii
the person is ordinarily living outside the United Kingdom and is not maintained by the eligible part-time student;
c
“relevant income” has the meaning given in paragraph (2).
2
Subject to paragraph (3), an eligible part-time student’s relevant income is equal to his financial resources in the preceding financial year less—
i
£2,000 in respect of his partner;
ii
£2,000 in respect of the only or eldest child who is dependent on the student or his partner; and
iii
£1,000 in respect of each other child who is dependent on the student or his partner.
3
Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that an eligible part-time student’s financial resources in the preceding financial year are greater than his financial resources in the current financial year and that the difference between the two amounts is £1,000 or more, she may assess that student’s financial resources by reference to those resources in the current financial year.
4
In this regulation, an eligible part-time student’s financial resources in a financial year means the aggregate of his income for that year together with the aggregate of the income for that year of any person who at the date of the application for support is the student’s partner.
5
In this regulation—
a
“child” in relation to an eligible part-time student includes any child of his partner and any child for whom he has parental responsibility;
b
“current financial year” means the financial year which includes the first day of the academic year in respect of which a person is being assessed for assistance;
c
“dependent” means wholly or mainly financially dependent;
d
“financial year” means the period of twelve months for which the income of the eligible part-time student is computed for the purposes of the income tax legislation which applies to it;
e
“income” means gross income from all sources excluding any tax credits awarded pursuant to any claims under section 3 of the Tax Credits Act 2002;
f
“preceding financial year” means the financial year immediately preceding the current financial year;
g
“specified designated part-time course” means the course in respect of which the person is applying for support or, where the student’s status as an eligible part-time student has been transferred to the current designated part-time course as a result of one or more transfers of that status by the Secretary of State from a part-time course (the “initial course”) in connection with which the Secretary of State determined the student to be an eligible part-time student pursuant to regulations made under section 22 of the 1998 Act, the specified designated part-time course is the initial course.
Assistance with fees in respect of attendance on a course in Wales, Northern Ireland or ScotlandI790
1
The Secretary of State may pay support to assist with fees to an eligible part-time student in connection with his attendance on a designated part-time course in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.
2
The assistance paid under paragraph (1) must not exceed the lesser of—
a
the maximum amount of assistance that would have been payable to the eligible part-time student under regulation 87(1)(a) had he been undertaking the course in England; and
b
the maximum amount of support to assist with fees that in the opinion of the Secretary of State would have been payable to him according to whether he attends the designated part-time course in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland—
i
pursuant to regulations made by the National Assembly for Wales under section 22 of the 1998 Act had he been ordinarily resident in Wales and undertaking the part-time course in Wales;
ii
pursuant to regulations made under Articles 3 and 8(4) of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 had he been ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland and undertaking the part-time course in Northern Ireland; or
iii
from funds of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council65 had he been ordinarily resident in Scotland and undertaking the part-time course in Scotland.
Disabled part-time students' allowancesI891
1
An eligible part-time student qualifies in accordance with this Part for a grant to assist with the additional expenditure which the Secretary of State is satisfied he is obliged to incur by reason of a disability to which he is subject in respect of his undertaking a designated part-time course (the “disabled part-time students' allowance”).
2
An eligible part-time student does not qualify for the disabled part-time students' allowance if the only paragraph in Part 2 of Schedule 1 into which he falls is paragraph 9.
3
An eligible part-time student does not qualify for the disabled part-time students' allowance unless the Secretary of State considers that he is undertaking the designated course in the United Kingdom.
4
Subject to the following paragraphs, the amount of disabled part-time students' allowance under this regulation is the amount that the Secretary of State considers appropriate in accordance with the student’s circumstances.
5
The amount of the disabled part-time students' allowance must not exceed—
a
£9,105 in respect of an academic year for expenditure on a non-medical personal helper;
b
£4,795 in respect of all the academic years during the period of eligibility for expenditure on major items of specialist equipment;
c
the additional expenditure incurred—
i
within the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending the institution;
ii
within or outside the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending, as a part of his course, any period of study at an overseas institution or for the purpose of attending the British Institute in Paris;
d
£1,200 in respect of an academic year for any other expenditure including expenditure incurred for the purposes referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) which exceeds the specified maxima.
Applications for supportI992
1
A person (the “applicant”) must apply for support in connection with each academic year of a designated part-time course by completing and submitting to the Secretary of State an application in such form as the Secretary of State may require.
2
The application must be accompanied by—
a
a declaration completed by the academic authority; and
b
such additional documentation as the Secretary of State may require.
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 part-time student, whether he qualifies for support and the amount of support payable, if any.
4
The Secretary of State must notify the applicant of whether he qualifies for support and, if he does qualify, the amount of support payable in respect of the academic year, if any.
5
The general rule is that the application must reach the Secretary of State within a period of six months beginning with the first day of the academic year of the course in respect of which it is submitted.
6
The general rule does not apply where—
a
one of the events listed in paragraph 13 of regulation 84 occurs after the first day of the academic year in respect of which the applicant is applying for support, in which case the application must reach the Secretary of State within a period of six months beginning with the day on which the relevant event occurred;
b
the applicant is applying for the disabled part-time students' allowance, in which case the application must reach the Secretary of State as soon as is reasonably practicable; or
c
the Secretary of State considers that having regard to the circumstances of the particular case the time limit should be relaxed, in which case the application must reach the Secretary of State not later than such date as she specifies.
Declarations provided by academic authoritiesI1093
1
Subject to paragraph (2), the appropriate academic authority must, on the request of the applicant, complete a declaration in such form as may be required by the Secretary of State to accompany the application for support.
2
An academic authority is not required to complete a declaration if it is unable to give the confirmation required.
3
In this Part, “declaration” means—
a
where the applicant is applying for support in connection with the designated part-time course for the first time, a statement that—
i
provides the course information; and
ii
confirms that the applicant has undertaken at least two weeks of the designated part-time course;
b
in any other case, a statement that—
i
provides the course information; and
ii
confirms that the applicant has enrolled to undertake the academic year of the designated part-time course in respect of which he is applying for support.
4
In this regulation, “course information” means—
a
the amount of fees being charged in respect of the academic year in respect of which the applicant is applying for support;
b
the intensity of study; and
c
certification by the academic authority that it considers the course to be a designated part-time course.
InformationI1194
Schedule 3 deals with the provision of information.
Transfer of statusI1295
1
Where an eligible part-time student transfers to another part-time course, the Secretary of State must transfer the student’s status as an eligible part-time student to that course where—
a
she receives a request from the eligible part-time student to do so;
b
she is satisfied that one or more of the grounds for transfer in paragraph (2) applies; and
c
the period of eligibility has not terminated.
2
The grounds for transfer are—
a
the eligible part-time student starts to undertake another designated part-time course at the institution;
b
the eligible part-time student starts to undertake a designated part-time course at another institution; or
c
after commencing a designated part-time course for a first degree (other than an honours degree) the eligible part-time student is, before the completion of that course, admitted to a designated part-time course for an honours degree in the same subject or subjects at the institution.
3
Subject to paragraph (4), an eligible part-time student who transfers under paragraph (1) shall receive in connection with the academic year of the course to which he transfers the remainder of the support for which the Secretary of State has determined he qualifies in respect of the academic year of the course from which he transfers.
4
The Secretary of State may re-assess the amount of support payable after the transfer.
5
An eligible student who transfers under paragraph (1) after the Secretary of State has determined his support in connection with the academic year of the course from which he is transferring but before he completes that year may not apply for another grant under regulation 87(1)(b) or regulation 91 in connection with the academic year of the course to which he transfers.
6
Where a student transfers under paragraph (1), the maximum amount of assistance under regulation 87(1)(a) in respect of the academic years to and from which he transfers is the amount of assistance with fees available in connection with the course which has the highest intensity of study as defined in regulation 88.
Conversion of statusI1396
1
Where an eligible student ceases to undertake a designated course and transfers to a designated part-time course at the same or at another institution, the Secretary of State must convert the student’s status as an eligible student to that of an eligible part-time student in connection with the course to which he is transferring where—
a
she receives a request from the eligible student to do so; and
b
the period of eligibility has not terminated.
2
Where, before completing the designated course, the student transfers to a part-time course in the same subject or subjects leading to the same qualification at the same institution, the part-time course is to be treated as satisfying regulation 85(1)(b) if the period of part-time study to be undertaken by the student is of at least one academic year’s duration and does not exceed twice the period normally required to complete the remainder of the designated course from which the student transfers.
3
The following applies to a student who transfers under paragraph (1)—
a
where the Secretary of State has determined to pay an amount of disabled students' allowance to the student under Chapter 3 of Part 5 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 becomes an eligible part-time student;
b
the maximum amount of disabled part-time students' allowance to which the student would, apart from this regulation, be entitled in connection with his undertaking a designated part-time course in respect of that academic year is reduced by one third where the student became an eligible part-time student during the second quarter of the academic year and by two thirds where he became such a student in a later quarter of that year;
c
where an amount of disabled students' allowance for any purpose has been paid to the student under Chapter 3 of Part 5 in a single instalment, the maximum amount of disabled part-time students' allowance payable to him for that purpose is reduced (or, where sub-paragraph (b) applies, further reduced) by the amount of grant paid to him for that purpose pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 5, and where the resulting amount is nil or a negative amount that amount is nil; and
d
where immediately before he became an eligible part-time student he was eligible to apply, but had not applied, for a loan for living costs in respect of that year, or had not applied for the maximum amount or increased maximum for which he was entitled, he may apply for such a loan or such additional amount of loan as if he had continued to be an eligible student; and in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (4) the maximum or increased maximum amount of such loan for the academic year is reduced in accordance with that paragraph.
4
Where the request under paragraph (1) is made during the first quarter of the academic year in respect of which the loan is payable the maximum amount or increased maximum amount of loan (as the case may be) is reduced by two thirds, and where the request is made during the second quarter of that year that amount is reduced by one third.
5
Where an eligible part-time student ceases to undertake a designated part-time course and transfers to a designated course at the same or at another institution, the Secretary of State must convert that student’s status as an eligible part-time student to that of an eligible student in connection with the course to which he is transferring where—
a
she receives a request from the eligible part-time student to do so; and
b
the period of eligibility has not terminated.
6
The following applies to a student who transfers under paragraph (5)—
a
where the Secretary of State has determined to pay an amount of disabled part-time 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 he 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 he became such a student in a later quarter of that year; and
d
where an amount of grant for disabled part-time students' living costs for any purpose has been paid to the student in a single instalment, the maximum amount of disabled students' allowance payable to him under Chapter 3 of Part 5 for that purpose is reduced (or, where sub-paragraph (c) applies, further reduced) by the amount of disabled part-time students' allowance paid to him for that purpose and where the resulting amount is nil or a negative amount that amount is nil.
Payment of grants for books, travel and other expenditure and disabled part-time students' allowancesI1497
1
Payments of the grant for books, travel and other expenditure and the disabled part-time students' allowance may be made in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate and she may make it a condition of entitlement to payment that the eligible part-time student must provide her with particulars of a bank or building society account in the United Kingdom into which payments may be made by electronic transfer.
2
Where the Secretary of State cannot make a final assessment on the basis of the information provided by the student, she may make a provisional assessment and payment of the grant for books, travel and other expenditure and the disabled part-time students' allowance.
3
The Secretary of State may pay the grant for books, travel and other expenditure and the disabled part-time students' allowance in instalments.
4
Subject to paragraph (5), the Secretary of State may pay the grant for books, travel and other expenditure and the disabled part-time students' allowance at such times as she considers appropriate.
5
The Secretary of State must not pay the first instalment or, where it has been determined not to pay support in instalments, make any payment of the grant for books, travel and other expenditure or the disabled part-time students' allowance before she has received a declaration under regulation 93 unless an exception applies.
6
An exception applies if—
a
a disabled part-time students' allowance is payable in which case that particular grant may be paid before the Secretary of State has received a declaration;
b
the Secretary of State has determined that owing to exceptional circumstances it would be appropriate to make a payment without receiving a declaration.
Payment of grants for feesI1598
1
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary of State must pay the grant in respect of fees for which the student qualifies to the appropriate academic authority after a valid request for payment has been received.
2
The Secretary of State may make payments under paragraph (1) at such times and in such instalments as she sees fit.
3
The Secretary of State may make provisional payments under paragraph (1) in such cases as she deems appropriate.
OverpaymentsI1699
1
Any overpayment of a grant in respect of fees is recoverable by the Secretary of State from the academic authority.
2
An eligible part-time student must, if so required by the Secretary of State, repay any amount paid to him under this Part which for whatever reason exceeds the amount of grant to which he is entitled under this Part.
3
The Secretary of State must recover an overpayment of grant for books, travel and other expenditure and disabled part-time students' allowance unless she considers that it is not appropriate to do so.
4
The methods of recovery are—
a
subtracting the overpayment from any kind of grant payable to the student from time to time pursuant to regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 22 of the 1998 Act;
b
taking such other action for the recovery of an overpayment as is available to the Secretary of State.
5
A payment of the disabled part-time students' allowance made before the relevant date is an overpayment if the student withdraws from the course before the relevant date unless the Secretary of State decides otherwise.
6
The “relevant date” is the date on which the first term of the academic year in question actually begins.
7
In the circumstances in paragraph (8) or (9), there is an overpayment of the disabled part-time students' allowance unless the Secretary of State decides otherwise.
8
The circumstances are—
a
the Secretary of State applies all or part of the disabled part-time students' allowance to the purchase of specialist equipment on behalf of the eligible part-time student;
b
the student withdraws from, abandons or is expelled from the course after the relevant date; and
c
the equipment has not been delivered to the student before he withdraws from, abandons or is expelled from the course.
9
The circumstances are—
a
the eligible part-time student withdraws from, abandons or is expelled from the course after the relevant date;
b
a payment of the disabled part-time students' allowance in respect of specialist equipment is made to the student after he withdraws from, abandons or is expelled from the course.
10
Where there is an overpayment of the disabled part-time students' allowance, the Secretary of State may accept the return of specialist equipment purchased with the grant by way of recovery of all or part of the overpayment if she considers it is appropriate to do so.