Regulation 3 Eligible students

England and Wales

(1)

An eligible student qualifies for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan in connection with a designated course subject to and in accordance with these Regulations.

F1(2)

Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, a person is an eligible student in connection with a designated course if in assessing that person’s application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan under regulation 9 the Welsh Ministers determine that the person falls within one of the categories set out—

(a)

in paragraph 2, 2A, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, F24C, 6, 7A, 8A, 9A, 10A, 10B, F310BA, F410BB, 10C, 10D, 11A, 12A or 13A of Part 2 of Schedule 1, or

(b)

in paragraph 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 where paragraph (2A) applies.

(2A)

This paragraph applies where—

(a)

in connection with a designated course beginning before 1 August 2021, the Welsh Ministers—

(i)

in assessing an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan by a person (“A”) determined that A fell within one of the categories set out in paragraph 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 in relation to an academic year of the course beginning before 1 August 2021; or

(ii)

would have so determined had A made an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan in accordance with these Regulations in relation to an academic year of the course beginning before that date; and

(b)

A applies for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan in connection with—

(i)

that course; or

(ii)

a designated course to which A’s status as an eligible student is transferred in accordance with regulation 6.

(2B)

A person is not an eligible student for the purposes of paragraph (2) in connection with a designated course beginning on or after 1 January 2028 if the only paragraph or paragraphs of Part 2 of Schedule 1 into which the student falls is one or more of paragraphs F59A, 10B, 10BA or 10D.

(3)

A person (“A”) is not an eligible student if—

(a)

A has reached the age of 60 on the first day of the academic year in which the designated course starts;

(b)

A is in breach of any obligation to repay any loan;

(c)

A has reached the age of 18 and has not ratified any agreement for a loan made with A when A was under the age of 18;

(d)

A has, in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers, shown by A's conduct that A is unfitted to receive a postgraduate doctoral degree loan;

(e)

A is a prisoner, unless A is an eligible prisoner;

(f)

A is enrolled on a course which is—

(i)

a designated course under regulation 5 (designated courses), 66 (designated distance learning courses) or 83 (designated part-time courses) of the 2017 Student Support Regulations and is receiving support under those Regulations for that course;

(ii)

a designated course under regulation 4 (designated courses) of the 2017 Master's Degree Loans Regulations and is receiving support under those Regulations for that course;

(iii)

a designated course under regulation 5 (designated courses) of the 2018 Student Support Regulations and is receiving support under those Regulations for that course;

(g)

A has already obtained an equivalent or higher qualification;

(h)

A is already enrolled on a designated course and is in receipt of a postgraduate doctoral degree loan under these Regulations for that course;

(i)

subject to paragraph (9), A has previously received a postgraduate doctoral degree loan under these Regulations;

(j)

there has been bestowed on or paid to A in relation to A undertaking the course—

(i)

a healthcare bursary;

F6(ii)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iii)

any allowance, bursary or award of similar description made under section 67(4)(a) of the Care Standards Act 2000M1 F7, or under section 46 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, save to the extent that A is eligible for such a payment in respect of travel expenses;

(iv)

any allowance, bursary or award of similar description made under section 116(2)(a) of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 M2 save to the extent that A is eligible for such a payment in respect of travel expenses;

(k)

subject to paragraph (9), A has previously received a loan in respect of a course other than under these Regulations, where that loan was provided out of funds provided by a government authority within the United Kingdom; F8or

(l)

A is, in relation to the course, in receipt of any allowance, bursary or award paid out of funds provided—

(i)

by a Research Council;

(ii)

by, or on behalf of, United Kingdom Research and Innovation M3; F9...

(m)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(3A)

A person (“A”) is not an eligible student if—

(a)

A is undertaking a programme at Cardiff University leading to the award of doctorate in educational psychology which begins on or after 1 August 2022, and

(b)

there has been bestowed on or paid to A in relation to A undertaking that programme any allowance, bursary or award of a similar description funded by the Welsh Ministers.

(4)

Where the eligible student is undertaking a designated course which is a distance learning course, the student does not qualify for support in respect of that course unless the Welsh Ministers consider that the student is undertaking the course in Wales on the first day of the first academic year of the course, whether the course is a designated course at that date or is designated on a later date.

(5)

For the purposes of paragraph (4), a person (“A”) is to be treated as undertaking the course in Wales for any period during which—

(a)

A would have been undertaking the course in Wales but for the fact that—

(i)

(ii)

A's spouse or civil partner,

(iii)

A's parent,

(iv)

where A is a dependent direct relative in the ascending line, A's child or child's spouse or civil partner,

is or was temporarily employed in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland as a member of the regular naval, military or air forces of the Crown; or

(b)

A is treated as ordinarily resident in Wales by virtue of paragraph 1(4) of Schedule 1 on the basis of temporary employment falling within paragraph 1(5)(a) of Schedule 1.

(6)

An eligible student ceases to be eligible for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan in respect of a distance learning course if the Welsh Ministers consider that the student is undertaking the course outside the United Kingdom notwithstanding whether that student has previously been considered by the Welsh Ministers to be undertaking their course within the United Kingdom.

(7)

Paragraph (6) does not apply to a person who is treated as being ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom by virtue of paragraph 1(4) of Schedule 1 on the basis of temporary employment falling within paragraph 1(5)(a) of Schedule 1.

(8)

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b) and (c), “loan” means a loan made under any provision of the student loans legislation.

(9)

The Welsh Ministers may deem a person described in paragraph (3)(i) or (3)(k) to be an eligible student where the Welsh Ministers are of the view that the person had not been able to complete the course to which the previous loan related due to compelling personal reasons.

(10)

The Welsh Ministers may only exercise their discretion under paragraph (9) once in respect of a particular student.

F11(10A)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a refugee or the spouse, civil partner, child or stepchild of a refugee, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, the refugee status of A, or of A’s spouse, civil partner, parent or step-parent, as the case may be, has expired and no further leave to remain has been granted and no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002),

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10B)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person granted stateless leave or the spouse, civil partner, child or stepchild of such a person, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, the period for which the person granted stateless leave is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and no further leave to remain has been granted and no application for administrative review in accordance with the immigration rules is pending,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10C)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person with leave to enter or remain or the spouse, civil partner, child or stepchild of such a person, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, the period for which the person with leave to enter or remain is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and no further leave to remain has been granted and no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002),

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10D)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person granted humanitarian protection under paragraph 339C of the immigration rules or the spouse, civil partner, child or stepchild of such a person, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, the period for which the person granted humanitarian protection is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and no further leave to remain has been granted and no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002),

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10E)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person with section 67 leave to remain or the child of such a person, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, the period for which the person with section 67 leave to remain is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and no further leave to remain has been granted and no appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 104 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002),

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10F)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person with Calais leave, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, the period for which A is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and no further leave to remain has been granted,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(F1210FA)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person granted leave to enter or remain as a protected partner, or as the child of such a person, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course, and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, A no longer has extant leave to enter or remain as a protected partner, or as the child of such a person, and no further leave to enter or remain has been granted,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10G)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person with protected rights with limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom granted by virtue of residence scheme immigration rules, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, A no longer has extant limited leave to enter or remain granted by virtue of residence scheme immigration rules, and no further leave to enter or remain has been granted under those rules,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10H)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a protected Ukrainian national or the spouse, civil partner, child or stepchild of a protected Ukrainian national, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, F13the period for which A, or A’s spouse, civil partner, parent or step-parent, as the case may be, F14is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and no further leave to enter or remain has been granted,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10I)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of being a person with leave to enter or remain as a relevant Afghan citizen or the spouse, civil partner, child or stepchild of such a person, a person (“A”) was an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before the relevant day, the period for which the person with leave to enter or remain as a relevant Afghan citizen is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom has expired and no further leave to enter or remain has been granted,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before the relevant day.

(10J)

Paragraphs (10A), (10B), (10C), (10D), (10E), (10F), (10G), (10H), (10I) or (11) do not apply where, as at the relevant day—

(a)

A, or

(b)

the person who, as a result of their immigration status, caused A to be an eligible student,

is a British or Irish citizen.

F15(11)

Where—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have determined that, by virtue of—

(i)

falling within F16paragraph (1)(a)F17... (iv) or (v) of the definition of “person with protected rights”; or

(ii)

meeting the conditions in paragraph 3(1)(a)F18... (iv) of Part 2 of Schedule 1,

a person (“A”) is an eligible student in connection with an application for a postgraduate doctoral degree loan for a designated course; and

(b)

as at the day before F19the relevant day, A is not a person with protected rights,

A’s status as an eligible student terminates immediately before F20the relevant day.

F21(12)

In this regulation, “relevant day” means—

(a)

the first day of the first academic year of the designated course (“the AY1 start date”); or

(b)

if the relevant status or period for which a person is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom expires on or after AY1 start date, the first day of the academic year which begins immediately after the academic year during which the status or period expires.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Reg. 3(2)-(2B) substituted for reg. 3(2) (25.4.2021) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/481), regs. 1(2), 155(a) (with reg. 2)
F2: Word in reg. 3(2)(a) inserted (with application in accordance with reg. 3 of the amending S.I.) by The Education (Student Finance) (Ukrainian Nationals and Family Members) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/764), regs. 2, 48
F3: Word in reg. 3(2)(a) inserted (31.12.2021) by The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1365), regs. 1(2), 47(a)
F4: Word in reg. 3(2)(a) inserted (22.2.2023) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/87), regs. 1(2), 61 (with reg. 2)
F5: Words in reg. 3(2B) substituted (31.12.2021) by The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1365), regs. 1(2), 47(b)
F6: Reg. 3(3)(j)(ii) omitted (4.1.2024) by virtue of The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 64
F7: Words in reg. 3(3)(j)(iii) inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Children and Social Work Act 2017 (Consequential Amendments) (Social Workers) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1094), Sch. 3 para. 45(2)
F8: Word in reg. 3(3) inserted (3.2.2025) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/16), regs. 1(2), 41(a)
F9: Reg. 3(3)(m) and word omitted (3.2.2025) by virtue of The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/16), regs. 1(2), 41(b)
F10: Reg. 3(3A) inserted (6.5.2022) by The Education (Postgraduate Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/403), regs. 1(2), 15 (with reg. 2)
F11: Reg. 3(10A)-(10J) inserted (4.1.2024) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 63(a) (with reg. 2)
F12: Reg. 3(10FA) inserted (with application in accordance with reg. 2 of the amending S.I.) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 (W.S.I. 2026/3), regs. 1(2), 2, 47
F13: Words in reg. 3(10H)(b) substituted (17.7.2025) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/728), regs. 1(2), 13(a) (with reg. 2)
F14: Words in reg. 3(10H)(b) inserted (17.7.2025) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/728), regs. 1(2), 13(b) (with reg. 2)
F15: Reg. 3(11) inserted (25.4.2021) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/481), regs. 1(2), 155(b) (with reg. 2)
F16: Words in reg. 3(11)(a)(i) substituted (31.12.2021) by The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1365), regs. 1(2), 45
F17: Word in reg. 3(11)(a)(i) omitted (6.5.2022) by virtue of The Education (Postgraduate Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/403), regs. 1(2), 9(a) (with reg. 2)
F18: Words in reg. 3(11)(a)(ii) omitted (6.5.2022) by virtue of The Education (Postgraduate Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/403), regs. 1(2), 9(b) (with reg. 2)
F19: Words in reg. 3(11)(b) substituted (4.1.2024) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 63(b)(i) (with reg. 2)
F20: Words in reg. 3(11) substituted (4.1.2024) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 63(b)(ii) (with reg. 2)
F21: Reg. 3(12) inserted (4.1.2024) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1349), regs. 1(2), 63(c) (with reg. 2)

Marginal citations

M1: 2000 c. 14. Section 67(4)(a) was amended by the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 2), section 185, Schedule 3, Part 2, paragraphs 40 and 43(d).
M2: 2016 anaw 2.
M3: United Kingdom Research and Innovation is a body corporate established by section 91 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (c. 29). Sections 95 to 98 of that Act provide for United Kingdom Research and Innovation to make arrangements for the exercise of its functions on its behalf.