Previous study
If you have previously attended a higher education course, the amount of support you can receive may be affected by the rules on previous study.
1Regs 14 and 15 E(SS)(NI) RegsIf you hold an honours degree and are studying for a new qualification, unless you are covered by one of the exceptions (see below), you can only apply for a supplementary grant for travel costs, a grant for any dependants and a grant for disability-related costs.
2Regs 20, 57, 59 and 63 E(SS)(NI) RegsThere are some exceptions.
•Students who hold an honours degree and who are undertaking a PGCE or social work course receive full funding.
•Students undertaking a further undergraduate course in certain professional subjects, such as medicine or veterinary science, can receive a loan for their living costs,
3Reg 63(2) E(SS)(NI) Regs although not a loan for tuition fees or a maintenance or special support grant.
If you do not already hold an honours degree, in general the maximum number of years of tuition fee loan and maintenance or special support grant funding you can receive is equivalent to the ordinary length of your course plus one year, less any years of study previously undertaken.
4Reg 23 E(SS)(NI) Regs If you have studied part of a year, you are treated as if you have undertaken a full year of study. Loans for living costs are unaffected.
If you are transferring courses, or undertaking an ’end-on’ course (topping up from one qualification to another), these previous study rules affect you. You may be able to secure additional years of ’full’ funding if you were unable to complete a previous year or course for ’compelling personal reasons’ such as illness or caring responsibilities.
5Reg 20(10) E(SS)(NI) Regs You must provide evidence of this to Student Finance NI.
Further information on previous study is available from your students’ union or institution.