Student Achievement Component

• • Variable credit values
  • National certificates and diplomas
  • Studying extra courses
  • Full-year programmes
  • Studying integrated programmes
  • Studying more than normal learning hours
  • EFTS value - accelerated or compressed programmes
  • EFTS value - convergence of methods
  • EFTS value of qualifications
  • Course size
  • Additional courses
  • EFTS factors of courses

Variable credit values

Some qualifications comprise a range of options or electives with variable credit combinations. These are called strands. The strands are likely to have different total EFTS[1] values. Rule SAC042[2] outlines the requirement that TEOs[3] propose the qualification EFTS value equal to the strand with the highest credit value they are approved to deliver.

TEOs must calculate the EFTS value for each strand by totalling the EFTS factors for the courses included in the strand.  Where a qualification comprises two or more strands Rule SAC043[4] provides the process for determining the EFTS value of each course.

Learners enrolled in different strands may generate different EFTS totals due to the different number of credits in each strand.

Example calculations

The above qualification has an EFTS value of 0.625. Seventy-five credits are used, as this is the credit value of the longer strand (75/120 = 0.625).

Qualifications with more than 120 credits in a year, but approved for only one EFTS

If a one EFTS qualification has more than 120 credits, the credit value of the longest strand is used to determine the course EFTS factors for each strand. This ensures that courses common to both strands have the same EFTS factor whichever strand the learner takes.

 

• [1]

  Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS)

• [2]

  Rule SAC042: EFTS value of qualifications - with strands

  Where tertiary education organisations submit a qualification with strands for approval for Student Achievement Component funding, they must propose the Equivalent Full-Time Student value of the strand with the highest credit value they are approved to deliver.

• [3]

  Tertiary education organisation (TEO)

• [4]

  Rule SAC043: EFTS factors of courses - qualifications with strands

  If a qualification comprises two or more strands, the Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) factor for each course is determined by dividing each course's credits as follows:

  • for qualifications comprising of up to 120 credits, or 120 credits per year (the number of credits in a full-time year of study), by 120
  • for qualifications comprising more than 120 credits and delivered in one year, by the credit value of the qualification (that is, the credit value of the longest strand), subject to the following:
    • for qualifications of more than 120 credits and approved for more than 1 EFTS per year of funding, by 120.