(a) A recipient's eligibility to receive any award made under this Subchapter shall be as specified in this section.

1. (1) Tuition assistance program awards:

   1. (i) four regular academic years of undergraduate study, or five regular academic years if the program of attendance is approved as such by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title;
   2. (ii) four regular academic years of graduate study, except that no student shall be entitled to receive more than eight years of combined undergraduate and graduate study.
2. (2) Regents wards or children of deceased and disabled veterans: four regular academic years, or five regular academic years if the recipient is enrolled in a program normally requiring five years approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title.
3. (3) Regents college scholarships and Regents awards for children of deceased State correction officers and State civilian employees of a correction facility; four regular academic years of undergraduate study, or five regular academic years if the recipient is enrolled in a program normally requiring five years approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title.
4. (4) Regents professional education in medicine or dentistry scholarships, Regents professional education in optometry scholarships, and Regents professional scholarships in osteopathy scholarships; four regular academic years while matriculated in an approved program, as defined by the commissioner.
5. (5) Regents professional education in nursing scholarships. Recipients shall be entitled to an annual award for each year of study while enrolled in an approved course leading to registration as a professional nurse, not exceeding the normal period of study required to complete the course, as defined by the commissioner.
6. (6) Regents veterans with war service scholarships: four regular academic years of full- time or part-time study, as defined by the commissioner; however, if all of scholarships holder's attendance is part-time, then five regular academic years.
7. (7) Regents awards for children of deceased police officers, firefighters and volunteer firefighters: four regular academic years of undergraduate study, or five regular academic years if the recipient is enrolled in a program normally requiring five years approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title.

8. (8) Tuition awards for Vietnam veterans:

   1. (i) Full-time recipients. Four regular academic years of undergraduate study, or five regular academic years if the recipient is enrolled in a program intended to culminate in an undergraduate degree normally requiring five years, approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title; provided, however, that a recipient enrolled in an approved vocational training program shall be limited to two academic years, or its equivalent, while enrolled in such program.
   2. (ii) Part-time recipients. Eight regular academic years of part-time study as defined in subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the Education Law, or 10 regular academic years if the recipient is enrolled in a program intended to culminate in an undergraduate degree normally requiring five years, approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title; provided, however, that a recipient enrolled in an approved vocational program shall be limited to four academic years, or its equivalent, while enrolled in such program.
9. (9) Empire State challenger scholarships for teachers: four regular academic years while matriculated in an approved program, as defined by the commissioner.
10. (10) Empire State challenger fellowships for teachers: one regular academic year of full time study while matriculated in an approved graduate program, as defined by the commissioner; two regular academic years of part-time study while matriculated in an approved graduate program, as defined by the commissioner.
11. (11) Regents health care professional opportunity scholarships: four regular academic years while matriculated in an approved program, as defined by the commissioner.
12. (12) Regents professional opportunity scholarships: four regular academic years, unless enrolled in a program of study recognized by the regents as normally requiring more than four years to complete.
13. (13) Empire State scholarships of excellence: four regular academic years of undergraduate study, or five regular academic years, if the recipient is enrolled in a program normally requiring five years approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title.

14. (14) Liberty scholarships.

    1. (i) Full-time recipients: four regular academic years of undergraduate study, or five regular academic years, if the recipient is enrolled in a program normally requiring five years approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title.
    2. (ii) Part-time recipients: eight regular academic years of part-time undergraduate study as defined in section 610.5(b) of the Education Law or ten regular academic years of such study, if enrolled in a program normally requiring five years approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 145-2.7 of this Title.