PART 1

Introductory

Citation, commencement and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.

(2) Except as provided for in paragraphs (3) and (4), these Regulations come into operation on 16th March 2025.

(3) Regulations 3 to 5 come into operation on 1st September 2025.

(4) Regulations 18 and 19 come into operation on 6th April 2025.

(5) The provisions of these Regulations specified in paragraph (6) apply only in relation to the provision of support in relation to a new academic year, whether or not anything done under these Regulations is done before, on or after 1st August 2025.

(6) The provisions mentioned in paragraph (5) are—

(a) regulations 3 to 5 (amendments of the Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005);

(b) regulations 12 to 14 (graduate entry medicine course);

(c) regulation 15 to 17 and the Schedule (new payment rates for student support).

(7) The provisions of these Regulations specified in paragraph (8) apply only in relation to the provision of support in relation to a new course, whether or not anything done under these Regulations is done before, on or after 1st August 2025.

(8) The provisions mentioned in paragraph (7) are regulations 6 to 11 (termination of eligible student status).

(9) In this regulation “ new course” means a course which begins on or after 1st August 2025.

(10) In these Regulations “ new academic year” means an academic year which begins on or after 1st August 2025.

(11) In paragraph (10) an “academic year” is the period of twelve months beginning with 1st January, 1st April, 1st July or 1st September of the calendar year in which the academic year of the course in question begins, according to whether the academic year of the course in question begins—

(a) on or after 1st January and before 1st April;

(b) on or after 1st April and before 1st July;

(c) on or after 1st July and before 1st August; or

(d) on or after 1st August and on or before 31st December.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

(a) “ the 2005 Regulations” means the Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005( 4);

(b) “ the 2009 Regulations” means the Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009( 5).

PART 2

CHAPTER 1 Amendment of the Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Amendment to the 2005 Regulations

3.  The 2005 Regulations are amended in accordance with this Chapter.

4.  In regulation 3 (Prescribed basic and higher amounts)—

(a) for “£1,870” substitute “£1,910”; and

(b) for “£4,750” substitute “£4,855”.

5.  In regulation 4 (Prescribed basic and higher amounts for specified courses)—

(a) for “£910” substitute “£930”; and

(b) for “£2,360” substitute “£2,410”.

PART 3

CHAPTER 1 Termination of Eligible Student Status

Amendment to the 2009 Regulations

6.  The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with this Chapter.

7.  In regulation 5( 6) (eligible students)—

(a) after paragraph (11F) insert—

“(11G)  Where—

(a) the Department determined that, by virtue of being a person satisfying the criteria in paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 (eligible students: long residence), a person (“ A ”) was an eligible student in connection with—

(i) an application for support for an earlier year of the current course;

(ii) an application for support for a course in relation to which the current course is an end-on course; or

(iii) an application for support in connection with a designated part-time course, designated distance learning course or other designated course from which A’s status as an eligible part-time student, eligible distance learning student or eligible student has been transferred to the current course; and

(b) as at the day before the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support begins, the period for which A was granted leave to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and—

(i) no further leave to remain has been granted;

(ii) no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002); and

(iii) A has not become a British or Irish citizen,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the first day of the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support. ”.

8.  In regulation 105( 7) (eligible distance learning students)—

(a) after paragraph (11F) insert—

“(11G)  Where—

(a) the Department determined that, by virtue of being a person satisfying the criteria in paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 (eligible students: long residence), a person (“ A ”) was an eligible distance learning student in connection with—

(i) an application for support for an earlier year of the current distance learning course; or

(ii) an application for support in connection with a designated course, designated part-time course or other designated distance learning course from which A’s status as an eligible student, eligible part-time student or eligible distance learning student has been transferred to the current distance learning course; and

(b) as at the day before the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support begins, the period for which A was granted leave to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and—

(i) no further leave to remain has been granted;

(ii) no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002); and

(iii) A has not become a British or Irish citizen,

A’s status as an eligible distance learning student terminates immediately before the first day of the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support. ”.

9.  In regulation 122( 8) (eligible part-time students)—

(a) after paragraph (10F) insert—

“(10G)  Where—

(a) the Department determined that, by virtue of being a person satisfying the criteria in paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 (eligible students: long residence), a person (“ A ”) was an eligible part-time student in connection with—

(i) an application for support for an earlier year of the current part-time course; or

(ii) an application for support in connection with a designated course, designated distance learning course or other designated part-time course from which A’s status as an eligible part-time student, eligible student or eligible distance learning student has been transferred to the current part-time course; and

(b) as at the day before the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support begins, the period for which A was granted leave to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and—

(i) no further leave to remain has been granted;

(ii) no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002); and

(iii) A has not become a British or Irish citizen,

A’s status as an eligible part-time student terminates immediately before the first day of the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support. ”.

10.  In regulation 139( 9) (eligible postgraduate students)—

(a) after paragraph (12F) insert—

“(12G)  Where—

(a) the Department determined that, by virtue of being a person satisfying the criteria in paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 (eligible students: long residence), a person (“ A ”) was an eligible postgraduate student in connection with—

(i) an application for support for an earlier year of the current postgraduate course; or

(ii) an application for support in connection with another designated postgraduate course from which A’s status as an eligible postgraduate student has been transferred to the current postgraduate course; and

(b) as at the day before the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support begins, the period for which A was granted leave to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and—

(i) no further leave to remain has been granted;

(ii) no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002); and

(iii) A has not become a British or Irish citizen,

A’s status as an eligible postgraduate student terminates immediately before the first day of the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support. ”.

11.  In regulation 149( 10) (eligible Master’s, etc. students)—

(a) after paragraph (11F) insert—

“(11G)  Where—

(a) the Department determined that, by virtue of being a person satisfying the criteria in paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 (eligible students: long residence), a person (“ A ”) was an eligible Master’s, etc. student in connection with—

(i) an application for support for an earlier year of the current Master’s, etc. course; or

(ii) an application for support in connection with another designated Master’s, etc. course from which A’s status as an eligible Master’s, etc. student has been transferred to the current Master’s, etc. course; and

(b) as at the day before the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support begins, the period for which A was granted leave to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and—

(i) no further leave to remain has been granted;

(ii) no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002); and

(iii) A has not become a British or Irish citizen,

A’s status as an eligible Master’s, etc. student terminates immediately before the first day of the academic year in respect of which A is applying for support. ”.

CHAPTER 2 Graduate Entry Medicine Course

Amendments to the 2009 Regulations

12.  The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with this Chapter.

13.  In regulation 20( 11) (availability of fee loans to current system students – general) —

(a) after paragraph (2) insert —

“(2A)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(a) to (c), a current system student qualifies for a fee loan in respect of a graduate entry medicine course at an educational institution in Northern Ireland. ”;

(b) in paragraph (5) after “21” add “21A”.

14.  After regulation 21 insert—

“Standard entitlement – graduate entry medicine course in Northern Ireland

21A.   The standard entitlement of a current system student who is studying a graduate entry medicine course at an educational institution in Northern Ireland is calculated as follows—

OD+1

where OD is the number of academic years that make up the ordinary duration of the course. ”

CHAPTER 3 New Payment Rates for Student Support

Amendments to the 2009 Regulations

15.  The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with this Chapter.

16.  In regulation 66 (current system students with full entitlement), for paragraph (4) substitute—

“(4)  “the maintenance grant amount” is, unless otherwise stated—

(i) where the student qualifies under Chapter 6 of Part 5 for an amount of maintenance grant not exceeding £1,318, the amount of maintenance grant payable;

(ii) where the student qualifies under regulation 58(2) for an amount of maintenance grant exceeding £1,318 but less than £1,738, £1,700 less £1 in every complete £9.42 by which the household income exceeds £19,203;

(iii) where the student qualifies under regulation 58(2) for an amount of maintenance grant of £1,738, £1,700;

(iv) where the student qualifies under regulation 58(3) for an amount of maintenance grant exceeding £1,318 but less than £3,475, £2,650 less £1 in every complete £7.36 by which the household income exceeds £19,203;

(v) where the student qualifies under regulation 58(4) for an amount of maintenance grant exceeding £1,318 but less than £1,738, £1,550 less £1 in every complete £11.01 by which the household income exceeds £19,203;

(vi) where the student qualifies under regulation 58(4) for an amount of maintenance grant of £1,738, £1,550;

(vii) where the student qualifies under regulation 58(5) for an amount of maintenance grant exceeding £1,318 but less than £3,475, £1,850 less £1 in every complete £18.45 by which the household income exceeds £19,203;

(viii) where the student qualifies under Chapter 6 of Part 5 for an amount of maintenance grant of £3,475, £1,850; and

(ix) where no maintenance grant is payable, nil. ”

17.  The Schedule to these Regulations has effect to substitute the figure in the third column of the table for the figure in the second column where that figure appears in the provision of the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 set out in the first column.

CHAPTER 4 Amendments to Non-Domiciled Tax Status

Amendments to the 2009 Regulations

18.  The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with this Chapter.

19.  In Schedule 5 (financial assessment)—

(a) in paragraph 5(6)(a) (calculation of parent’s residual income)( 12) omit “or domiciled” each time it occurs;

(b) in paragraph 7(7)(a) (calculation of parent’s partner’s residual income)( 13) omit “or domiciled” each time it occurs.

PART 4 CHAPTER 1

Miscellaneous Amendments

Amendments to the 2009 Regulations

20.  The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 21 and 22.

21.  In regulation 57(7) (qualifying conditions for the maintenance grant) for “the graduate entry course” substitute “a graduate entry course”.

22.  In regulation 141(1)(b) (designated postgraduate courses) in sub-paragraph (ii) omit the word “twice”.

Amendments to the Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

23.  The Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024( 14) are amended in accordance with regulations 24 to 40.

24.  Before regulation 3 insert —

“A3.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 3 and 4. ”

25.  Before regulation 5 insert —

“A5.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 5 and 6. ”

26.  Before regulation 7 insert —

“A7.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 7. ”

27.  Before regulation 8 insert —

“A8.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 8. ”

28.  Before regulation 9 insert —

“A9.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 9 and 10. ”

29.  Before regulation 11 insert —

“A11.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 11 and 12. ”

30.  Before regulation 13 insert —

“A13.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 13 and 14. ”

31.  Before regulation 15 insert —

“A15.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 15. ”

32.  Before regulation 16 insert —

“A16.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 16 to 20. ”

33.  Before regulation 21 insert —

“A21.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 21. ”

34.  Before regulation 22 insert —

“A22.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 22. ”

35.  Before regulation 23 insert —

“A23.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 23. ”

36.  Before regulation 24 insert —

“A24.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 24. ”

37.  Before regulation 25 insert —

“A25.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 25. ”

38.  Before regulation 26 insert —

“A26.   The Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 are amended in accordance with regulations 26 to 30. ”

39.  Before regulation 31 insert —

“A31.   The 2009 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 31 and 32. ”

40.  Before regulation 33 insert —

“A33.   The 2007 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulation 33. ”

Regulation 17

SCHEDULE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend legislation which makes provision about, or in connection with, student finance. Three sets of Student Support Regulations are amended. Those Regulations are the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 “the 2009 Regulations”, the Student Fees (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 “the 2005 Regulations” and the Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024.

These Regulations come into force on 16th March 2025, unless otherwise specified.

Regulations 3 to 5 amend the 2005 Regulations by increasing the basic and higher amounts prescribed in the 2005 Regulations. In each case the increases are by 2.3%, and will come into operation on 1st September 2025.

Regulations 6 to 11 amend the 2009 Regulations to include termination provisions so that persons who are granted student support under the long residence category but whose leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom has expired and who have not been granted further leave to remain do not retain their status as students eligible for financial support.

Regulations 12 to 14 amend the 2009 Regulations to allow for the provision of tuition fee loans to those students studying graduate entry medicine in educational institutions in Northern Ireland.

Regulations 15 to 17 plus the Schedule amend the 2009 Regulations to update the payment rates for student support for an academic year which begins on or after 1st August 2025.

Regulation 18 and 19 remove references in the 2009 Regulations to the concept of domicile as a relevant connecting factor in the UK tax system, which will be replaced by a system based on tax residence. Regulations 18 and 19 come into operation from 6th April 2025.

Regulations 20 to 40 make technical amendments and fix drafting errors in the 2009 Regulations and the Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 respectively.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this rule as no, or no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.