Approving qualifications for learner access to learner support

Qualifications must be approved for SAC funding before learners can be eligible to access student allowances or student loans under Rule SAL005[1]. TEOs must be one of the following:

• accredited by the relevant quality assurance body to deliver the content of a qualification
• able to show that there is an arrangement in place with an accredited TEO to deliver any content for which the TEO does not hold accreditation.

TEOs offering local certificates and diplomas that contain unit standards registered on the NQF must also be accredited by the relevant quality assurance body to deliver that unit standard content.

Part time qualifications are not eligible for student allowances access, but may be eligible for learner access to components of the Student Loan Scheme. Rule SAL007[2] details requirements for full time and part time qualifications to be eligible for learner access to student allowances and/or the Student Loan Scheme.

TEOs wanting to have a new or significantly changed qualification approved by us to enable learner access to financial support must also have an approved Investment Plan, unless exempt.

The Fee/Course Costs Maxima policy applies to all qualifications approved for learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme.

 

 

• [1]

  Rule SAL005: Qualifications approval for learner access to student allowances and Student Loan Scheme

  Before the Tertiary Education Commission approves a new or significantly changed qualification for learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme, both of the following must apply:

  • The qualification must be approved for Student Achievement Component or other government funding - see Approving qualifications for funding
  • The qualification must be recognised by the relevant quality assurance body.
• [2]

  Rule SAL007 - Qualification eligibility for student support access

  To be eligible for learner access to both student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme, a Student Achievement Component-funded qualification must be full time and meet the following criteria:

  • Run for a minimum of 12 weeks
  • Have a value of at least 0.3 Equivalent Full Time Student (EFTS) units.

  A part time qualification is not eligible for student allowances access.

  To be eligible for learner access to the Student Loan Scheme, subject to any other eligibility requirements, a part-time qualification must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Run for 32 weeks or more
  • Run for fewer than 32 weeks with an EFTS value of at least 0.25 and less than 0.3.

   

  Note: a qualification of less than 0.3 EFTS is classified as part-time regardless of the number of weeks over which it is delivered.

  Note: the qualification's format will determine which components of the Student Loan Scheme a learner can access.