These Regulations further amend the Students Awards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 459) “the principal Regulations”. The principal Regulations ensure that students who began their courses before 1st September 1998, and certain other students, continue to receive students awards and payments under those awards until the end of their courses.

Retrospection of the provisions at regulation 2 (1) is authorised by Article 50 (2) of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

Regulation 6 amends the principal Regulations so that the new payment rates prescribed in the Schedule to these Regulations shall only apply in relation to an academic term which commences on or after 1st September 2007. Where an academic year starts before 1st September 2006, but ends after 1st September 2007, the old payment and new payment rates shall be applied proportionally.

These Regulations amend the principal Regulations to comply with Article 9 of Decision No 1/80 of the Association Council of 19^th September 1980 on the development of the Association between the European Community and Turkey (“the Decision”).

Article 9 of the Decision provides: “Turkish children residing legally in a Member State of the Community with their parents who are or have been legally employed in that Member State, shall be admitted to courses of general education, apprenticeship and vocational training under the same educational entry qualifications as the children of nationals of that Member State. They may in that Member State be eligible to benefit from the advantages provided for under the national legislation in this area”. Regulations 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 provide for this category of student.

Regulation 10 specifies increases in the rates of fee awards in relation to courses at the University of Buckingham. Increases in relation to other fee awards and grants are provided for in regulation 13 and are set out in the Schedule to these Regulations

These Regulations also revoke in part the Students Awards (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 378).

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.