AMFM Exceptions and Applications

The TEC may grant an exception to the AMFM[1] under exceptional circumstances. An exception entitles a TEO[2] to increase fees by up to eight percent instead of four percent. TEOs should consider carefully whether an exception, which places an additional fee burden on learners, is the most appropriate way of addressing financial issues.

TEOs must make an application for an exception to the AMFM using the guidelines and documentation posted below. The TEC will use the proposed criteria listed below when considering exceptional circumstances.

Proposed exception criteria for 2012

The proposed exception criteria for 2012 are specified in The Education (2012 Annual Maximum Fee Movement) Notice 2011 and below:

1. The organisation is unable to support the course(s) while remaining financially viable;
2. For courses at NZQF[3] levels 1-8, the completion rate for the course met or exceeded the 2010 median performance benchmark for that level in the previous year (this is for 2010 performance);
3. The TEO can demonstrate that the qualification of which the course is a part of is in some way unique or special, for example, that there are no local alternatives to the course available; and
4. Not allowing an exception will prevent the provider from making a significant contribution to the achievement of one or more of the Government’s priorities, as set out in the Tertiary Education Strategy 2010/15. 

The proposed exception criteria are due to be formalised in September 2011 and we will notify TEOs once this occurs.

The criteria the TEC used when considering exceptional circumstances for 2011 are specified in Condition SAC354[4].

AMFM exception applications 2012

Applications must be made using the required templates that will be provided shortly.

Submitting an application

The dates for submitting an AMFM exception application are:

• 5pm, 23 March 2012 for any course that starts between 1 July 2012 and 31 December 2012;
• submissions from student bodies should be recieved one week after receipt of the TEO’s application.

Applications must be sent to:

AMFM Exception Applications [organisation type, eg. Universities]
Tertiary Education Commission Service Centre
1 Ash Road, Wiri
Private Bag 76928
Manukau City
Manukau 2241

Applications can also be scanned and submitted electronically to our Service Centre at service.centre@tec.govt.nz. Please include in the subject line: 2012 AMFM Exception Applications - [organisation type].

 

• [1]

  Annual Maximum Fee Movement (AMFM)

• [2]

  Tertiary education organisation (TEO)

• [3]

  New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF)

• [4]

  Condition SAC354: AMFM exception criteria

  Applications for exception to the AMFM are assessed against the following four principles. Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) applying for an exemption in 2011 must meet all principles:

  • The TEO is unable to support the course(s) from its total financial surplus while remaining financially viable
  • Not allowing an exception will prevent the TEO from making a significant contribution to the achievement of the Government’s priorities, as set out in the Tertiary Education Strategy 2010/15
  • For courses at NZQF levels 1-8 the completion rate for the course met or exceeded the 2009 median performance benchmark for the course’s Performance Linked Funding NZQF level group
  • The TEO can demonstrate that the course is in some way unique or special, for example that there are no local alternatives to the course available.