3.3.4.10 Approved Courses of Study for Austudy

Summary

This topic discusses the following issues relating to approved courses of study for Austudy:

• courses which are approved and not approved, and
• rules applying to holders of Doctorate degrees.

Approved courses (1.1.A.210)

Approved courses of study for Austudy purposes are those listed in the Ministerial Determination of Education Institutions and Courses. These include:

• traditional institution based courses, and
• flexible study arrangements such as:
  • competency based training,
  • open learning (1.1.O.20),
  • other self-paced courses (1.1.S.80), and
  • courses offered by OUA.

Masters & Doctorate studies

Mainstream Doctorate studies, or a qualification of the same standing or Masters courses that are not specified in the Schedule 3 of the Determination are NOT approved courses for Austudy purposes.

Exception: Part of the following courses CAN be approved, as described:

• years 1-4 ONLY of the Master of Engineering in Information Technology and Telecommunications offered by the Australian Information Technology Engineering Centre, and
• combined Bachelor/unapproved Masters degree courses, EXCLUDING the year(s) exceeding the normal full-time length of the related bachelor degree course.

Eligible students qualify for Austudy during years 1-4 of the courses, however, they MUST meet the usual Austudy qualification requirements, including workload, to be considered a full-time student in years 1-4.

As the 5th and 6th years of these courses are considered to be unapproved Masters study, students who continue past year 4 will NOT satisfy the activity test.

An additional period of assistance under the allowable time rules is available to students who do NOT proceed to years 5 and 6 of the course, but instead, transfer into an undergraduate level, or an approved Masters course.

Where a student is enrolled in and undertaking a non-approved course (e.g. an unapproved Masters degree course) which has a 'nested' degree structure that allows the student to exit the course early and be granted a lower level award (e.g. a graduate diploma) the student is generally eligible for Austudy while completing the units required for the lower level award.

Act reference: SSAct section 569 Activity test, section 569A Undertaking qualifying study, section 569B Approved course of education or study

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.3.4.80 Austudy & Impact of Previous Study

Holders of Doctorate degrees

Individuals CANNOT satisfy the activity test as a full-time student if they have already completed a course leading to a Doctorate degree or a qualification of the same standing. This includes:

• a Doctorate or a qualification of the same standing at an Australian institution, or
• a qualification of the same standing from an overseas institution.

Refer to precedent cases and/or the Compendium of Overseas Qualifications to determine whether an overseas qualification is at a Doctorate level. Where doubt exists, consult the Australia Education International - NOOSR (AEI-NOOSR).

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Last reviewed: 5 September 2011