Disregarding previous study for ABSTUDY, ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement, Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-02080100

Payments for students are not made indefinitely and there are limits on how much study a student can undertake and still remain eligible for a student payment. The time students have to complete their study is known as allowable time/reasonable time and may be impacted by any previous study undertaken or completed.

The rules for Youth Allowance (YA) are different.

Note: this file does not apply to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme, which has no rule comparable to allowable time/reasonable time.

In certain circumstances, it is possible to disregard previous study. The reasons for disregarding study vary depending on the type of payment, though some are common to each payment.

Reasons for disregarding previous study for ABSTUDY, ABSTUDY PES, Austudy and PES include:

• Different tertiary level
• Undertaken more than 10 years ago
• Prerequisite for current course of study
• Study was overseas and was not credited as part of an approved course of study, (with the exception of the prior completion of a master’s, or doctorate degree, or a qualification of the same standing). This includes a:
• master’s degree, or doctorate, or a qualification of the same standing as an Australian institution, or
• qualification of the same standing from an overseas institution
• Failure in or discontinuation of a course due to illness or circumstances beyond the control of the student

The following additional reasons are disregarded for ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY PES only:

• Course duration one year or less
• Periods of study for which Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES was not paid, regardless of the reason why these were not paid
• Periods of study in courses other than the one for which reasonable time is being calculated are not taken into account, and
• Studies undertaken more than 10 years before the year for which assistance is being claimed

The following additional reasons are disregarded for Austudy and PES only:

• Qualification obtained cannot be used in appropriate trade or profession due to illness
• Withdrew from a course without incurring an academic penalty
• Year 12 study discontinued within 6 months of commencing
• Secondary study was failed because English is not the student's first language
• Courses not then approved for one of the current student payments administered by the agency
• Ineligible for a Services Australia administered payment at the time study was undertaken due to academic progress rules
• Time spent undertaking a TAFE course or a course provided by a VET provider if the normal length of the course for a full time student is one year or less

Note: students who have completed a Doctorate level course do not qualify for Austudy or PES. Students who have completed a master’s level course do not qualify for PES. This is separate to 'disregarding previous study' as it is part of undertaking full time study requirements for PES and Austudy recipients. See Assessing qualifying study for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) or Activity test for Austudy for further information.