
2021 No. 260
Education
The Education (Student Fees (Amounts), Loan Repayment and Support etc.)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
Made 21st September 2021
Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1

The Department for the Economy, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 4(8) and 14(4) of the Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 and Articles 3 and 8(4) of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 makes the following Regulations.

In accordance with Article 4(11)(a)(i) and (b)(i) of the Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 the Department is satisfied that the increases to the basic and higher amounts are no greater than are required to maintain the value of those amounts in real terms.
PART 1 GENERAL
Citation and commencement
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 AMENDMENT OF THE STUDENT FEES (AMOUNTS) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2005
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 AMENDMENT OF THE EDUCATION (STUDENT SUPPORT) (No.2) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2009
5 
The Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 shall be amended as provided by regulations 6 to 9.
Amendment of Regulation 18
6 
In regulation 18 for the number “(1)” of the current sub-paragraph (1) substitute the letter “(l)”.
Amendment of Part 5
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”;
Amendment of Part 6
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—“
Application of category A in quarters ending on 30th June 2021 and 31st August 2021
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.”
Amendment of Part 11
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 AMENDMENT OF THE EDUCATION (STUDENT LOANS) (REPAYMENT) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2009
10 
The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 shall be amended as provided by regulations 11 and 12.
Amendment of Regulation 36
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
