Course eligibility
To be eligible for support, broadly the course must be full time (as defined by the education provider) and be:
1Reg 5 and Sch 2 E(SS)(NI) Regs•a first degree;
•a higher education diploma;
•a BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND);
•a course of initial teacher training;
•a course for the further training of teachers, or youth or community workers;
•a course to prepare for certain professional examinations of a standard higher than A level, or HNC/HND where a first degree is not required for entry;
•a course not higher than a first degree, but higher than those described in the above bullet point.
Note: some courses, particularly in art and design, can require the student to undertake a foundation year or course. This is different to a foundation degree. It is normally a course of one academic year in length which precedes the main higher education degree course.
Support for foundation courses is often limited as they do not usually come within the definition of ‘higher education’. You may be eligible for support as a further education student (see Chapter 1). Contact an adviser in your students’ union or institution for further guidance.