The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

3.3.4.30 Austudy & concessional study-load students

Concessional study-load students (1.1.C.290)

A recipient can be a secondary or tertiary concessional study-load student if they are studying under either a:

  • 25% concessional study-load, or
  • 66% concessional study-load.

Act reference: SSAct section 569D Concessional study-load students

25% concessional study-load

Secondary and tertiary students who have a substantial physical, psychiatric or intellectual disability and are therefore NOT capable of full-time study (1.1.F.230) or of completing a course in the minimum time (1.1.M.140) allowed for other students, CAN undertake 25% of the normal full-time study-load for the course and still qualify for Austudy.

Policy reference: SS Guide 1.1.C.290 Concessional study-load student (Austudy, PES, YA)

66% concessional study-loads

66% concessional study-loads apply to recipients who are unable to study 75% loads, at either secondary or tertiary level, for ANY of the following reasons.

  • The institution's normal requirements for the course (see example).
  • A SPECIFIC DIRECTION in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer.
  • A RECOMMENDATION in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer, for academic or vocational reasons. This reason may only be applied for a maximum of half an academic year.

Example: Timetable clashes, subject prerequisites not satisfied because of failure or other reasons, subject cancelled or over-enrolled, or reduced study-load needed to complete the course.

Assessing whether a person is meeting their required study load (25% or 66% of the normal amount of full-time study for the course) in a particular study period will depend upon the circumstances of each case and will depend on matters such as how the course is structured and how enrolments are accepted. The length of a study period may differ from case to case, but it is not necessarily limited to a single semester/trimester. A student undertaking study on a trimester or semester basis may be considered to be meeting their required study load when:

  • the university's normal period of enrolment is a year or equivalent period (whether the units being undertaken are trimester or semester based or annual) and the student maintains their required study load (25% or 66% of the normal amount of full-time study for the course) over the year, or
  • the student is enrolled on a trimester or semester based rather than a full year enrolment and the student maintains their required study load (25% or 66% of a full-time study for the course) over the trimester or semester.

Policy reference: SS Guide 1.1.C.290 Concessional study-load student (Austudy, PES, YA)

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