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.

1.1.A.180 Approval of courses (YA)

Definition

For the purposes of YA for students, courses must be approved as set out in the Student Assistance (Education Institutions and Courses) Determination 2019. A student can be considered a full-time student for YA if they undertake an approved course at an approved institution and meet the full-time study requirements (1.1.F.230).

Note: Masters courses not listed in the Schedule 3 of the Determination and all doctorate courses are not approved courses for YA purposes and students undertaking these courses are not eligible for payment.

Doctorate level courses only refer to doctorate qualifications which are Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 10. There are some masters level courses which may call themselves a 'Doctor' course but they may be AQF Level 9.

Example: Juris Doctor is not a doctorate course, it is an AQF Level 9 masters course.

Note: The following are not approved courses for YA purposes:

  • VET courses at diploma level and above which are either

    • not approved for VET Student Loans (VSL), or
    • offered by providers not approved for VSL.

YA recipients studying an approved VET course which has subsequently become unapproved for student payments part-way through their course, will continue to receive YA payment until the end of their course, provided there is no break in their YA entitlement.

Example: Jackie is currently receiving YA as she is studying a diploma course that is approved for VSL at an education provider approved for VSL, and she meets the other eligibility requirements for YA. One month after her course begins, the diploma course she is studying loses VSL approval. As a result of this, her diploma course would also no longer be approved for YA purposes. However, Jackie would continue to receive her YA payments until she finishes her course as long as there is not a break in her other eligibility for YA.

Note: Higher education courses not offered by higher education providers approved for the HELP are not approved courses for YA purposes. YA recipients studying an approved higher education course which has subsequently become unapproved, will continue to receive YA until the end of their course, provided there is no break in their YA entitlement.

Example: Sam is currently receiving YA as he is studying a bachelor degree offered by a university approved for HELP, and he meets the other eligibility requirements for YA. Halfway through his degree, his university loses its approval for HELP, which means that the degree would no longer be approved for YA purposes. However, Sam would continue to receive his YA payments until he finishes his course as long as there is not a break in his other eligibility for YA.

Act reference: SSAct section 541B(5) Meaning of approved course of education or study

Student Assistance (Education Institutions and Courses) Determination 2019

Policy reference: SS Guide 1.1.F.230 Full-time study (YA, Austudy, PES)

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