Break between academic years
Jobseeker Support Student Hardship can only be paid during the break between the academic years of a student’s programme of study.
An academic year is the study year of a full-time course that forms part of a recognised programme of study. The break between academic years is the period between the last day of one year of study and the start of the next year of study in that programme.
The break between academic years must be a break in a single programme of study. This means that a student who is going from one completed programme to another is not eligible for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship in the break between the end of one programme and the start of the next.
Example 1 – break is not between academic years
Jack is enrolled for an 18-week basic computer studies certificate. This certificate is a programme.
Jack decides to enrol in an advanced computer studies certificate in the next semester.
This is a different programme and Jack is not eligible for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship over the break between these two programmes.
Example 2 – break between academic years
Sione has completed his first year of full-time study at Otago University for a Bachelor of Theology, which is a three year programme. Sione is in hardship and unable to support himself over the summer break between November and February.
Sione may be eligible for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship as he has a break between two of the academic years of his programme of study.
An academic year does not have to align with the calendar year. It can occur at any point during the year depending on the start and end date of a student’s programme of study.
Example 3 – break does not align with calendar years
Hoani is enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing degree, the first year runs from August to April. The extended break between the first and second years of Hoani’s degree is from May to July.
Their second year of study commences in August. Hoani may be eligible for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship over their extended break in May to July, as this is the period between the end of one academic year and the start of the next.
