For the full requirements, see the Youth Guarantee funding conditions for the relevant year.

Funding mechanism

The Minister responsible for tertiary education issues the YG funding mechanism. The funding mechanism outlines the general form and essential components of the fund. It provides the mandate for the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to allocate the funding and what the funding can be used for, and details how we administer the fund.

Funding is agreed through a tertiary education organisation’s (TEO’s) Investment Plan. For more information see Plan guidance and toolkit.

A TEO that receives YG funding is required to:

• comply with the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020, and
• comply with the funding conditions for the relevant year specified in its funding approval documentation.

The overall amount of YG funding available is set through the Government’s annual budget process. We determine the appropriate amount of YG funding for a TEO through the annual investment process and in-year additional funding requests (if available). 

EFTS definition

Change to equivalent full-time student (EFTS) definition from 1 January 2023

From 2023 the definition of a full-time, full-year workload (an EFTS) for a learner enrolled in a Level 1 or 2 Youth Guarantee qualification is 80 credits (not 120 credits).

This means that, after each Single Data Return (SDR) submission, we will pay 50% more YG funding for Level 1–3 course enrolments delivered toward a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification. These payments will be made on top of approved YG allocations.

Our definition of one EFTS for a learner enrolled in a Level 3 YG qualification remains 120 credits.

The table below sets out the change. 

Implications of the change

TEOs need to track learner consumption of each learner’s 2.5 EFTS lifetime entitlement carefully. This is particularly relevant for learners progressing from a Level 1 or 2 YG qualification to a Level 3 YG qualification.

From 2023, track student EFTS consumption as follows:

• For Level 1 and 2 qualifications, track course enrolments that started:
  • before 31 December 2018 using 120 credits per EFTS,
  • before 31 December 2022 using 100 credits per EFTS, and
  • after 1 January 2023 using 80 credits per EFTS.
• For Level 3 qualifications, track course enrolments using 120 credits per EFTS.

You must not enrol a learner in more than:

• 1.5 EFTS of Level 1 and/or 2 YG qualification provision in any calendar year; and
• 1.0 EFTS of Level 3 YG qualification provision in any calendar year.

Funding allocation and payments

Funding allocations, including any amendments, are available through the My Allocations and Payments app on Ngā Kete.

YG funding is paid in equal monthly instalments.

After each Single Data Return (SDR) submission we pay (and recover) Youth Guarantee Exceptional Circumstances Travel Assistance funding.

For the calculation of indicative allocations see the methodology from the relevant year. The most recent information is at the top.

For more details regarding your specific allocation, please contact customerservice@tec.govt.nz or your Relationship Manager.

Funding rates

There are two funding rates for all YG provision – the trades and non-trades rates per EFTS.

The trades funding rate applies to trades provision at Levels 2 and 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).

The non-trades rate applies to all other provision at Levels 1 to 3 on the NZQCF.

This page provides information on the YG funding rates.

Funding wash-ups

For the calculation of funding wash-ups see the methodology and technical specifications from the relevant year.

Premium allocation

The Youth Guarantee premium allocation adjusts the overall YG funding you receive so that you are fully funded for 1 EFTS for every 80 credits delivered at Level 1 and 2.

Since 1 January 2023, the definition of a full-time, full-year workload (one EFTS) for a learner enrolled in a YG qualification is:

• 80 credits for Level 1 and 2 qualifications; and
• 120 credits for Level 3 qualifications.

The purpose of the EFTS definition change was to encourage providers to deliver Level 1 and 2 programmes that better reflect the expected workload for YG learners. Providers had found that most YG learners require additional time and support to achieve a 120-credit programme within a calendar year. This allocation will support the high costs needs and support for the learner.

Providers may continue to offer programmes of up to 120 credits where that is appropriate for learners, possibly with more intense delivery models and pastoral care.

We will allocate the 50% funding premium for the Level 1 and 2 qualifications in your Level 1 and 2 commitment

We will allocate the YG premium based on your Level 1 and 2 commitments in your YG Mix of Provision (MoP).

We will calculate your final delivery against your total YG allocation, including the Level 1 and 2 premium and recovery if you were overpaid.

We will adjust your premium allocation, if required, due to other significant Plan changes

Significant Plan changes during the year may affect the amount of Level 1 and 2 premium required, for example if we have agreed a change in the total allocated, or there is a change in the distribution of your commitments within the allocation. If necessary, we will recalculate and adjust your premium allocation.

We will carefully review your submitted MoP to ensure we allocate the correct amount

We will monitor closely to ensure you allocate accurately as agreed with TEC in your MoP. This includes any changes agreed within the year. We will only accept and approve the MoP if the commitment is within the MoP tolerance (tolerance value identified in MoP instructions tab), and the distribution of the funding is in line with what was agreed and approved by the TEC. MoPs must be submitted in a timely matter.

We will take into account previous delivery patterns, and any specific agreements you have with us regarding changes to your MoP.

Wellbeing and pathways support subsidy

The wellbeing and pathways support subsidy is intended to fund a range of services tailored to the needs of individual learners. This may include:

• career planning and advice
• specific cultural and learning support that is easy for the learner to access
• an orientation programme that informs learners about access to financial assistance
• extra-curricular activities
• regular activities with other YG learners
• building workplace connections, and/or

From 2023, TEOs are expected to work with learners and their whānau to develop a pathway plan to map “where to from here”. The plan would support each learner’s needs to move to further study and/or employment. The level of detail would depend on each learner’s individual needs, what their end goals are and what support they need throughout their study to meet those goals, as well as any post-study support the learner requires to take the next steps towards further study and/or employment.

We will allocate the wellbeing and pathways support allocation based on your total EFTS commitment in your MoP

• We will calculate and pay the subsidy separately to your other YG funding.
• We will not recover any of the subsidy where under-delivery occurs.
• We will pay the subsidy on all eligible Flexible Funding over-delivery (up to 102% of your allocation) based on your December SDR reporting.

We will adjust your wellbeing and pathways support allocation, if required, due to other significant Plan changes

• Significant Plan changes during the year may affect the amount of wellbeing and pathways support allocation you are entitled to, for example if we have agreed a change in the total allocated. If necessary, we will recalculate and adjust your wellbeing and pathways support allocation.

Travel assistance funding

For the full travel assistance funding requirements, see the Youth Guarantee funding conditions for the relevant year.

Travel assistance funding must only be used to pay for the actual cost of transport. We expect TEOs to take an “actual and reasonable” approach to the reimbursement of learner travel costs. This means if a learner uses:

1. public transport, the reimbursement of the student must be based on the appropriate concession rate, or
2. private transport, we recommend that the TEO establish a reimbursement rate on a case-by-case basis by contacting the AA. 

If the TEO supplies the transport, the cost of the travel must not exceed 80 cents per kilometre travelled.

Travel assistance funding that is paid directly to a learner must only be used to cover or reimburse costs associated with travel to and from the YG course.

Records

The TEO must keep records of all learner travel expenses and TEO reimbursements to learners.

If the TEO supplies transport to learners, it must keep records of travel expenses. All travel records are to be made available to us on request. Records must include:

• a daily travel logbook that sets out the kilometres travelled in relation to each learner, and
• the source of funding for each learner’s enrolment at the TEO (for example, whether the learner is enrolled in a YG funded programme or otherwise).

Inland Revenue

If the TEO supplies transport, the TEO must keep records of travel expenses in line with Inland Revenue requirements.

There may be tax implications in the way that travel reimbursements are administered. Contact Inland Revenue directly for further information.

When reimbursing learners for travel, in general, TEOs are not able to claim GST input tax on this cost because the payments are made to individuals who are not registered for GST. GST input tax can only be claimed if the TEO has incurred the cost itself and can produce a GST invoice in support of the claim.

Travel subsidy

The travel assistance subsidy is expected to adequately meet the costs associated with normal learner travel needs.

As the travel subsidy is allocated per EFTS, the TEO may cross-subsidise by using more than the per EFTS rate for some learners (ie, where they have particularly high travel expenses), and less than the per EFTS rate for others (where they do not require the full amount).

The TEO must reimburse each learner within a reasonable time after they have incurred the cost.

Exceptional Circumstances Transport Assistance funding

Exceptional Circumstances Transport Assistance (ECTA) funding is to provide additional transport assistance to learners who live in relatively isolated areas who may have higher transport needs.

For the full exceptional circumstances transport assistance funding requirements, see the Youth Guarantee funding conditions for the relevant year.

ECTA funding is based on EFTS delivered, and the rural isolation of the site where the delivery took place. The rural isolation of TEOs’ delivery sites uses a classification system developed by Statistics New Zealand. 

Based on the urban/rural classification we provide a “top-up” payment per YG EFTS at each delivery site as reported in each SDR submission.

These rates include a general 2.75% increase to funding for 2023.

2023 “top-up” payments

Funding calculation

Disaggregated courses must add up to the total credit value of the qualification, but unlike Delivery Qualification (DQ) funding, Youth Guarantee is not funded at the course level.

For a trades qualification at Levels 2 and 3 the funding calculation is: trades rate per EFTS x qualification EFTS value. Trades qualifications include NCEA where at least 50% of the courses are classified under Delivery at Levels 7 (degree) and above on the NZQCF delivery classification codes – alphabetic and numeric – as C1, L1, or P1. 

For a non-trades qualification the funding calculation is: non-trades rate per EFTS x qualification EFTS value. Non-trade qualifications include NCEA where less than 50% of the courses are classified as trades courses.

Specifically, we calculate a TEO’s consumed funding using:

• the number of valid domestic student enrolments, measured by equivalent full-time students (EFTS), and
• the qualifications, and their component courses, in which a valid domestic student is enrolled.

To calculate a TEO’s consumed Youth Guarantee funding, we use the following elements:

• the metric (EFTS value)
• delivery classification
• qualification funding category (trades/non-trades, which may also depend on level on the NZQCF), and
• qualification funding rate. 

Example only (rates may differ depending on year):

Calculating funding for Level 1 and 2 qualification provision

From 2023 onwards, we recognise that 80 credits is a full-time, full-year workload for a learner enrolled in a Level 1 or 2 Youth Guarantee qualification (or qualifications) (one EFTS).

As a result TEOs will receive 50% more funding for delivery of EFTS towards Level 1 and 2 qualifications.

The amount paid will be determined by the volume of Levels 1–3 course enrolment EFTS that lead towards Level 1 and 2 Youth Guarantee qualifications, as reported in the SDR.

We will fund up to 120 credits worth of delivery per learner in a calendar year.

You must not enrol a learner in more than:

• 1.5 EFTS (120 credits) for programmes leading to Level 1 and/or 2 Youth Guarantee qualifications; and
• 1.0 EFTS (120 credits) for programmes leading to Level 3 Youth Guarantee qualifications.

We will continue to fund up to 120 credits worth of delivery per learner in a calendar year.

*  0.500 Level 2 EFTS reported in the SDR plus the 50% premium = 0.750 Level 2 EFTS funded.

Re-enrolling a Youth Guarantee student

Where a YG learner requires further study to complete their qualification, their study can only be to complete courses that they have not yet passed. This can include content not yet studied or content studied and assessed, but requiring a re-sit. 

Note: A learner who turns 25 years old while enrolled is not eligible to re-enrol.

For example:

A TEO enrols a learner in all courses linked to a 60-credit (0.5 EFTS) Level 3 qualification. The sum of the course EFTS factors is 0.5 EFTS.

The learner passes/achieves 30 credits from the 60-credit course enrolments. The TEO is funded 0.5 EFTS, for the 60 credits of courses the learner was enrolled in.

The TEO re-enrols the learner in a second period of study for the remaining 30 credits not yet achieved. The TEO is funded 0.25 EFTS for the 30 credits of courses the learner was re-enrolled in.

The learner successfully completes the courses and is awarded the qualification.

The learner will have received 0.75 EFTS worth of provision (90 credits), and the TEO will be funded for 0.75 EFTS delivery (0.5 + 0.25 EFTS) (assuming funding conditions are met for each course enrolment). 

Note: The TEO will report 0.25 EFTS (30 credits) unsuccessful course completions, and 0.5 EFTS (60 credits) successful course completions.

Calculating EFTS remaining vs consumed

To determine the exact value of the EFTS remaining for a returning learner, the following formula should be used:

Notes: 

You will need to ensure that when a learner needs more time to complete their qualification, other learners are enrolled to ensure you deliver fully on your Mix of Provision (MoP) EFTS commitment and consume all funding for the year. 

Consider a learner’s course re-enrolments before you enrol them in a further programme. Where a learner does not complete a course successfully and you re-enrol them and claim funding, the learner is consuming additional EFTS towards their entitlements.

Flexible funding

We fund eligible TEOs for eligible Youth Guarantee provision above the amount the TEO has been approved to deliver. This is to provide TEOs with flexibility to meet additional learner demand. 

For further information about flexible funding, please see the Youth Guarantee funding conditions for the relevant year.

Flexible funding:

• is payable for provision towards qualifications that we have agreed to fund in your Mix of Provision (MoP)
• does not mean we have changed your approved funding allocation, and
• is subject to the conditions that we have imposed on your funding.

The external evaluation and review (EER) category referred to in the funding conditions will be the highest published EER category for the TEO during the funding year to which flexible funding is being applied.

Flexible funding is calculated using the December Single Data Return (SDR). Payments are made in March of the following year.

Suspending or revoking funding

Under clause 16 of Schedule 18 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act), we may suspend or revoke some or all funding given under section 425 of the Act if we are satisfied on reasonable grounds that:

• when measured against performance indicators, the TEO has not achieved, or is not achieving, an outcome anticipated in its Investment Plan for a tertiary education programme or activity in relation to which funding has been given under section 425 of the Act, or
• the TEO has not complied, or is not complying, with a condition on which funding has been given under section 425 of the Act, or
• the TEO has not provided, or is not providing, adequate and timely information required by the TEC or Ministry of Education under section 425 of the Act.

If a TEO has its funding approval revoked in accordance with clause 16 of Schedule 18 of the Act, the unspent portion of funding is repayable to us on demand (see the Youth Guarantee funding conditions for the relevant year). We may offset the amount against any funding payable to the TEO. 

Subcontracting

Subcontracting refers to a situation in which a TEO uses TEC funding to pay another organisation to deliver teaching or assessment on its behalf. This excludes:

• teaching and learning activities contracted to individuals or organisations that are not TEOs (for example, an employee on a fixed-term contract, an honorary staff member, or a contract for teaching and learning services with a subject-matter expert for part of the programme such as for First Aid provision)
• research activities or postgraduate research supervision, and
• learning that occurs within vocational placements such a workplace placement or practicum.

A TEO must not subcontract delivery of any YG funded programme without the prior written approval of NZQA where the TEO is quality assured by NZQA and without prior written consent from us.

Note: To gain approval, you must demonstrate how the subcontracting arrangement would benefit the YG programme.

If we approve a subcontract arrangement

Subcontracting can be agreed in two ways

If we approve a subcontract arrangement, the subcontracting can be agreed to within a TEO’s Investment Plan (Plan). The subcontracting specified in the Plan will be permitted for the period of the Plan. If the Plan expires then approval will need to be obtained from us again.

Subcontracting can also be agreed outside of a Plan. Again, the subcontracting specified will be permitted for the period agreed with us.

At any time, TEOs can contact us to discuss proposed subcontracting.

Subcontracting TEO obligations

As specified in section 425 of the Education and Training Act 2020, it is a condition of a TEO receiving funding under section 425 that the TEO will supply to us, from time to time as required by us, and in a form specified by us, any financial, statistical, or other information that we require the TEO to supply.

Therefore, at any time, we can request information regarding subcontracted activities from the TEO (that has subcontracted another party to carry out the activities).

In addition, a TEO that has subcontracted another party to carry out its activities:

• must comply with any conditions imposed by us within a consent to subcontract; and
• must ensure that the subcontracted party does not further subcontract any functions; and
• will be accountable to us for the use of the YG funding, including in respect to legislative and funding condition requirements.

Student Allowance and Student Loan Scheme payments

A qualification must be approved for TEC funding before a learner can access the Student Allowance and Student Loan Schemes. YG learners are only eligible for some aspects of the Student Loan Scheme. For further information on eligibility visit StudyLink.

Qualifications delivered full-time

We will only approve a YG funded qualification for learner access to Student Allowance Student Loan Schemes if the programme:

• is delivered full-time
• runs for a minimum of 12 weeks, and
• has an EFTS value of at least 0.3.

A full-time YG programme must be made up of at least 0.5 EFTS, comprising one or more qualifications. Where there is recognition of prior learning (RPL) for some of the programme, the learner’s individual programme following RPL must be at least 0.5 EFTS.

Qualifications delivered part-time

A programme for a qualification of less than 0.3 EFTS is classified as part-time regardless of the number of weeks over which it is delivered. A part-time programme for a qualification is not eligible for learner access to the Student Allowance Scheme.

For a YG funded part-time programme leading to a qualification, we will only approve learner access to the Student Loan Scheme if the programme meets one of the following criteria:

• it runs for 32 weeks or more and has an EFTS value of at least 0.3 EFTS, or
• it runs for fewer than 32 weeks with an EFTS value of between 0.25 and 0.3 EFTS.

Loan entry threshold

The loan entry threshold (LET) is used to identify the minimum EFTS value required for a learner's individual study programme to be deemed full-time. This affects learner eligibility for the Student Allowance and Student Loan Schemes. A qualification that is not deemed to be full-time (ie, not approved for access to the Student Allowance and Student Loan Schemes) can nevertheless be funded through YG. 

The LET 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).

Student allowances – paid practical work

Learners that undertake paid practical work as part of their course of study are not entitled to any student allowance payments for the week(s) they undertake that work. It is important that you discuss this with your learners.

For more information on student allowance entitlements and paid practical work please see StudyLink.