Defining levels of tertiary study 010-07010050

Tertiary study is any study at a level above secondary (or high school equivalent) study. This study may range from courses lasting a few weeks to courses lasting several years, and include:

• pre-vocational courses
• English as a Second Language courses at a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or Higher Education provider
• vocational education and training courses
• undergraduate courses
• postgraduate courses
• Startup Year courses

Tertiary courses are classified into levels: M, A, B, C and D. The levels are broadly based on the type of qualification obtained by completing a course at that level. A detailed description of each of these levels of study can be found on the Process page.

When a course of study is approved for assistance, it is assigned to one of these levels.

If, when considering a claim for assistance, the level of the proposed course of study is not clear, use local procedures to check with Course Assessment and Liaison Officers.

Student payments are not intended to be paid indefinitely and a limit is placed on how long a student may continue to receive payment at each level of study. These limits are outlined in the satisfactory progress and reasonable time rules. Time spent undertaking study at one level will determine if a student payment can be made for another course at the same level.

Some universities are now offering places in their graduate entry courses to high performing secondary school students, and students who have completed some diplomas. In these cases, the student’s entry pathway into the course must be taken into consideration when determining if the course is a Level A or Level B course.

If a student is admitted into a graduate entry course based on:

• them having previously completed study at the undergraduate level, they are undertaking a Level A course
• their ATAR and it is their first undergraduate course, they are undertaking a Level B course
• them having completed a diploma and it is their first undergraduate course, they are undertaking a Level B course

All preparatory and similar courses at higher education provider (including universities) are regarded as secondary courses. This includes a bridging course that provides an opportunity for future entry to a higher-level course at a university.

Secondary studies at high school that have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) component to the studies are becoming more common. These studies are vocationally oriented, to provide the student with an opportunity to gain their schooling qualification and a VET qualification. These students are enrolled as full-time secondary students under their State Education system

Students undertaking this level of study could qualify, depending on their circumstances, for their appropriate student payment, such as:

• Youth Allowance
• Austudy
• Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)

Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC). Indigenous students could be eligible for the ABSTUDY Schooling B award payments. Their status should be confirmed to ensure that Schooling B award is appropriate. It is possible that the Tertiary award may apply in some cases.