Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Eligibility for loans for living costs

17.—(1) Subject to and in accordance with the following paragraphs and regulation 18 an eligible student shall in respect of his attendance at a course during each academic year (“the present course”) be eligible for loan for living costs if—

(a)he is under the age of 50 on the first day of the first academic year of the course; or

(b)he is aged 50 or over and under the age of 55 on that day, and the Department is satisfied that he intends either to enter employment after he has completed his course, or that he intends to start attending another higher education course immediately after completing the present course, disregarding any intervening vacation.

(2) An eligible student shall not be eligible for loan for living costs under this Part if he is a person mentioned in paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 and not in any other paragraph of that Schedule.

(3) An eligible student shall be eligible for loan for living costs under this Part in respect of his attendance at a course during an academic year—

(a)where—

(i)his course becomes a designated course during that year; or

(ii)he or his spouse or parent is recognised as a refugee or is granted leave to enter or remain as mentioned in paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 during that year; or

(b)which begins after the events referred to in paragraph (a) but shall not be eligible for loan for living costs in respect of any other academic year.