Student Achievement Component

• • Eligibility
  • Quality assurance requirements
  • Approved qualifications
  • New or changed qualifications
  • Approving courses
  • TEI certificates of proficiency
  • Post-entry health education
  • Pre-service teacher education
  • TEC Qualifications Register
  • Qualification codes
  • SAC funding approval process - TEIs
  • SAC funding approval process - PTEs and REAPS

Approving courses

A new course must have our approval before the course can attract SAC[1] funding.  Before submitting a new course for funding approval, a TEO[2] must ensure the qualification of which the course is a part meets the eligibility requirements and is approved for SAC funding as in Rule SAC024[3].

Before we can approve a new course for SAC funding, we must have checked the course details (for example the credit value and learning hours) and approved the following details as in Rule SAC133[4]:

• The EFTS[5] factors for the course
• The classification of the course according to The 1-39 Classification Prescription
• The funding category assigned to the course 
• The New Zealand Standard Classification of Education classification of the course.

TEOs must classify their courses according to the home qualification level. For example, all courses designated in an undergraduate degree will be in numeric funding category 2 regardless of the NZQF level of the course.

Under Rules SAC020[6] and SAC025 we will not backdate funding eligibility or approval for courses that begin before we approved the qualification to which the courses relate.

This means that if a learner enrols in a course before the TEC has approved funding or, additionally, learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme for the qualification, that learner is ineligible for funding or student allowances and loans access for the entirety of that course, not just that portion preceding TEC approval.

 

• [1]

  Student Achievement Component fund (SAC)

• [2]

  Tertiary education organisation (TEO)

• [3]

  Rule SAC024: Course funding - submission for approval

  Before a tertiary education organisation (TEO) submits a new course to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for Student Achievement Component (SAC) or Youth Guarantee (YG) funding approval, the TEO must ensure the qualification of which the course is a part meets the eligibility requirements and is approved for SAC or YG funding.

  Note: Before the TEC can approve a new course for SAC/YG funding, the course details (for example the credit value and learning hours) must have been checked by the TEC and approved.

• [4]

  Rule SAC133: Classifying qualifications and courses

  Tertiary education organisations must classify their courses, qualifications, and programmes according to:
  

  • the applicable 1–39 Classification Prescription
  • the qualification level
  • the funding category (based on the 1–39 Classification Prescription).

   

  Note: The Ministry of education requires that TEOs also classify their courses, qualifications, and programmes according to the New Zealand Standard Classification of Education.

• [5]

  Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS)

• [6]

  Rule SAC020: Qualifications - approval and funding commencement

  Student Achievement Component (SAC) or Youth Guarantee funding or, additionally, learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme will begin from the first course enrolments after the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has approved the qualification for such funding or learner access.

  The TEC will not backdate funding, or approval for learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme, for courses that began before the TEC approval of the qualification.

   

  Note:

  This means that if a learner enrols in a course before the TEC has approved funding or, additionally, learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme for the qualification, that learner is ineligible for funding or student allowances and loans access for the entirety of that course, not just that portion preceding TEC approval.