Education PART 1 Introductory Citation and commencement 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 and shall come into operation on 1st August 2024. 2 These Regulations apply in relation to the provision of support to a student in relation to an academic year which begins on or after 1st August 2024, whether or not anything done under these Regulations is done before, on, or after that date. 3 In paragraph (2), an “academic year” is 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 of the course in question begins— 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. PART 2 Amendment of the Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 Regulations 2 to 13 amend the Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012. 1A CHAPTER 1 Amendments Relating to Family Members of Persons Granted Leave under one of the Afghan Schemes or one of the Ukraine Schemes 2 In Part 1 of the Schedule (eligible students: interpretation), in paragraph (1)(1), in the definition of “person granted leave under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme” , a after sub-paragraph (a)(i) insert— ia indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom under paragraph ARAP 6.1 of Appendix Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy of the Immigration rules as defined in section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971; ; b in sub-paragraph (a)(iv), after “of those rules” insert “or paragraph ARAP 16.1 of Appendix Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy of those rules” ; c i insert “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (a)(ii); ii at the end of paragraph (a)(iii), for “or” substitute “and” ; iii omit sub-paragraph (a)(iv). 3 In Part 1 of the Schedule (eligible students: interpretation), in paragraph (1)(1), in the definition of “person granted leave under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme” , a at the end of sub-paragraph (a)(i), for “or” substitute “and” ; b omit sub-paragraph (a)(ii) (other than “and” at the end of that sub-paragraph); c for paragraph (a) substitute— a who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, outside the immigration rules, on the basis of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; and 4 In Part 2 of the Schedule (eligible students: categories)— a for paragraph (3G) (including the heading) substitute— Persons granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes and their family members 3G 1 A person granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes, who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. 2 A person who— a is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes; 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 Northern Ireland on the course start date. 3 A person who— a is— i the child of a person granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes; or ii the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes; b on the leave application date, was— i the child of the person granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes; or ii the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes 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 given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and e is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. 4 In this paragraph “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under one of the Afghan Schemes made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. ; b for paragraph (3I) (including the heading) substitute— Persons granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes and their family members 3I 1 A person granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes, who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. 2 A person who— a is the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes; 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 Northern Ireland on the course start date. 3 A person who— a is— i the child of a person granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes; or ii the child of the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes; b on the leave application date, was— i the child of the person granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes; or ii the child of a person who was the spouse or civil partner of a person granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes 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 given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; and e is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. 4 In this paragraph “ leave application date ” means the date on which the person granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes made an application for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. . CHAPTER 2 Amendments relating to the ordinary residence requirements for students in existing protected categories 5 In Part 1 of the Schedule (eligible students: interpretation), in paragraph (1)(1), (as amended by regulations 2 and 3 of these regulations), after the definition of “the 2020 Citizens’ Rights Regulations” insert— “ course start date ” means the day on which the first term of the first academic year of a designated course actually begins; . 6 In Part 2 of the Schedule (eligible students: categories) (as amended by regulation 4 of these regulations)— a in paragraph (2A)(1)(a) (persons who are settled in the United Kingdom) for “the day on which the first term of the first academic year actually begins” substitute “the course start date” ; b in paragraph (3A) (other than the heading) (persons granted section 67 leave), substitute— 3A — A person granted section 67 leave who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. ; c in paragraph (3B) (other than the heading) (persons granted Calais leave), substitute— 3B — A person granted Calais leave who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. ; d in paragraph (3C) (persons granted humanitarian protection and their family members)— i in sub-paragraph (1) for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; ii in sub-paragraph (2)(d) for “United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; iii in sub-paragraph (3)(e) for “the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “the course start date” ; e in paragraph (3D) (persons granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner), for “the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “the course start date” ; f in paragraph (3E) (persons granted indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse), for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; g in paragraph (3F) (persons granted stateless leave and their family members)— i in sub-paragraph (1) for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; ii in sub-paragraph (2)(b) for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date; and” ; iii after sub-paragraph (2)(b) insert— c who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. iv in sub-paragraph (3)(c) for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date; and” ; v after sub-paragraph (3)(c) insert— d who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands and has not ceased to be so resident since being given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. h in paragraph (3H) (evacuated or assisted British nationals from Afghanistan), for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; i in paragraph (4) (persons with leave to enter or remain on the grounds of discretionary leave and their family members)— ii in sub-paragraph (1) for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; iii in sub-paragraph (2)(d) for “the United Kingdom on the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; iv in sub-paragraph (3)(d) for “the first day of the first academic year of the course” substitute “the course start date” ; i in paragraph (5E)(1) (Persons who are settled in the United Kingdom and have exercised a right of residence elsewhere)— i in sub-paragraph (c) for “the day on which the first term of the first academic year actually begins” substitute “the course start date” ; j in paragraph (5F)(1) (Persons who are settled in the United Kingdom and have exercised a right of residence elsewhere) — i in sub-paragraph (d) for “the United Kingdom on the day on which the first term of the first academic year actually begins” substitute “Northern Ireland on the course start date” ; CHAPTER 3 Victims of domestic abuse 7 In Part 1 of the Schedule (eligible students: interpretation) (as amended by regulations 2, 3 and 5 of these regulations), in paragraph (1)(1), in the definition of “person granted indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse” — a for “leave to remain”, in both places, substitute “leave to enter or remain” ; b for paragraphs (i) to (iii) of sub-paragraph (a), substitute— 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, paragraph 289B (victims of domestic violence), paragraph D-DVILR.1.1. of Appendix FM (victims of domestic abuse) or paragraph 40 of Appendix Armed Forces (victims of domestic violence: partners of members of the armed forces); . 8 In Part 2 of the Schedule (eligible students: categories) (as amended by regulations 4 and 6 of these regulations), in paragraph (3E) (persons granted indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse), in each place it occurs, including in the heading to paragraph (3E) of the Schedule, for “leave to remain”, substitute “leave to enter or remain” . CHAPTER 4 Children of persons granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a victim of domestic violence or abuse or as a bereaved partner 9 In Part 2 of the Schedule (eligible students: categories) (as amended by regulations 4, 6 and 8 of these regulations)— a in the heading to paragraph (3E) (persons granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse), at the end, insert “and their children” ; b paragraph (3E) becomes sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph; c after that sub-paragraph (1) insert— 2 A person— a granted indefinite leave to enter or remain; b who— 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 doestic violence or domestic abuse; c who was under 18 on the leave application date; d who has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands since the person was granted such leave; and e who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. 3 In this paragraph, “ 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 enter or remain in the United Kingdom on those grounds under the immigration rules. ; d in the heading to paragraph (3D) (persons granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner), at the end, insert “and their children” ; e paragraph (3D) becomes sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph; f after that sub-paragraph (1) insert— 2 A person— a granted indefinite leave to remain; b who— i is the child of a person granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner; and ii on the leave application date, was the child of the person granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner; c who was under 18 on the leave application date; d who has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands since the person was granted such leave; and e who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the course start date. 3 In this paragraph, “ leave application date ” means the date on which a person granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner made an application to remain in the United Kindgom on those grounds under the immigration rules. . CHAPTER 5 Other amendments Amendment relating to Citizens’ Rights, residency and removal of references to grace period 10 In Part 2 of the Schedule (eligible students: categories) (as amended by regulation 4,6,8 and 9 of these regulations), in paragraph (2B)(1)(a) omit sub-paragraph (iii). Amendment to insert the definition of eligible student into The Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 11 In Part 1 of the Schedule (eligible students: interpretation), in paragraph (1)(1), (as amended by regulation 2, 3, 5 and 7 of these regulations), after the definition of “EEA state” insert— “ eligible student ” has the meaning given in regulation 4; . CHAPTER 6 Savings Interpretation of Part 4 12 In this Part “ earlier academic year ” means an academic year beginning before 1 st August 2024. 13 —Savings 1 This regulation applies where an existing SSR Afghan scheme student (“ S ”) applies for support under the SSR 2012 in respect of a new academic year of a relevant course (the “current course”). 2 For the purposes of determining whether S’s status as an eligible student terminates before the first day of the academic year of the current course in respect of which S is applying for support(see regulation 4 of the SSR 2012), the SSR 2012 apply as if the amendments made by regulations 2(c), 3 and 4(a) of these Regulations had not been made. 3 In this regulation— designated course” and “eligible student” have the meanings given in the SSR 2012; “ existing SSR Afghan scheme student ” means a student who the Secretary of State determined, by virtue of the student falling within paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of “person granted leave under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme” in regulation 1(1) of the SSR 2012, or paragraph (a)(iv) of the definition of “person granted leave under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme” in that regulation, to be a relevant student— in connection with an application for support for an earlier academic year of the current course, or in connection with an application for support for a relevant course from which the student’s status as an eligible student has been transferred to the current course; “ relevant course ” means a designated course; “ relevant student ” means an eligible student; “ the SSR 2012 ” means The Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012. Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for the Economy on 11th June 2024. Ms Louise Watson A senior officer of the Department for the Economy