5.—(1) A student shall apply for a loan, not exceeding the maximum amount applicable in his or her case, in connection with his or her undertaking a designated course by completing and submitting to the Scottish Ministers an application in such form as the Scottish Ministers may require.
(2) The maximum amount applicable in his or her case shall be the maximum amount of tuition fee charged to the student for the current academic year of the designated course which the student is undertaking.
(3) The completed application shall include such information as the Scottish Ministers require, including the following particulars:–
(a)the student’s United Kingdom national insurance number, unless he or she does not have one;
(b)the student’s most recent student loan account number, if any; and
(c)the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two referees who know the student.
(4) The completed application shall also include a declaration, either in writing or electronically, by the student that–
(a)the particulars given in the form are correct to the best of his or her knowledge and belief;
(b)he or she will notify the Scottish Ministers of any change in them which might affect his or her eligibility for a loan; and
(c)he or she will, if required to do so, repay to the Scottish Ministers–
(i)any amount paid to him or her or to any other person on his or her behalf which exceeds for whatever reasons the amount of loan to which he or she is entitled under these Regulations; and
(ii)any amount lent to him or her, together with interest and applicable charges and penalties, in accordance with the Act and any Regulations made under it from time to time.
(5) The application form must reach the Scottish Ministers by the date they determine from time to time (and different dates may be determined by them in respect of loans for different courses) unless the Scottish Ministers consider that, having regard to the circumstances of the particular case, the time limit should be relaxed in which case the application must reach the Scottish Ministers not later than the date they specify.
(6) A student shall demonstrate his or her eligibility for a loan by providing such evidence as the Scottish Ministers may require.
(7) The Scottish Ministers may take such steps to make such inquiries as they consider necessary to determine whether the student is eligible for a loan.
(8) If the Scottish Ministers determine that a student is eligible for a loan they shall notify him or her of that fact and thenceforth the student shall be an “eligible student” for the purposes of these Regulations.
(9) Where an eligible student who has submitted an application for a loan in accordance with paragraph (1) has not applied for the maximum amount of loan to which he or she is entitled in relation to an academic year under the preceding paragraphs he or she may apply to borrow an additional amount, which when added to the amount already applied for shall not exceed the maximum applicable in his or her case.
(10) An application under paragraph (9) shall be made by completing and submitting to the Scottish Ministers an application in such form as they may require not later than the date the Scottish Ministers determine from time to time and shall contain a declaration signed by the student, either in writing or electronically, in the terms set out in paragraph (4).