The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Period of eligibility

145.—(1) A student’s status as an eligible postgraduate student is retained in connection with a designated postgraduate course until the status is terminated in accordance with this regulation and regulation 142.

(2) The period for which an eligible postgraduate student retains the status is the “period of eligibility”.

(3) Subject to the following paragraphs and regulation 142, the period of eligibility terminates at the end of the period ordinarily required for the completion of the designated postgraduate course.

(4) The period of eligibility terminates when the eligible postgraduate student—

(a) withdraws from the designated postgraduate course in circumstances where the Department has not transferred or will not transfer the student’s status as an eligible postgraduate student to another course under regulation 146; or

(b) abandons or is expelled from the designated postgraduate course.

(5) Where the eligible postgraduate student is undertaking a designated postgraduate course that is a part-time course, the period of eligibility terminates at the end of the relevant academic year where the student cannot complete the course within the period specified in regulation 144(1)(b)(ii).

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5), “relevant academic year” means the academic year during or at the end of which it becomes impossible for the student to complete the course within the period specified in regulation 144(1)(b)(ii).

(7) The Department may terminate the period of eligibility where the eligible postgraduate student (“A”) has shown by A’s conduct that A is unfitted to receive support.

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

(a) terminate the period of eligibility;

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

(c) treat any support paid to the student as an overpayment which may be recovered under regulation 151.

(9) Where the period of eligibility terminates—

(a) before the end of the academic year in which the eligible postgraduate student completes the designated postgraduate course; and

(b) otherwise than under paragraph (5),

the Department may, at any time, renew or extend the period of eligibility for such period as the Department determines.