Funding and payments – learner component

This page explains funding and payments under the learner component of the Unified Funding System (UFS).

Funding rates for total learner component allocation calculations

For 2023, funding rates for each learner group are:

Learner group	Funding rates/EFTL
Learners with low prior achievement	$1,233
Disabled learners	$1,233
Māori and Pacific learners, Level 7	$338
Māori and Pacific learners to Level 6	$141

These rates are used to calculate a provider’s total learner component allocation.

Calculations for learners with more than one eligible characteristic

Funding will be allocated by calculating:

the relevant rate where a learner is identified in the data as disabled and/or having low prior achievement
the relevant rate where a learner is identified as Māori and/or Pacific
both relevant rates where a learner is identified as disabled and/or having low prior achievement and as Māori and/or Pacific.

Payments for the total learner component allocation

80 percent of learner component funding will be paid to all providers in equal monthly instalments.

The other 20 percent of learner component funding is the performance element, which may be subject to performance expectations. These expectations will vary depending on a provider’s Plan requirements and learner component funding amount. The performance element will be paid once milestones are met, in quarterly instalments, or in monthly instalments.

For more information, see Performance element requirements from 2024.

Recovery of funding

Learner component funding cannot be recovered through the wash-up process.

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) may withhold performance element payments for any tailored performance expectations set through milestones. We pay funding for successful completion of milestones, so we may extend the payment date until we are satisfied that you have achieved the milestone.