Payment of grants for fees
78.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Welsh Ministers must pay the grant in respect of fees for which the eligible distance learning student qualifies once they have received from the relevant academic authority—
(a)a request for payment; and
(b)confirmation of the eligible distance learning student’s attendance on the designated distance learning course.
(2) The Welsh Ministers may make payments under paragraph (1) at such times and in such instalments (if any) as they see fit.
(3) The Welsh Ministers may make provisional payments under paragraph (1) in such cases as they deem appropriate.
(4) In this regulation “confirmation of the eligible distance learning student’s attendance on the designated distance learning course” (“cadarnhad o bresenoldeb y myfyriwr dysgu o bell cymwys ar y cwrs dysgu o bell dynodedig”) means confirmation from the relevant academic authority that the eligible distance learning student—
(a)has enrolled on and started undertaking the designated distance learning course, where the confirmation relates to a payment of the entire grant in respect of fees or the first instalment of the grant in respect of fees; or
(b)remains enrolled and continues to undertake the designated distance learning course at the date of the confirmation, where the confirmation relates to an instalment of the grant in respect of fees other than the first instalment.
(5) Where an eligible distance learning student ceases to undertake a designated distance learning course during the academic year and the academic authority has determined or agreed that the student will not return during that academic year, the academic authority must inform the Welsh Ministers as soon as is practicable of the eligible distance learning student’s departure from the designated distance learning course.