
PART 1
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Fees (Amounts), Loan Repayment and Support etc.)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.
(2) Regulations 2 to 4 come into operation on 1st September 2022.
(3) Regulations 5 to 12 come into operation on 21st September 2021.
PART 2
2 
The Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 shall be amended as provided by regulations 3 and 4.
3 
In regulation 3 (Prescribed basic and higher amounts)—
(a) for “£1,785” substitute “£1,825”; and
(b) for “£4,530” substitute “£4,630”.
4 
In regulation 4 (Prescribed basic and higher amounts for specified courses)—
(a) for “£870” substitute “£890”; and
(b) for “£2,250” substitute “£2,300”.
PART 3
5 
The Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 shall be amended as provided by regulations 6 to 9.
6 
In regulation 18 for the number “(1)” of the current sub-paragraph (1) substitute the letter “(l)”.
7 
In Part 5 (grants for living and other costs)—
(a) in regulation 39(7) (general qualifying conditions for grants for living and other costs) for the words from “regulation” to “occurs” substitute “regulation 18 (a),(b),(e),(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l) or (m) occurs”;
(b) in regulation 42(6) (amount of the disabled students’ allowance) for the words from “regulation” to “occurs”, where it first occurs, substitute “regulation 18 (a),(b),(e),(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l) or (m) occurs”;
(c) in regulation 46(11) (childcare grant) for the words from “regulation” to “occurs”, where it first occurs, where it first occurs, substitute “regulation 18 (a),(b),(e),(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l) or (m) occurs”;
(d) in regulation 50A(2) (general) for the words from “regulation” to “occurs”, where it first occurs, substitute “regulation 18 (a),(b),(e),(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l) or (m) occurs”;
(e) in regulation 57(5) (qualifying conditions for the maintenance grant) for the words from “regulation” to “occurs”, where it first occurs, substitute “regulation 18 (a),(b),(e),(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l) or (m) occurs”;
(f) in regulation 59(5) (qualifying conditions for the special support grant) for the words from “regulation” to “occurs”, where it first occurs, substitute “regulation 18 (a),(b),(e),(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l) or (m) occurs”;
8 
In Part 6 (loans for living costs) —
(a) in regulation 78 (categories of student) before the words “In this part—”, insert “Subject to regulation 78A,”;
(b) after regulation 78, insert—“
78A. 

(1) This regulation applies in relation to the application of category A in respect of—
(a) the quarter beginning on 1st April 2021 and ending on 30th June 2021; and
(b) the quarter beginning on 1st July 2021 and ending on 31st August 2021.
(2) For the purposes of this Part, a student is not to be treated as falling into category A if, in respect of the quarter ending on 31st March 2021, they were paid the rate of loan for living costs and, where applicable, the long courses loan, payable to a student in category B or D.
(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply in relation to one or both of the quarters mentioned in paragraph (1), in the case of a student who applies to the Department to have their loan for living costs and, where applicable, the long courses loan, paid at the rate payable to a student in category A for that quarter or those quarters, as the case may be.”
9 
In Part 11 (support for part-time courses) in regulation 130(7) (disabled part-time students’ allowance) for the words from “regulation” to “occurs” , where it first occurs, substitute “regulation 123(3) (a),(b),(e),(f),(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l),(m) or (n) occurs”.
PART 4
10 
The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 shall be amended as provided by regulations 11 and 12.
11 
In Regulation 36 (Interpretation) before the definition of “combined amount”, insert—““approved method” means—
(a) in relation to the delivery of a return in accordance with this Part, the internet services or Electronic Data Interchange services provided through PAYE Online or PAYE Online for Agents;
(b) in relation to the making of a payment in accordance with this Part, the services known as Direct Debit, BACS Direct Credit (including telephone and internet banking), CHAPS, debit and credit card over the internet (known as “BillPay”), Government Banking Service (formerly known as “Paymaster”), Bank Giro and payments made through the Post Office;”.
12 
In Regulation 71 (calculation of fixed instalment and applicable threshold) —
(a) Omit paragraph (5).
(b) In paragraph (6), at the beginning, insert “Where a price level index cannot be calculated under paragraph (3)”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for the Economy on the 21st September 2021.
Heather Cousins
A senior officer of the Department for the Economy
