This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Regulations laid before the Assembly in accordance with section 42(2) of the Agriculture Act (Northern Ireland) 1949
Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
Agriculture
Made
19th June 2025
Coming into operation
1st September 2025
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on 1st September 2025.
2. The Agriculture (Student Fees) Amendment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024( 3) are revoked.
3. The Agriculture (Student Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023( 4) are amended in accordance with regulations 4 to 13.
4. In Schedule 1 (student fee amounts), substitute the table as follows –
“Column 1 | Column 2 (£) |
---|---|
FC1 | 1,255 |
FC2 | 2,680 |
FC3 | 1,340 |
FC4 | 1,340 |
FC5 | 4,855 |
FC6 | 960 |
FC7 | 1,925 |
FC8 | 2,885 |
FC9 | 930 |
FC10 | 1,255 |
FC11 | 9,535 |
FC12 | 9,535 |
FC13 | 4,765 |
FC14 | 9,535 |
FC15 | 3,085 |
FC16 | 6,165 |
FC17 | 9,250 |
FC18 | 930 |
FC19 | 1,910 |
FC20 | 1,910 |
FC21 | 930 |
FC22 | 9,535 |
FC23 | 9,535 |
FC24 | 4,765 |
FC25 | 3,085 |
FC26 | 6,165 |
FC27 | 9,250 |
FC28 | 9,925 |
FC29 | 9,925 |
FC30 | 1,255 |
FC31 | 930 |
FC32 | 930 |
FC33 | 930 |
FC34 | 930 ” |
5. In Part 1 (interpretation) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), in paragraph 1(1), in the definition of “overseas territories”—
(a) omit “Aruba, ”;
(b) after “British Virgin Islands;”, insert “ the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten);”;
(c) omit “Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten); ”.
6. In Part 3 (special categories) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), for paragraph 11 (persons granted indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse), including the heading, substitute—
11.— (1) A person who—
(a) has been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under any of the following provisions of the immigration rules( 5) —
(i) paragraph VDA 9.1 of the Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse; or
(ii) where such leave was granted before the coming into force of the Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse—
(aa) paragraph 289B (victims of domestic violence);
(bb) paragraph D-DVILR.1.1 of Appendix FM (victims of domestic abuse); or
(cc) paragraph 40 of Appendix Armed Forces (victims of domestic violence: partners of members of the armed forces);
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands since the person was granted such leave; and
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(2) A person who—
(a) has been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain;
(b) (i) is the child of a person granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse; and
(ii) on the leave application date, was the child of the person granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands since the person was granted such leave; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) In sub-paragraph (2), “ leave application date ” means the date on which a person granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse made an application to remain in the United Kingdom on those grounds under the immigration rules. ”.
7. In Part 3 (special categories) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), for paragraph 13 (persons granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner), including the heading, substitute—
13.— (1) A person who—
(a) has been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom-
(i) under paragraph BP 11.1 of Appendix Bereaved Partner of the immigration rules( 6) ; or
(ii) where such leave was granted before the coming into force of Appendix Bereaved Partner, under any of the following provisions of the immigration rules—
(aa) paragraph 288, as a person in relation to whom the requirements in paragraph 287(b) of those rules were met (bereaved partners);
(bb) paragraph 295N, as a person in relation to whom the requirements in paragraph 295M of those rules were met (bereaved partners);
(cc) paragraph D-BPILR.1.1 of Appendix FM (bereaved partners); or
(dd) paragraph 36 of Appendix Armed Forces (bereaved partner of a member of HM Forces);
(iii) under paragraph AF (GHK) 14.1 of Appendix GHK of the immigration rules, as a bereaved partner; or
(iv) where such leave was granted prior to 5th October 2023, outside of the immigration rules, on the basis that the person was a bereaved partner of a Gurkha discharged before 1st July 1997;
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands since the person was granted such leave; and
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(2) A person who—
(a) has been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain;
(b) (i) is the child of a person granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a bereaved partner; and
(ii) on the leave application date, was the child of the person granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a bereaved partner;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) has been ordinarily resident in United Kingdom and the Islands since the person was granted such leave; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) In sub-paragraph (2), “ leave application date ” means the date on which a person granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a bereaved partner made an application to enter or remain in the United Kingdom on those grounds under the immigration rules or, in the case of a person referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a)(iv), outside of the immigration rules. ”.
8. In Part 3 (special categories) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), for paragraph 16 (persons granted leave under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme), including the heading, substitute—
16.— (1) A person who—
(a) has been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, outside of the immigration rules( 7) , on the basis of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme;
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave; and
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(2) A person who—
(a) is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was the spouse or civil partner of that person;
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) A person who—
(a) is—
(i) the child of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; or
(ii) the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was—
(i) the child of the person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; or
(ii) the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of the person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme on that date;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(4) In sub-paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (3) “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. ”.
9. In Part 3 (special categories) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), for paragraph 17 (persons granted leave under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme), including the heading, substitute—
17.— (1) A person who—
(a) has been granted—
(i) indefinite leave to enter the United Kingdom under paragraph 276BA2, or has been granted indefinite leave to remain under paragraph 276BS2 of the immigration rules( 8) , having been relocated to the United Kingdom pursuant to paragraph 276BB1(iii)(a) of the immigration rules;
(ii) indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under ARAP 6.1 of Appendix Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy of the immigration rules;
(iii) leave to enter the United Kingdom on the basis of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme; or
(iv) indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, outside of those rules, on the basis of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme;
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave; and
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(2) A person who—
(a) is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was the spouse or civil partner of that person;
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) A person who—
(a) is—
(i) the child of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy Scheme; or
(ii) the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was—
(i) the child of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy Scheme; or
(ii) the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy Scheme on that date;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(4) In sub-paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (3), “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. ”.
10. In Part 3 (special categories) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), for paragraph 19 (persons granted leave under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme), including the heading, substitute—
19.— (1) A person who—
(a) has been granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom—
(i) under paragraph UKR 19.1 of Appendix Ukraine Scheme of the immigration rules( 9) ; or
(ii) outside of the immigration rules, where the person—
(aa) was residing in Ukraine immediately before 1st January 2022; and
(bb) left Ukraine in connection with the Russian invasion which took place on 24th February 2022;
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave; and
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(2) A person who—
(a) is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was the spouse or civil partner of that person;
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) A person who—
(a) is—
(i) the child of a person granted leave to enter or remain under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme; or
(ii) the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was—
(i) the child of the person granted leave under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme; or
(ii) the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of the person granted leave under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme on that date;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(4) In sub-paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (3), “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. ”.
11. In Part 3 (special categories) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), for paragraph 20 (persons granted leave under the Ukraine Extension Scheme), including the heading, substitute—
20.— (1) A person who—
(a) has been granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom under paragraph UKR 27.1 of Appendix Ukraine Scheme of the immigration rules( 10) ;
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave; and
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(2) A person who—
(a) is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Extension Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was the spouse or civil partner of that person;
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) A person who—
(a) is—
(i) the child of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Extension Scheme; or
(ii) the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Extension Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was—
(i) the child of the person granted leave under the Ukraine Extension Scheme; or
(ii) the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of the person granted leave under the Ukraine Extension Scheme on that date;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(4) In sub-paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (3), “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under the Ukraine Extension Scheme made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. ”.
12. In Part 3 (special categories) of Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), for paragraph 21 (persons granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme), including the heading, substitute—
21.— (1) A person who—
(a) has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom—
(i) under paragraph UKR 9.1 of Appendix Ukraine Scheme of the immigration rules( 11) ; or
(ii) outside the immigration rules, where the person—
(aa) was residing in Ukraine immediately before 1st January 2022; and
(bb) left Ukraine in connection with the Russian invasion which took place on 24th February 2022;
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave; and
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(2) A person who—
(a) is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was the spouse or civil partner of that person;
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) A person who—
(a) is—
(i) the child of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme; or
(ii) the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was—
(i) the child of the person granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme; or
(ii) the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of the person granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme on that date;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(4) In sub-paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (3), “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under the Ukraine Family Scheme made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. ”.
13. In Schedule 2 (qualifying persons), after regulation 21, insert—
21A.— (1) A person who—
(a) has leave to remain in the United Kingdom under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme; and
(b) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands throughout the period since the person was granted such leave.
(2) A person who—
(a) is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was the spouse or civil partner of that person;
(c) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(3) A person who—
(a) is—
(i) the child of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme; or
(ii) the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme;
(b) on the leave application date, was—
(i) the child of the person granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme; or
(ii) the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of the person granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme on that date;
(c) was under 18 on the leave application date;
(d) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and the Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and
(e) is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on the course start date.
(4) In sub-paragraph (2) and sub-paragraph (3), “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. ”.
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
Section 5 of the Agriculture Act (Northern Ireland) 1949 (“ the Act”) enables the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (“ the Department”) to provide instruction in agricultural and related matters. Section 5A, empowers the Department to set fees for education and instruction.
These Regulations amend the Agriculture (Student Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 “the 2023 Regulations”.
Regulation 1 refers to the citation and commencement of these regulations while regulation 2 revokes the Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland (2024).
Part 2 (Amendment to Student Fee Amounts) lists the revised full-time fee payable by a student to the Department in accordance with the fee code that is applied to the student. In each case a 2.3% inflationary uplift has been applied.
Part 3 (Amendments to Qualifying Persons) amends the 2023 Regulations in order to:
amend the definition of “overseas territories” to reflect the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles;
amend the definition of “person granted indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence or abuse” to align with changes made by the Home Office to the immigration rules, to include persons granted indefinite leave to enter as a result of being a victim of transnational marriage abandonment;
amend the definition of “persons granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner” to align with changes made by the Home Office that replace existing provisions for Bereaved Partners and their dependent children Part 8, Appendix FM and Appendix Armed Forces of the immigration rules.
make provision so that children granted indefinite leave to enter or remain on the basis that their parent has been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse or indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner are included under the appropriate student category and student fee applied;
make provision so that certain family members of persons who are granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under an Afghan or Ukraine related immigration scheme are included under the appropriate student category and student fee applied;
amend the reference to the relevant paragraph in Appendix Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy of the immigration rules to describe the way indefinite leave to enter or remain is given under that paragraph.
The Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland was renamed as the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, see the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 c.36section 7(3): renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, see the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999/283 (N.I.), Article 3(4); renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, see Departments (Northern Ireland) Act 2016 c.5 (N.I.), section 1(2).
1949 c.2 (N.I.)Section 5A(1) and (2) was inserted by Article 42(1) of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 ( S.I. 2006/1915 (N.I. 11)).
The immigration rules can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules?msclkid=b1df136cc7ce11ecb8f75116c530e06c
The immigration rules can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules?msclkid=b1df136cc7ce11ecb8f75116c530e06c
The immigration rules can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules?msclkid=b1df136cc7ce11ecb8f75116c530e06c
The immigration rules can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules?msclkid=b1df136cc7ce11ecb8f75116c530e06c
The immigration rules can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules?msclkid=b1df136cc7ce11ecb8f75116c530e06c
The immigration rules can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules?msclkid=b1df136cc7ce11ecb8f75116c530e06c
The immigration rules can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules?msclkid=b1df136cc7ce11ecb8f75116c530e06c