LegalizeThe Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Made: 19th March 2026
Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1(2) and (3)
The Department for the Economy[^f00001], in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 3 and 8(4) of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998[^f00002] makes the following Regulations.
Citation, commencement and application
1
- (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.
- (2) These Regulations come into operation on 10th April 2026.
- (3) The provisions of these Regulations specified in paragraph (4) apply only in relation to the provision of support in relation to a new academic year, whether or not anything done under these Regulations is done before, on or after 1st August 2026.
- (4) The provisions mentioned in paragraph (3) are—
- (a) regulations 3 (amendments to disabled students allowances);
- (b) regulation 7 (amendments to the payment rates for student support) and the Schedule (new payment rates for student support).
- (5) In these Regulations—
- “new academic year” means an academic year which begins on or after 1st August 2026: and
- “academic year” has the meaning given by regulation 2 of the Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009[^f00003].
Amendments to the Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
2
Regulations3to 7 amend the Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Amendments to disabled students’ allowances
3
- (1) In regulation 41(1), after “attendance on”, insert “or undertaking of”;
- (2) In the following provisions (which set maximum expenditure other than for travel), for “£25,000” substitute “£27,500” —
- (a) regulation 42(2)(a) (disabled students’ allowance);
- (b) regulation 112(6)(a) (disabled distance learning students’ allowance);
- (c) regulation 130(5)(a) (disabled part-time students’ allowance); and
- (d) regulation 146(2)(a) (support for postgraduate students with disabilities).
Amendment to omit references to Scottish healthcare allowance
4
- (1) In regulation 2(1)—
- (i) in the definition of “bursary year”, omit “or a Scottish healthcare allowance”,
- (ii) omit the definition of “Scottish healthcare allowance”;
- (2) in regulation 46(3)(c), omit “or Scottish healthcare allowance”;
- (3) in regulation 63(2)(c), omit “or a Scottish healthcare allowance”.
Amendment to omit Regional Health and Social Care Board
5
Omit regulation 39(6)(e)(i).
Amendment to special support grant
6
In regulation 59, after the previously omitted paragraph (6), insert—
(7) A current system student does not qualify for a special support grant if the current course is a graduate entry course.
Amendments to the payment rates for student support
7
The Schedule to these Regulations has effect to substitute the figure in the third column of the table for the figure in the second column where that figure appears in the provision of the 2009 Regulations set out in the first column.
Amendment to the Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
8
Regulation 22 of the Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 [^f00004] is revoked.
SCHEDULE
| Provision in the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 | Existing figure | New figure |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation 25 | Regulation 25 | Regulation 25 |
| 25(1)(a) | £9,535 | £9,790 |
| 25(2)(a) | £4,765 | £4,895 |
| 25(2A)(a) | £4,855 | £4,985 |
| 25(2B)(a) | £2,410 | £2,475 |
| 25(13)(a) | £9,535 | £9,790 |
| 25(11)(a) | £1,430 | £1,465 |
| 25(14)(a) | £11,440 | £11,750 |
| 25(14)(b) | £4,855 | £4,985 |
| Regulation 58 | Regulation 58 | Regulation 58 |
| 58(1)(a) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| 58(1)(b) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 58(1)(c) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 58(2)(a) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| 58(2)(b) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| £9.09 | £8.86 | |
| 58(2)(c) | £659 | £678 |
| 58(3)(a) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 58(3)(b) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| £4.55 | £4.43 | |
| 58(3)(c) | £1,318 | £1,354 |
| 58(4)(a) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| 58(4)(b) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| £9.09 | £8.86 | |
| £19.00 | £18.50 | |
| 58(5)(a) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 58(5)(b) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| £4.55 | £4.43 | |
| 58(5)(c) | £1,318 | £1,354 |
| £9.50 | £9.25 | |
| Regulation 60 | Regulation 60 | Regulation 60 |
| 60(1)(a) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| 60(1)(b) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 60(1)(c) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 60(2)(a) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| 60(2)(b) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| £9.09 | £8.86 | |
| 60(2)(c) | £659 | £678 |
| 60(3)(a) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 60(3)(b) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| £4.55 | £4.43 | |
| 60(3)(c) | £1,318 | £1,354 |
| 60(4)(a) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| 60(4)(b) | £1,738 | £1,785 |
| £9.09 | £8.86 | |
| £19.00 | £18.50 | |
| 60(5)(a) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| 60(5)(b) | £3,475 | £3,569 |
| £4.55 | £4.43 | |
| 60(5)(c) | £1,318 | £1,354 |
| £9.50 | £9.25 | |
| Regulation 66 | Regulation 66 | Regulation 66 |
| 66(2)(i) | £6,300 | £6,471 |
| 66(2)(ii) | £11,391 | £11,699 |
| 66(2)(iii) | £9,694 | £9,956 |
| 66 (2)(iv) | £8,132 | £8,352 |
| 66(3)(i) | £5,696 | £5,850 |
| 66(3)(ii) | £10,366 | £10,646 |
| 66(3)(iii) | £8,426 | £8,654 |
| 66(3)(iv) | £7,527 | £7,731 |
| Regulation 67 | Regulation 67 | Regulation 67 |
| 67(2)(a) | £6,300 | £6,471 |
| 67(2)(b) | £11,391 | £11,699 |
| 67(2)(c) | £9,694 | £9,956 |
| 67(2)(d) | £8,132 | £8,352 |
| 67(3)(a) | £5,696 | £5,850 |
| 67(3)(b) | £10,366 | £10,646 |
| 67(3)(c) | £8,426 | £8,654 |
| 67(3)(d) | £7,527 | £7,731 |
| Regulation 69 | Regulation 69 | Regulation 69 |
| 69(1)(a)(i) | £2,991 | £3,072 |
| 69(1)(a)(ii) | £5,595 | £5,747 |
| 69(1)(a)(iii) | £3,982 | £4,090 |
| 69(1)(b)(i) | £2,991 | £3,072 |
| 69(1)(b)(ii) | £5,595 | £5,747 |
| 69(1)(b)(iii) | £4,763 | £4,892 |
| 69(1)(b)(iv) | £3,982 | £4,090 |
| 69(1)(c)(i) | £4,725 | £4,853 |
| 69(1)(c)(ii) | £8,543 | £8,774 |
| 69(1)(c)(iii) | £7,271 | £7,468 |
| 69(1)(c)(iv) | £6,099 | £6,264 |
| 69(2)(a)(i) | £2,268 | £2,330 |
| 69(2)(a)(ii) | £4,284 | £4,400 |
| 69(2)(a)(iii) | £3,108 | £3,192 |
| 69(2)(b)(i) | £2,268 | £2,330 |
| 69(2)(b)(ii) | £4,284 | £4,400 |
| 69(2)(b)(iii) | £3,478 | £3,572 |
| 69(2)(b)(iv) | £3,108 | £3,192 |
| 69(2)(c)(i) | £4,272 | £4,388 |
| 69(2)(c)(ii) | £7,775 | £7,985 |
| 69(2)(c)(iii) | £6,320 | £6,491 |
| 69(2)(c)(iv) | £5,645 | £5,798 |
| 69(3)(a) | £659 | £678 |
| 69(3)(b) | £1,318 | £1,354 |
| Regulation 70 | Regulation 70 | Regulation 70 |
| 70(5)(i) | £93 | £96 |
| 70(5)(ii) | £183 | £188 |
| 70(5)(iii) | £197 | £203 |
| 70(5)(iv) | £142 | £146 |
| 70(6)(a) | £55 | £96 |
| 70(6)(b) | £84 | £146 |
| Regulation 91 | Regulation 91 | Regulation 91 |
| 91(1)(a) | £4,725 | £4,853 |
| 91(1)(b) | £8,543 | £8,774 |
| 91(1)(c) | £7,271 | £7,468 |
| 91(1)(d) | £6,099 | £6,264 |
| 91(2)(a) | £4,272 | £4,388 |
| 91(2)(b) | £7,775 | £7,985 |
| 91(2)(c) | £6,320 | £6,491 |
| 91(2)(d) | £5,645 | £5,798 |
| Regulation 110A | Regulation 110A | Regulation 110A |
| 110A(1)(a) | £3,641.25 | £3,738.75 |
| Regulation 117 | Regulation 117 | Regulation 117 |
| 117(4)(d)(i) | £3,641.25 | £3,738.75 |
| Regulation 127A | Regulation 127A | Regulation 127A |
| 127A(1)(a) | £3,641.25 | £3,738.75 |
| Regulation 135 | Regulation 135 | Regulation 135 |
| 135(4A)(d)(i) | £3,641.25 | £3,738.75 |
| 135(10B)(a)(i) | £3,641.25 | £3,738.75 |
| 135(19)(a)(i) | £3,641.25 | £3,738.75 |
| Schedule 5 | Schedule 5 | Schedule 5 |
| 3(3) | £1,153 | £1,185 |
| 5(2)(c) | £1,153 | £1,185 |
| 7(1)(c) | £1,153 | £1,185 |
| 9(1)(a) | £5.71 | £5.55 |
| 9(2) | £2,848 | £2,925 |
| 9(4) | £2,848 | £2,925 |
Signed
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for the Economy on 19 March 2026.
Graham Miller — A senior officer of the Department for the Economy
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
These Regulations amend legislation which makes provision about, or in connection with, student finance. Those Regulations being amended are the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 “the 2009 Regulations”, and the Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 “the 2025 Regulations”.
These Regulations come into force on 10 April 2026, unless otherwise specified.
Regulation 3 allows for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) to be available to ‘exam/assessment only’ students and uplifts the maximum level of DSA support available to eligible students in the 2009 Regulations, from £25,000 to £27,500 annually.
Regulations 4 and 5 omit redundant references in the 2009 Regulations.
Regulation 6 inserts a previously omitted paragraph to ensure students studying graduate entry courses are not eligible for special support grant, aligning with arrangements for maintenance grant.
Regulation 7 plus the Schedule amend the 2009 Regulations to update the payment rates for student support for an academic year which begins on or after 1st August 2026.
Regulation 8 makes technical amendments to correct the 2025 Regulations.
Footnotes
[^f00001]: Formerly the Department for Employment and Learning; see Article 6(1)(c) of the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 76).
[^f00002]: S.I. 1998/1760 (N.I. 14). Article 3 was amended by the Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c.21), section 147(3)(a) and (b); the Student Loans (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, (c.2 (N.I.)), s.1(1); the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c.1), Schedule 6; the Finance Act 2003 (c.14), s.147(4); the Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1116 (N.I. 5)), Articles 11 and 12 and the Schedule; and by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2013, (S.I. 2013/1881), Schedule 1.
[^f00003]: S.R. 2009 No. 373, amended by S.R.s , 2012 Nos. 62 and 398, 2013 Nos. 128 and 223, 2014 Nos. 97 and 309, , 2017 Nos. 7 and 43, , 2019 Nos.35 and 102, , 2021 Nos. 50, 85 and 260, 2022 Nos. 75, 201 and 263, 2024 Nos. 19 and 157 and S.R. 2025 No. 32.
[^f00004]: S.R. 2025 No. 32.
Editorial notes
[^key-8a086d1171f656663c985dada2d04b10]: Reg. 1 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-d87890507f48558ea0cd426d9ba177b8]: Reg. 2 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-6d1b3409310a3e9069f25507119e2f36]: Reg. 3 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-12bcbbafb68be8a6f8ed49cfbfab710d]: Reg. 4 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-3a920346efb8260b4cc248560acff847]: Reg. 5 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-413354f1f8a7ab8fcc708c58f224e42c]: Reg. 6 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-b8d3a41433877c16f77ff7410db86cba]: Reg. 7 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-7ef15c2d7597685be9f9f44f585d97c2]: Reg. 8 in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
[^key-f9b163e252482cbb29b222e1267bbe3d]: Sch. in operation at 10.4.2026, see reg. 1(2)
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