79.—(1) The Secretary of State must pay the fee loan or fee contribution loan for which an eligible student qualifies to an institution to which the student is liable to make payment.
(2) The Secretary of State may pay the fee loan or fee contribution loan in instalments.
(3) The Secretary of State must not pay the fee loan or fee contribution loan before—
(a)she has received a valid request for payment from the academic authority; and
(b)a period of three months beginning with the first day of the academic year has expired.
(4) Where assessment of an old system student’s contribution or other matters have delayed the final calculation of the amount of fee contribution loan for which the student qualifies, the Secretary of State may make a provisional assessment and payment.
(5) No payment of fee loan or fee contribution loan can be made in respect of a designated course if—
(a)before the expiry of a period of three months beginning with the first day of the academic year the eligible student ceases to attend the course; and
(b)the academic authority has determined or agreed that the student will not commence attending again during the academic year in respect of which the fees are payable or at all.