The Education (Mandatory Awards) (Amendment) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on 16th June 2000, amend the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1999 (“the Mandatory Awards Regulations”).

The Education Act 1962, under which the Mandatory Awards Regulations are made, was repealed on 1st January 1999 with transitional and saving provisions for courses beginning before 1st September 1999, and certain other courses. Regulation 7(2) of the Mandatory Awards Regulations provides that awards can be bestowed under those Regulations for courses beginning after 1st September 1999 but only in certain cases where students have started a course directly after completing a course which began before 1st September 1998. Provision is now made for students who become entitled to an award after 1st September 1999 for a course that began before 1st September 1998 to be eligible for an award under the Mandatory Awards Regulations (regulation 3), and for any fees due to be paid as part of that award to be paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the award has been bestowed (regulation 5).

With effect from 1st September 1998, National Health Service bursaries for students studying in England, Wales and Scotland are made under section 63 of the Public and Health Services Act 1968. Bursaries for students studying in Northern Ireland are made under article 44 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. The Mandatory Awards Regulations are amended to include references to bursaries for students studying in Northern Ireland (regulation 4).

The Mandatory Awards Regulations are amended to remove the duty on authorities to bestow a fees award in respect of any student who is participating in the ERASMUS scheme where all periods of study during the academic year are undertaken at an institution outside the United Kingdom (regulation 6).

Fees which are prescribed under section 28(1) of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 are added to the categories of fees left out of account in determining the amount of a fees award (regulation 7(c)).

The fee rate in sub-paragraph (d)(iii) of Schedule 1 to the Mandatory Awards Regulations is amended to limit the aggregate fees payable for an academic year at the Royal Agricultural College to £1,680 (regulation 7(d)).

Pursuant to the Tax Credits Act 1999, with effect from 5th October 1999, family credit is known as working families' tax credit. Paragraph 1(1)(o) of Schedule 3 to the Mandatory Awards Regulations is amended accordingly (regulation 8(c)).

The Regulations also correct a number of minor drafting errors.