Limited full-time study

To be eligible for a Student Allowance or Student Loan Living Cost and Course-Related Costs components a student must normally be studying full-time. The exception to this requirement is when they apply and receive approval to study part-time under the Limited full-time provisions set out below.

The Limited full-time exceptions provide discretion to make an entitlement decision based on the intent of the regulation, the limitations of the wording of the regulation, and the facts of the particular situation.

A student may receive approval to study on a Limited full-time basis if it is considered appropriate because of one of the following:

• Illness of the student
• There is 'sufficient cause that is outside the student's control'
• The course of study is 'in the student's academic best interests'
• The student will complete a recognised programme that they previously commenced but did not complete and they are undertaking 'more than half of a full-time course'

Approval would not be appropriate where a student is studying part-time because the course or programme is designed and/or delivered on a part-time basis for all the students undertaking it. This is because it is part-time study, not full-time study that is being undertaken on a part-time basis because of the exceptions described above.

Further, a course or programme that is designed and/or delivered on a part-time basis for all students undertaking it, would not normally be approved for access to Student Allowances and/or Student Loans by the Tertiary Education Commission. Any examples that are identified should be raised with the Tertiary Education Commission.

For more information see:

Any approval of Limited full-time status for illness of the student, sufficient cause that is outside of the student's control or academic best interests, must be on the advice of the relevant tertiary provider or secondary school principal.

This advice must provide evidence or arguments that confirm the student's application for Limited full-time approval is supported because of one of the exceptions described above.

A student who is undertaking a reduced course or programme because of one of the 'limited full-time' provisions, can apply for assistance beyond the 92/120/200 week limit.

For more information see:

Poor academic performance does not generally on its own justify approving an application for Limited full-time status.

It may be a symptom of one of the 4 exceptions described above.

If a student's Limited full-time entitlement is suspended due to not meeting attendance and/or work requirements, or for not passing more than half the work of their limited full-time workload, they would need to meet the 'Reinstatement' criteria to be eligible for further entitlement to allowances.

For more information see:

• Performance requirements - passing more than half
• Meeting course requirements