Aggregation of study load 010-22033035

Aggregation means adding Equivalent Full-time Student Load (EFTSL) across study periods to determine whether tertiary (including VET) students are undertaking full-time study.

An aggregation assessment may be necessary when:

• a student enrols or re-enrols, or
• there is a change to their study load

For students to take advantage of the aggregation rules, they must:

• be studying in a tertiary (including VET) course, and
• maintain a study load/EFTSL of 75% across that period or academic year, and either:
• be able to enrol in all study periods included in the aggregation assessment at the commencement of the defined enrolment period, or
• be undertaking a subject/unit that runs across the entire enrolment period

An enrolment period:

• contains all subjects/units that an education provider will allow the student to enrol in, at or before the beginning of the first subject/unit
• commences from the start of the first subject/unit in the aggregation assessment. It concludes at the end of the last subject/unit. The enrolment period can be:
• more than one semester or trimester, or
• any another period defined by the education provider which reflects the student is enrolled

The study load of a subject/unit may be allocated to the enrolment period that provides the most beneficial outcome to the student if:

• the student is undertaking a subject/unit that begins in one enrolment period, and
• the subject/unit ends in another enrolment period

The study period can be redefined as a different period, such as a trimester, semester or academic year if:

• this provides a more beneficial outcome to the student, and
• the student had an aggregated study load

See the Resources page for examples.

Aggregation will not apply if:

• a student is unable to enrol in an optional period (for example, summer session) at the start of the enrolment period, or
• a student is not undertaking study in a compulsory study period

Students must maintain at least 75% of a full time study load:

• if they are receiving YA or Austudy, and
• their study load has been aggregated

This means, if they reduce their study load to below 75% they will cease to be eligible for payment from the date that the study load was reduced. The student may become eligible again if they are able to increase their study load to at least 75%. See the Resources page for the Examples of aggregation of study table.

An ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY PES higher education student can be considered full-time if they:

• have an aggregated EFTSL of at least 0.375 allocated to a half year period. The half year periods are 1 January to 30 June and 1 July to 31 December of the relevant year
• are undertaking at least ¾ of the normal full-time study load for a shorter period of enrolment (for example, summer school), where the education provider can define a full-time study load for that period

If the customer has supplied evidence indicating they are meeting the study load requirements under the aggregation of study load rules:

• record detailed information regarding the decision and aggregation of study load on a DOC
• tell the customer to notify Services Australia within 14 days if their study load reduces to below 75%

Go to Step 2.

Where the student's study load equals to at least 0.750 EFTSL over the enrolment period or academic year, escalate to an appropriately skilled Service Officer to record a Review Exemption End Date. This will prevent unnecessary study load reviews from occurring.

Is the student considered full time under the aggregation rules?

• Yes, create an open work item in Customer First using Fast Note - select Auto Text, use Students, ABSTUDY, Apprentices > Student Payment Review > Student Payment Review Exemption. Record the:
• review exemption end date as the last day of aggregated study load, and
• reason for review exemption as Aggregation of study load
• No, see Changing study load from full-time to part-time or concessional study load for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy or PES