Loan entry threshold

The loan entry threshold is used to determine whether a qualification is full-time or part-time. This affects the qualification's eligibility for learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme.

The threshold is also used to identify the minimum Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) units required for a learner's full-time status.

The loan entry threshold is determined by matching a range of gross weeks to a range of EFTS values. A gross week is the total length of enrolment in a programme of study, including holiday weeks.

The table below shows this relationship (qualifications of less than 0.3 EFTS may still be eligible for learner access to the Student Loan Scheme).

Loan entry threshold table

Length of enrolment (Gross weeks)	Loan entry threshold (EFTS)
12	0.3
13	0.3
14	0.3
15	0.3
16	0.4
17	0.4
18	0.4
19	0.4
20	0.5
21	0.525
22	0.55
23	0.575
24	0.6
25	0.625
26	0.65
27	0.675
28	0.7
29	0.725
30	0.75
31	0.775
32-52	0.8
53 or more	1.0