Citation, commencement and application

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2018.

(2) These Regulations-

(a)come into force on 27th February 2018; and

(b)apply in relation to the provision of support to students in relation to an academic year which begins on or after 1st August 2018, whether anything done under these Regulations is done before, on or after that date.

(3) In paragraph (2), "academic year" means the period of twelve months beginning with 1st January, 1st April, 1st July or 1st September of the calendar year in which the academic year of the course in question begins according to whether the academic year begins, respectively -

(a)on or after 1st January and before 1st April;

(b)on or after 1st April and before 1st July;

(c)on or after 1st July and before 1st August; or

(d)on or after 1st August and on or before 31st December.

Amendment of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011

2.  Regulations 3 to 14 amend the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011(2) as follows.

Amendment of regulation 2

3.-(1) Regulation 2 (interpretation) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)-

(a)in the definition of "allied health profession subject"(3), after "chiropody,", insert "dental profession subject,";

(b)in the appropriate place, insert-

""dental profession subject" means dental hygiene, dental therapy and dental hygiene and dental therapy;";

(c)in the appropriate place, insert-

""postgraduate pre-registration course" means an education and training programme leading to a graduate master's degree or a postgraduate diploma which is a condition of inclusion in the register (or, as the case may be, the relevant part or parts of the register) maintained by-

(d)for the definition of "pre-registration course"(6), substitute-

""pre-registration course" means an education and training programme leading to a qualification, the standard of which is not higher than a first degree course, which is a condition of inclusion in the register (or, as the case may be, the relevant part or parts of the register) maintained by-

Amendment of regulation 4

4.-(1) Regulation 4(8) (eligible students) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph (6), insert-

"(6A) A person ("A") is not an eligible student in connection with a postgraduate pre-registration course unless A begins the course on or after 1st August 2018.

(6B) For the purposes of paragraph (6A), a person ("A") who transfers from a postgraduate pre-registration course which began before 1st August 2018 to a postgraduate pre-registration course which begins on or after 1st August 2018 ("the second course") is not an eligible student unless A-

(a)transfers to the first academic year of the second course; or

(b)transfers to any other academic year of the second course which is not a bursary year.

(6C) A person ("A") is not an eligible student in connection with a pre-registration course or a postgraduate pre-registration course which leads to a qualification for a profession in respect of which A is already registered in the relevant part or parts of the register maintained by the Health and Care Professions Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council or the General Dental Council.

(6D) A person ("A") is not an eligible student in connection with a postgraduate pre-registration course if A has received support under Part 4, 5 or 6 of these Regulations in connection with a previous postgraduate pre-registration course begun on or after 1st August 2018 and has achieved a qualification.

(6E) A person who-

(a)has a disability, and

(b)would be an eligible student in connection with a postgraduate pre-registration course but for paragraph (6D),

is to be treated, for the purposes of Part 12 of these Regulations only, as if that person were an eligible postgraduate student in connection with a designated postgraduate course.".

(3) After paragraph (7), insert-

"(7A) A person ("A") is not an eligible student if A is enrolled on a course which is designated under regulation 4 of the Education (Postgraduate Master's Degree Loans) Regulations 2016(9) and is receiving support under those Regulations for that course.".

Amendment of regulation 5

5.-(1) Regulation 5(10) (designated courses) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)-

(a)in the opening words, after "paragraphs", insert "(2A),";

(b)in sub-paragraph (c), at the end, insert ", or, in the case of a postgraduate pre-registration course, of at least two academic years' duration".

(3) After paragraph (2), insert-

"(2A) A postgraduate pre-registration course is not a designated course if it is a distance learning course.".

Amendment of regulation 12

6.-(1) Regulation 12(11) (previous course) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (4A)-

(a)in the opening words, after "is not", insert "to be";

(b)for sub-paragraph (b), substitute-

"(b)leads to-

(i)an ordinary degree or an honours degree;

(ii)in respect of a course in a dental profession subject, an ordinary degree, an honours degree, a diploma or a foundation degree; or

(iii)in respect of a course in operating department practice, an ordinary degree, an honours degree or a diploma;";

(c)in sub-paragraph (c), at the end, insert "or, in the case of a course in a dental profession subject, begins on or after 1st August 2018".

(3) After paragraph (4A), insert-

"(4B) A course which would otherwise be a previous course is not to be treated as such if the current course is a postgraduate pre-registration course which begins on or after 1st August 2018.".

(4) In paragraph (12), after "is only", insert "to be".

Amendment of regulation 13

7.-(1) Regulation 13(12) (miscellaneous) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (2A)-

(a)for sub-paragraph (b), substitute-

"(b)leads to-

(i)an ordinary degree or an honours degree;

(ii)in respect of a course in a dental profession subject, an ordinary degree, an honours degree, a diploma or a foundation degree; or

(iii)in respect of a course in operating department practice, an ordinary degree, an honours degree or a diploma;";

(b)in sub-paragraph (c), at the end, insert "or, in the case of a course in a dental profession subject, begins on or after 1st August 2018".

(3) After paragraph (2A), insert-

"(2B) Paragraph (1) does not apply where the current course is a postgraduate pre-registration course which begins on or after 1st August 2018.".

Amendment of regulation 69

8.-(1) Regulation 69(13) (qualifying conditions for the loan for living costs – current system students) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (2)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (e)-

(i)for paragraph (ii), substitute-

"(ii)leads to-

(aa)an ordinary degree or an honours degree;

(bb)in respect of a course in a dental profession subject, an ordinary degree, an honours degree, a diploma or a foundation degree; or

(cc)in respect of a course in operating department practice, an ordinary degree, an honours degree or a diploma;";

(ii)at the end of paragraph (iii), insert "or, in the case of a course in a dental profession subject, begins on or after 1st August 2018";

(b)after sub-paragraph (e), insert-

"(f)the designated course is a postgraduate pre-registration course which begins on or after 1st August 2018.".

Amendment of regulation 81

9.  In regulation 81(14) (long courses loan), after paragraph (6), insert-

"(7) For the purposes of calculating the maximum amount of the long courses loan, a student's attendance on a pre-registration course or a postgraduate pre-registration course includes any time the student is required to spend, as part of that course, undertaking clinical training at a hospital or other premises.".

Amendment of regulation 137

10.  In regulation 137(15) (eligible part-time students), after paragraph (3), insert-

"(3A) A person ("A") is not an eligible part-time student in connection with a pre-registration course which leads to a qualification for a profession in respect of which A is already registered in the relevant part or parts of the register maintained by the Health and Care Professions Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council or the General Dental Council.".

Amendment of regulation 139

11.  In regulation 139(16) (designated part-time courses), after paragraph (5), insert-

"(5A) A postgraduate pre-registration course is not a designated part-time course.".

Amendment of regulation 144

12.-(1) Regulation 144(17) (fee support for designated part-time courses beginning on or after 1st September 2012) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (7B)-

(a)In sub-paragraph (a), for paragraph (ii) substitute-

"(ii)leads to-

(aa)an ordinary degree or an honours degree;

(bb)in respect of a course in a dental profession subject, an ordinary degree, an honours degree, a diploma or a foundation degree; or

(cc)in respect of a course in operating department practice, an ordinary degree, an honours degree or a diploma;";

(b)at the end of sub-paragraph (b), insert "or, in the case of a course in a dental profession subject, begins on or after 1st August 2018".

Amendment of regulation 161

13.  In regulation 161(18) (designated postgraduate courses), after paragraph (3), insert-

"(3A) A postgraduate pre-registration course is not a designated postgraduate course.".

Amendment of Schedule 2

14.  In Schedule 2(19) (designated courses), after paragraph 8, insert-

"9.  A postgraduate pre-registration course.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1986) ("the Student Support Regulations") to ensure that new eligible students starting pre-registration courses in dental profession subjects or postgraduate pre-registration courses from 1st August 2018 onwards may receive support under those Regulations.

The principal amendments which these Regulations make are as follows.

Regulation 3 amends the definition of "allied health profession subject" in regulation 2 of the Student Support Regulations to include dental profession subjects: dental hygiene, dental therapy and dental hygiene and dental therapy. Regulation 3 also amends the definition of "pre-registration course" in regulation 2 of the Student Support Regulations to include a reference to dental profession subjects and the General Dental Council. A course in a dental profession subject may be undertaken as a pre-registration course but not as a postgraduate pre-registration course. Regulation 3 inserts into regulation 2 of the Student Support Regulations a definition of a "postgraduate pre-registration course".

Regulation 4 amends regulation 4 of the Student Support Regulations to provide that a person cannot be an eligible student in connection with a pre-registration course or a postgraduate pre-registration course if that person is already registered in respect of the profession to which the course leads. Regulation 4 also amends regulation 4 of the Student Support Regulations to provide that a person cannot be an eligible student in connection with a postgraduate pre-registration course unless that person begins the course on or after 1st August 2018 or transfers from a postgraduate pre-registration course starting before 1st August 2018 in certain specified circumstances.

In addition, a person who has received support under Part 4, 5 or 6 of the Student Support Regulations in connection with a previous postgraduate pre-registration course where the person has achieved a qualification cannot be an eligible student in connection with a second postgraduate pre-registration course. Nevertheless, if that person has a disability, they may be eligible to receive a disabled students' allowance under Part 12 of the Student Support Regulations.

Regulation 6 amends regulation 12 of the Student Support Regulations so that years of study on previous courses are disregarded when calculating fee loan entitlement for a current full-time pre-registration undergraduate course in a dental profession subject beginning on or after 1st August 2018 or a current full-time postgraduate pre-registration course beginning on or after that date.

Regulations 7 and 8 amend, respectively, regulations 13 and 69 of the Student Support Regulations so that students may qualify for support for a full-time undergraduate pre-registration course in a dental profession subject beginning on or after 1st August 2018, or a full-time postgraduate pre-registration course beginning on or after that date, even if they hold a previous qualification that is equivalent or higher in level than their current course.

Regulation 9 amends regulation 81 of the Student Support Regulations to clarify that time spent undertaking clinical training on a full-time pre-registration course or a postgraduate pre-registration course beginning on or after 1st August 2018 is to be taken into account when calculating the amount of long courses loans.

Regulation 10 amends regulation 137 of the Student Support Regulations to provide that a person cannot be an eligible part-time student in connection with a pre-registration course if that person is already registered in respect of the profession to which the course leads.

Regulation 11 amends regulation 139 of the Student Support Regulations to provide that a postgraduate pre-registration course is not a designated part-time course.

Regulation 12 amends regulation 144 of the Student Support Regulations so that students may qualify for support for a part-time undergraduate pre-registration course in a dental profession subject beginning on or after 1st August 2018 even if they hold a previous qualification that is equivalent or higher in level than their current course.

Regulation 13 amends regulation 161 of the Student Support Regulations to provide that a postgraduate pre-registration course is not a designated postgraduate course.

The amendment made, by regulation 14, to Schedule 2 to the Student Support Regulations ensures that postgraduate pre-registration courses may be designated courses for the purposes of section 22 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998.

The Explanatory Memorandum to these Regulations sets out how to obtain hard copies of the registers mentioned in regulation 3.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities or the voluntary sector.