The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Period of eligibility

6.—(1) An eligible student shall retain his status as an eligible student for the duration of the period of eligibility.

(2) Subject to the following paragraphs, the “period of eligibility” is equal to the period ordinarily required for the completion of the designated course.

(3) The period of eligibility shall be extended to the end of the academic year in which the eligible student completes his course in respect of—

(a) grants for living costs;

(b) loans for living costs; and

(c) grants for fees where the student repeats part of his course.

(4) The Department may, at any time, renew or extend the period of eligibility for such further period as it determines.

(5) The period of eligibility shall terminate when the eligible student—

(a) withdraws from his designated course in circumstances where the Department has not transferred or converted or will not transfer or convert his status as an eligible student under regulation 7 or regulation 42(1); or

(b) abandons or is expelled from his designated course.

(6) The Department may terminate the period of eligibility where the eligible student has shown himself by his conduct to be unfitted to receive support.

(7) If the Department is satisfied that an eligible student has failed to comply with any requirement to provide information under these Regulations or has provided information which is inaccurate in a material particular, the Department may take such of the following actions as it considers appropriate in the circumstances—

(a) terminate the period of eligibility;

(b) determine that the student no longer qualifies for any particular support or particular amount of support;

(c) treat any support paid to the student as an overpayment which may be recovered under regulation 33.