Passing your course
If you already get a Student Allowance for tertiary study or had one for your last full-time tertiary course, you must have passed more than half of a full-time tertiary course to get it again. Unless you didn't pass because of a reason beyond your control, such as illness.
How to calculate if you have passed more than half your course
A course is recognised as either full-time or part-time by applying what's called an EFTS (equivalent full-time student) value to each component/module.
The EFTS value is determined by the content of your course, and is set by the Tertiary Education Commission.
This means you need to pass more than half of a full-time enrolment, Here are some examples:
| Weeks of study | EFTS you need to be full-time | EFTS you need to pass to get another Student Allowance |
| 32-52 | 0.8 or more | 0.4001 |
| 20 | 0.5 | 0.2501 |
| 12 | 0.3 | 0.1501 |
How to let us know you have passed more than half your course
When you re-apply for a Student Allowance, we ask you to tell us if you passed more than half of the last full-time tertiary course you got a Student Allowance for.
We'll process your application and confirm your study results directly with the Ministry of Education.
If you haven't passed more than half your course
If you didn't pass, you won't be able to get the Student Allowance unless you didn't pass due to reasons beyond your control.We will confirm whether you've passed or not with the Ministry of Education.
If you have started receiving Student Allowance payments you may have to repay these.
If you're unsure whether you have passed more than half your course
If you're not sure whether you've passed or not, tell us in your application.
We will check with the Ministry of Education. Or you can let us know as soon as you find out your study results.
We can't finish processing your application until we know whether you've passed or not.