Students Maintenance Grants Regulations, 2005

L.N. 372 of 2005

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Students Maintenance Grants Regulations, 2005

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 41 of the Education

Act, the Minister of Education, Youth and Employment has made the

following regulations>

(1) The title of these regulations is the Students Maintenance Citation

commencement.

Grants Regulations, 2005.

(2) These regulations shall be deemed to have come into

force on the 1 st October, 2005.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires>-

Students Maintenance Grants

Part I> Students in Post- Secondary and Vocational Education Training

Courses

Students, who under the terms established in these Regulations have completed a

term of compulsory education and are following a full-time day course in an approved

Post-Secondary or Vocational Education and Training institution in Malta, other than

a SEC/‘O’ Level Revision Course, qualify for the following maintenance grant for the

duration of the course of their studies>

1. A fixed rate of Lm 36 per four weeks payable between the 1 st of October and

the 30 th of June.

2. Provided that in the case of students attending courses at the Malta College of

Arts, Science and Technology, a fixed rate of Lm 36 per four weeks is payable between

15 September and 31 July.

3. Lm100 made available every year to partly cover expenses related to educational

material and equipment.

4. An additional Supplementary Maintenance Grant of Lm18 every four weeks

shall be paid in terms of Regulation 5.

For the purpose of this part of the schedule the approved Post-Secondary,

Vocational Education & Training Institutions are the following>

De La Salle College (Sixth form)

Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School (MATSEC Course)

Junior College, University of Malta

Mikiel Ang Refalo Upper Lyceum Gozo

St Aloysius College (Sixth Form)

Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology

Part II> Students in University of Malta Courses

(A)

General Degree Courses

Students, who under the terms established in these Regulations are following a

full-time day undergraduate, degree, LL.D. or M.D. course at the University of Malta,

including a full-time day degree course offered by the Institute of Conservation and

Restoration Studies, qualify for the following maintenance grant for the duration of

the course of their studies>

1. Except for students following prescribed courses listed hereunder, a fixed rate

of Lm 36 every four weeks payable between the 1 st October and the 30th of June.

2. A sum of Lm 200 per academic year to partly cover expenses related to

educational material and equipment.

3. A one-time grant of Lm 200.

(B)

Certificate and Diploma Courses

Students, who under the terms of these Regulations are following a full-time day

certificate or diploma course at the University of Malta, qualify for the following

maintenance grant for the duration of the course of their studies >

1. A fixed rate of Lm 36 every four weeks between the 1 st October and the 30th of

June.

2. A sum of Lm 200 per academic year to partly cover expenses related to

educational material and equipment.

(C)

Prescribed Degree Courses

Students, who under the terms established in these Regulations are following a

full-time day undergraduate degree course at the University of Malta as prescribed,

qualify for the following maintenance grant for the duration of the course of their

studies>

1. A fixed rate of Lm 63 every four weeks payable between 1st October and the

30th of June.

2. A sum of Lm 300 per academic year to partly cover expenses related to

educational material and equipment.

3. A one-time grant of Lm 300.

The prescribed courses are>

a. Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Biology

b. Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Chemistry

c. Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Mathematics

d. Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Physics

e. Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Statistics & Operations Research

f. Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Computer Science

g. Bachelor of Science (Hons) – Informatics

h. Bachelor of Science - Engineering

i. Bachelor of Science - Information Technlogy

j. Bachelor of Science - Business and Computing

k. Bachelor of Education/PGCE - Biology

l. Bachelor of Education/PGCE – Chemistry

m.

Bachelor of Education/PGCE – Mathematics

n. Bachelor of Education/PGCE – Physics

o. Bachelor of Education/PGCE – Computer Studies

(D) Supplementary Maintenance Grant

University students, who become entitled to a Supplementary Maintenance Grant

in terms of Regulation 7, shall be paid the following>

a) Students attending general degree, diploma and certificate courses>

1. Lm 108 every four weeks.

2. Lm 50 per annum.

3. A one-time grant of Lm 50.

b) Students attending prescribed courses>

1. Lm 108 every four weeks,

c) Students attending courses leading to a Bachelor of Dental Sugery, a Doctor of

Medicine & Surgery, and a Bachelor of Engineering & Architecture>

1.Lm 108 every four weeks.

2. Lm 50 per annum .

3. A one-time grant of Lm 50.

Mitbug[ fl-Istamperija tal-Gvern — Printed at the Government Printing Press

Interpretation.

“the Board” means the Students Maintenance Grants

Management Board set up in terms of regulation 17<

“the Minister” means the Minister responsible for education<

“maintenance grant” means the financial benefits paid to full-

time post-secondary, vocational and tertiary students as outlined

in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(1) Save as provided hereunder, these regulations shall apply Applicability.

(i) full-time students following post-secondary and

vocational courses as indicated in Part I of the Schedule<

(ii) full-time students following an undergraduate course

at the University of Malta as indicated in Part II of the Schedule<

(iii) full-time students following any one of the post-

graduate degree courses at the University of Malta as may be

indicated in Part II of the Schedule.

(2) Such full-time students as are mentioned in paragraph

sub-regulation (1) hereof who continue their course of studies or part of

it overseas under schemes approved by the Minister shall continue to

be entitled to a student maintenance grant as provided hereunder.

Part I> Eligibility to a Maintenance Grant by Post-Secondary

and Vocational Students

(1) A maintenance grant shall be paid to full-time students

who are registered and who have been accepted as regular students in

a day course of studies by a post-secondary or vocational education and

training institution as indicated in Part I of the Schedule, and who –

(i) are Maltese citizens, or students with at least one parent

being a Maltese citizen< and

(ii) have resided in Malta for a period of not less than five

years from the commencement of the relative course of studies<

and

(iii) have completed their term of compulsory education<

and

(iv) are not more than 30 years of age at the commencement

of the course< and

(v) are attending their course regularly and making

satisfactory progress.

Provided that such students who are following such a course

of studies at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology who

are over 30 years of age at the commencement of the course, and who

satisfy the above conditions may, in exceptional cases, qualify for a

maintenance grant where the students are the principal breadwinners in

a household and the Board deems that they are deserving of a

maintenance grant.

Rates of maintenance grant for post-secondary and

vocational students.

(2) Students who qualify for a maintenance grant under this

regulation shall be paid the maintenance grant as prescribed in Part I of

the Schedule.

Students, who qualify for a maintenance grant under regulation Supplementary

4 hereof and who due to proven hardship are deemed by the Board to Grant.

qualify for a supplementary maintenance grant, shall receive the

prescribed supplementary grant paid in four-weekly rates as indicated

in Part I of the Schedule.

Part II> Eligibility to a Maintenance Grant by University

of Malta Students

(1) A maintenance grant shall be paid to full-time students University of Malta

students.

who are registered and who have been accepted as regular students by

the University of Malta in a day course of studies as indicated in Part II

of the Schedule, and who -

i. are Maltese citizens, or students with at least one parent

being a Maltese citizen< and

ii. have resided in Malta for a period of not less than five

years from the commencement of the relative course of studies<

and

iii. have completed their term of compulsory education< and

iv. are not more than 30 years of age at the commencement

of the course< and

v. are attending their course regularly and making

satisfactory progress>

Provided that such students who are over 30 years of age at

the commencement of the course and who satisfy the above conditions

may, in exceptional cases, qualify for a maintenance grant where the

students are the principal breadwinners in a household and the Board

deems that they are deserving of a maintenance grant.

Rates of Maintenance Grant for University students.

(2) Students who qualify for a maintenance grant under this

regulation shall be paid the maintenance grant as prescribed in Part II

of the Schedule.

Students, who qualify for a maintenance grant under regulation

6 hereof and who due to proven hardship are deemed by the Board to

qualify for a supplementary maintenance grant, shall receive the

prescribed supplementary grant paid in four-weekly rates as indicated

in Part II of the Schedule.

The Minister may, in concurrence with the Minister responsible

for finance, prescribe in Part II of the Schedule those courses at the

University of Malta for which a special maintenance grant may be paid

as indicated in the same Schedule.

The Minister may, in concurrence with the Minister responsible

for finance, prescribe in the Schedule those post-graduate courses at an

institution of higher education for which a student maintenance grant

may be awarded by the Board on the same terms as provided for in

these regulations and in the Schedule thereto.

Part III> General Provisions for Eligibility to a

Maintenance Grant

Forfeiting of right to

(1) Students who are required to repeat a year of their

chosen course of studies shall not be entitled to a maintenance grant

during the year that they repeat.

(2) Students whose progress, as assessed through periodical

assessment procedures, is deemed to be unsatisfactory, or who are not

attending their course regularly, shall forfeit the right to receive the

maintenance grant or part thereof until such time as the Head of the

educational institution, Institute, or Faculty of the University concerned

certifies that such students have resumed satisfactory progress or that

they are attending regularly.

(1) The fixed four-weekly part of the maintenance grant is

Periods of payment.

paid during the academic year, including the Christmas and Easter

recesses, but excluding the Summer recess.

(2) Where the structure of particular courses so warrants,

the Minister may approve the payment of a maintenance grant during

the Summer recess

Students pursuing a second or subsequent course after having General

regarding courses at

completed or partially followed another course at the same level shall the same level.

not be entitled to receive a maintenance grant for that period of time

that is equivalent to the period spent in the previous course if for that

previous course they were in receipt of a maintenance grant. Such

students shall only be entitled to a maintenance grant for the remaining

period of time after termination of the first period without a maintenance

grant>

Provided that a course progressing from a diploma to a general

degree level, or from a general degree to an honours level, or from a

degree to a doctorate in Laws or in Medicine and Surgery, shall not be

deemed to be a second or subsequent course for the purposes of this

regulation.

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of these regulations, the Maintenance grant

Minister may, in special circumstances and after consultation with the in

circumstances.

Board, order an issue of the maintenance grant according to the Schedule

to a student who is not eligible for a grant under these regulations but

who is following one of the courses indicated in the Schedule.

(2) In considering the eligibility and merits of an application

for a supplementary grant, the Board shall give due consideration to the

number of students from the same family who are attending any of the

courses for which a student maintenance grant is awarded under these

regulations, and shall for such purpose modify the relative means test.

(3) The Board shall also administer a contingency fund made

available by the Minister responsible for finance for the consideration

of applications for assistance by students facing extraordinary

circumstances.

Students who are following one of the courses indicated in Students on paid

study leave or under

the Schedule whilst they are on paid leave by their employer for the contract.

purposes of a course of studies, or who accept an offer to enter into a

contract with an employer whereby they bind themselves to work for

that employer following the completion of their course, and who would

therefore benefit from that pay or the agreed remuneration, will be

entitled to that pay or remuneration in lieu of the maintenance grant as

provided for in the Schedule.

Students who follow certificate and diploma courses shall Students following

certificate and

be eligible to that part of the maintenance grant representing the monthly diploma courses.

and the annual grant as provided for in Part II of the Schedule.

(1) Students who joined a course of study on training in a

post secondary, vocational educational institution, or University of Malta

course prior to the 1 st October, 2005, shall continue to be eligible to the

maintenance grant as prescribed in the Post-Secondary and Tertiary

Students Maintenance Grants Regulations, 1999.

(2) All other students who joined a course of study or training

in a post-secondary, vocational educational institution, or University of

Malta on the 1 st October, 2005 or thereafter shall be eligible to a

maintenance grant as prescribed in the Schedule to these regulations.

Part IV> Students Maintenance Grants Board

There shall be a Students Maintenance Grants Board to

manage the allocation of the students maintenance grants and to advise

the Minister on policy issues related to these grants.

(1) The Board shall be appointed by the Minister and shall

be composed of>

(a) a Chairperson<

(b) a member representing the Education Division<

(c) a member nominated by the Minister responsible for

finance<

(d) a member nominated by the Employment and Training

Corporation<

(e) a member nominated by the Rector of the University of

Malta<

(f) a member nominated by the Principal of the Malta

College of Arts, Science and Technology<

(g) a member nominated by the Kunsill Studenti

Universitarji (KSU)<

(h) a member chosen from amongst members of post-

secondary and vocational Students’ Councils.

(2) The Minister shall also appoint a person to act as

Secretary to the Board

The Board shall, with the approval of the Minister, ensure Staffing of the

Board.

the necessary levels of administrative personnel that will enable it to

fulfill its duties effectively and efficiently.

Functions of the

The functions of the Board shall be to>

Board.

(i) manage and monitor the effective allocation and payment

of maintenance grants to students<

(ii) formulate and regularly review procedures regarding the

assessment allocation, payment and entitlements for the receipt of

maintenance grants<

(iii) establish the criteria and assess, decide and review

applications for a supplementary maintenance grant, as prescribed

in the Schedule, submitted by students in cases of special financial

hardship<

(iv) consider reports received from the competent

educational authorities regarding the students’ academic progress

and to apply sanctions when the minimum requirements are not

achieved<

(v) subcontract services from other entities when it is more

cost-effective and efficient for the better management and payment

of the students maintenance grants<

(vi) monitor retail outlets accepting the students’ card to

curb and eliminate abuses<

(vii) plan and implement in a cost effective manner any

students work experience scheme that the Minister may, from time

to time, decide to provide<

(viii) recommend changes to the national policy on post-

secondary, vocational and tertiary education financial support.

Without prejudice to any saving provisions of these Deletion L.N. 165

of 1999.

regulations, the Post-Secondary and Tertiary Students Maintenance

Grants Regulations, 1999, are hereby deleted.