Title and coming into force

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Education (Student Finance) (Fee Limit and Loan Amounts) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2024.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 8 March 2024.

Amendments to the Higher Education (Amounts) (Wales) Regulations 2015

2.  The Higher Education (Amounts) (Wales) Regulations 2015( 4) are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 6.

3.  For regulation 3 (but not the heading before it) substitute—

“3.   Subject to regulations 4, 5 and 6, Column 2 of Table 1 specifies the prescribed maximum amount for the purposes of section 5(3) of the 2015 Act in respect of an academic year in the corresponding entry in Column 1.

4.  For regulation 4 (but not the heading before it) substitute—

“4.— (1)  This regulation applies in respect of—

(a) the final academic year of a course where that academic year is normally required to be completed after less than 15 weeks’ attendance;

(b) a course of initial training of teachers (including such a course leading to a first degree), an academic year during which any periods of full-time study are in aggregate less than 10 weeks.

(2)  Where this regulation applies, Column 2 of Table 2 specifies the prescribed maximum amount for the purposes of section 5(3) of the 2015 Act in respect of an academic year in the corresponding entry in Column 1.

5.  For regulation 5 (but not the heading before it) substitute—

“5.— (1)  This regulation applies in respect of an academic year of a sandwich course—

(a) during which any periods of full-time study are in aggregate less than 10 weeks, or

(b) if in respect of that academic year and any previous academic years of the course the aggregate of any one or more periods of attendance which are not periods of full-time study at the institution (disregarding intervening vacations) exceeds 30 weeks.

(2)  Where this regulation applies, Column 2 of Table 3 specifies the prescribed maximum amount for the purposes of section 5(3) of the 2015 Act in respect of an academic year in the corresponding entry in Column 1.

6.  For regulation 6 (but not the heading before it) substitute—

“6.— (1)  This regulation applies in respect of an academic year of a course provided in conjunction with an overseas institution—

(a) during which any periods of full-time study at the institution in the United Kingdom are in aggregate less than 10 weeks, or

(b) if in respect of that academic year and any previous academic years of the course the aggregate of any one or more periods of attendance which are not periods of full-time study at the institution in the United Kingdom (disregarding intervening vacations) exceeds 30 weeks.

(2)  Where this regulation applies, Column 2 of Table 4 specifies the prescribed maximum amount for the purposes of section 5(3) of the 2015 Act in respect of an academic year in the corresponding entry in Column 1.

Amendments to the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2017

7.  In each of regulations 16(1), 19(1) and 20(1) of the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2017( 5), at the end insert “or (ea)”.

Amendments to the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2018

8.  In regulation 40 of the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2018( 6), in Table 2—

(a) in Column 1, after “Beginning on or after 1 September 2018” in both places it occurs, insert “but before 1 September 2024”;

(b) at the end of the Table, insert the following table entries—

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend—

(a) the Higher Education (Amounts) (Wales) Regulations 2015 (“ the 2015 Regulations”),

(b) the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2017 (“ the 2017 Regulations”), and

(c) the Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2018 (“ the 2018 Regulations”).

The 2015 Regulations prescribe the maximum amount that an institution with a fee and access plan is able to charge by way of tuition fees for full-time undergraduate courses. The 2015 Regulations also prescribe lower maximum amounts in respect of certain courses.

Regulations 3 to 6 amend the 2015 Regulations to increase each prescribed maximum amount in respect of academic years beginning on or after 1 August 2024.

The 2017 Regulations provide for financial support for eligible students taking designated higher education courses which begin before 1 August 2018.

The 2018 Regulations provide for financial support for eligible students taking designated higher education courses which begin on or after 1 August 2018.

Regulation 7 makes corrections to the 2017 Regulations.

Regulation 8 amends the 2018 Regulations to increase the maximum amount of tuition fee loan available to certain categories of students undertaking courses at ordinary providers in Wales in respect of academic years beginning on or after 1 August 2024. The increase in support corresponds to the increase in the prescribed maximum amount of fee under the 2015 Regulations, as a result of the amendments made by regulations 3 to 6.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Higher Education Division, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.