The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Period of eligibility

111.—(1) A student retains his status as an eligible part-time student in connection with a designated part-time course until the status terminates in accordance with this regulation and regulation 108.

(2) The period for which an eligible part-time student retains his status is the “period of eligibility”.

(3) Subject to the following paragraphs and regulation 108, the period of eligibility terminates at the end of the academic year in which the eligible part-time student completes the designated part-time course.

(4) The period of eligibility terminates when the eligible part-time student—

(a) withdraws from his designated part-time course in circumstances where the Department has not transferred or converted or will not transfer or convert his status under regulation 120 or 121; or

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

(5) The period of eligibility terminates at the end of the relevant academic year where the eligible part-time student cannot complete the designated part-time course within the period specified in regulation 110(1)(c)

(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 110(1)(c) even if he increases his intensity of study.

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

(8) If the Department is satisfied that an eligible part-time 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 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 124.

(9) Where the period of eligibility terminates—

(a) before the end of the academic year in which the eligible part-time student completes the designated part-time 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 it determines.