Determining minimum (normal) time for a course of study 010-07010020

Is the student's approved course being provided by a government funded educational provider (that is, a university or a TAFE)?

Special conditions apply in the Northern Territory.

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, go to Step 3

Details of courses at TAFEs and universities can be found in their handbooks or on their web sites.

These details often include the standard duration of the course when undertaken on a full-time basis. This figure is accepted by Services Australia as the minimum time for the course.

If the educational provider does not state, the standard duration of the course they will often state the completion relinquishments for the course (e.g. total hours required for completion). Divide this by the normal amount of full- time study for the course. All TAFE courses in a State/Territory have the same hours. See Assessing study load requirements.

The Resources page contains a link to university and TAFE home pages.

Go to Step 4.

Private provider courses have undergone an approvals process that considers among other things, the duration of the course.

The duration that has been accepted by Services Australia is the minimum time for that course.

The course length can be found on the approved courses list for the state/territory.

If any problems arise in determining the minimum time for a particular course, use local procedures to contact Course Approvals.

Once the minimum time for a course has been determined the allowable time/reasonable time for a course of study can be calculated.