3.8.3.50 Assessing Tertiary Study-load for PES

If the course…

Then the student is considered full-time…

attracts a HECS fee,

- if for the period they meet a minimum of 75% of a full-time workload, which is equivalent to:

• - a HECS load of 0.375 in a semester.

- if the HECS load is less than 75% of the full-time study-load for the semester but a HECS anomaly exists, in that the institution considers the student to be full-time and the handbook or official course structure shows the student's study-load is at least 75% of the full-time study-load, they may be considered a full-time student.

Example: Amanda is undertaking practical teaching as well as 2 units in a semester at university. Her HECS load for the semester is 0.280 as HECS is not paid on the practical teaching component of the course. Her institution considers her to be a full-time student, and as a result she may receive PES as a full-time student for PES purposes.

is a non-HECS course,

if the institution considers them to be full-time, OR in the absence of the above, they have a minimum of 15 hours class contact per week.

If a customer…

Then…

is enrolled in an additional subject, or subjects ABOVE the minimum requirements of an approved course (1.1.A.210), and these are recognised by the institution as part of that course,

the subject is included as study-load.

is studying subjects UNRELATED to an approved course,

the subjects are NOT considered part of full-time study-load.

is studying a combined course for PES purposes,

study-load is measured against the normal full-time study-load for the combined course.

is given credit for subjects, units or points completed earlier,

these do NOT count as study-load.

- is accepted by an institution as a non-degree student in the first year or semester, AND

- on successful completion is guaranteed course enrolment, AND

- completed study is credited to their degree study,

this study counts as study-load.

Type of Study

Full-time Study-load Description

Self-paced courses (1.1.S.80).

The average study-load for a student who completes the course content over the normal full-time duration.

Example: The normal full-time duration for a course requires a student to undertake one module/unit a month for 16 months, or 4 units every 4 months. A student would be considered full-time if they studied 75% of a full-time load, or 3 units every 4 months.

CBT/open learning (1.1.O.20).

CBT/open learning students have the flexibility to structure their own study. The primary consideration for PES is that the student is:

• - formally enrolled as a full-time student, AND
• - seen by their institution to be studying, on average, a full-time study-load over a term/semester.

Example: A Certificate in Fashion course may normally require 24 hours per week of instruction. A CBT/open learning student may structure their study so that less study is done in some weeks, but more in others.

University level units at OLA.

Generally, university level units offered by OLA have a credit weighting of 1/8 of a normal full-time study-load for single units or 1/4 for double units.

To qualify as a full-time student, a customer MUST register in, and study, at least:

- any 2 single units in any 13 week study period; OR

- one double open learning unit in any 13 week study period; OR

- a double unit which runs over two consecutive 13 week study periods plus one additional unit in each study period.

OLA TAFE modules.

A customer who studies OLA TAFE modules for a minimum of 160 hours in a study period, will be a full-time student for PES purposes even if their study-load does not fit any of the other full-time criteria.

Concurrent open learning and conventional study.

If a customer enrols in conventional study and ALSO open learning, then eligibility is assessed for EACH form of study, and they are a full-time student if the normal study-load requirement is met in EITHER form of study.

If an institution accepts open learning study as part of the customer's primary course, the amount of work in both forms of study CAN be COMBINED. A single university level unit of open learning is equal 1/8 of a full-time HECS annual load.