Specific Eligibility Criteria for ABSTUDY Awards

Eligibility Criteria for Schooling A Award

A student is eligible for the Schooling A Award if s/he meets the general ABSTUDY eligibility criteria and is:

• 15 years of age or younger; and
• studying a full-time secondary course; and either
  • living at home, or
  • not approved for the living away from home or independent rates;

or

• 14 years of age or more at 1 January in the year of study; and
• a full-time primary school student; and
• living at home.

Eligibility Criteria for Schooling B Award

A student is eligible for a Schooling B Award if s/he meets the general ABSTUDY eligibility criteria and is:

• 16 years of age or older, or 15 years of age or older and in State Care, and
• either:
  • undertaking an approved course of full-time primary studies, or
  • undertaking full-time secondary school studies,

or

• any age, and
• undertaking full-time secondary non-school studies, and
• meets the ABSTUDY progress and duration of assistance rules, and
• either:
  • has reached the minimum school leaving age as defined by the relevant State/Territory education authority, or
  • has provided evidence that s/he has been granted an exemption by the State/Territory education authority in order to attend a TAFE or other non-school institution,

or

• under 16 years of age, and
  • meets one of the conditions for approval to live away from home, and does live away from home, and
  • is undertaking full-time secondary school studies, or
  • has already completed the final year of primary school and has moved away from home to undertake secondary schooling but instead needs to repeat the final year of primary school at another location that offers both primary and secondary schooling.

Eligibility Criteria for Tertiary Award

A student or Australian Apprentice is eligible for a Tertiary Award if s/he meets the primary ABSTUDY eligibility and:

• is studying a full-time post-secondary course or undertaking a full-time apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship under the Australian Apprenticeships scheme; and
  • has reached the minimum school leaving age as defined by the relevant State/Territory education authority; or
  • has been granted exemption from the State/Territory education authority in order to attend a TAFE or an Australian Apprenticeship or another tertiary institution and
• if a student, is studying a full-time (including concessional) study-load and meets the ABSTUDY progress and duration of assistance rules; or
• if an Australian Apprentice, has a current Commonwealth Registration Number.

Specific Eligibility Criteria for Part-time Award

A student is eligible for a Part-time Award if s/he meets the general ABSTUDY eligibility criteria and:

• is studying a post-secondary course; and
• is not studying a full-time workload;

or

• is 18 years or older at 1 January in the year of study; and
• is studying a secondary course; and
• is not studying a full-time workload;

Eligibility Criteria for Testing and Assessment Award

A person is eligible for a Testing and Assessment Award if s/he meets the ABSTUDY general eligibility criteria and:

• is undertaking a Testing and Assessment activity to determine the participants suitability for the Indigenous Youth Mobility Programme (IYMP); and/or
• seeks to enrol in an approved tertiary course or a higher degree at the Masters or Doctorate level, and is required to travel away from her/his normal place of residence to attend a selection test or an interview to determine suitability for, and acceptance into, the course, where such a test/interview is a normal requirement for admission to the course; and
• is unable to be assessed from previous study; and
• is not receiving or will not receive any other significant form of financial assistance for the test/interview.

Eligibility Criteria for the Masters and Doctorate Award

A student is eligible for a Masters and Doctorate Award if she/he:

• meets the general ABSTUDY eligibility criteria, and
• and is enrolled on a full-time or concessional study-load basis in an approved Masters degree or Doctorate (PhD) course, and
• is not receiving, or will not receive, any other form of government assistance (refer 12.5). For example: a student cannot be in receipt of both the ABSTUDY Masters and Doctorate Award and the Australian Postgraduate Award.

Student or New Apprentice in Lawful Custody Award

A student or Australian Apprentice is eligible for this award if s/he meets the general ABSTUDY eligibility criteria, and:

• is in lawful custody for a period of more than 2 weeks, and
• is studying a suitably approved course; or
• is undertaking a full-time apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship under the Australian Apprenticeship scheme.