30. In regulation 144 of the Student Support Regulations—
(a)in paragraph (2), after “25%” insert “of an equivalent full-time course”;
(b)for paragraph (3), substitute—
“(3) An eligible part-time student qualifies for a fee loan under paragraph (1) if the Secretary of State considers that—
(a)the student is attending the course in the United Kingdom, or
(b)where the course is a part-time distance learning course, the student is undertaking the course in England on the first day of the first academic year.”.
(c)after paragraph (3), insert—
“(3A) A student qualifying for a fee loan in respect of a part-time distance learning course under paragraph (3) will no longer qualify for a fee loan in respect of that course if the Secretary of State considers that the student is undertaking the course outside the United Kingdom.”;
(d)in paragraph (4), before the words “an eligible part-time student” insert “subject to paragraph (6)”;
(e)in paragraph (6), for the words “an eligible part-time student is not prevented from qualifying for fee support under this regulation” substitute “paragraph (4) does not apply”.