EFTS

We work out your study workload by using a measurement called EFTS (Equivalent Full-time Student). Usually, 0.125 EFTS is equivalent to 15 credits or points at your education provider.

We use EFTS for a number of reasons when looking at whether you can get a Student Loan or Student Allowance.

Your education provider will tell us how many EFTS you're studying.

  • When we use EFTS

    We use EFTS to check:

    • if you’re studying full-time or part-time
    • if you’ve passed more than half of your course for Student Allowance
    • if you're studying over half of a full-time course
    • if you’ve passed at least half of the last 5 years of your study
    • how much study you've done and had Student Loans for.

  • How EFTS work

    In most universities, every paper or course has a certain amount of points or credits that represent the amount of study or workload you do.

    These points or credits convert to an EFTS value.

    The general rule is that 15 points or credits are equal to 0.125 EFTS.

    Points or credits EFTS
    10 0.0833
    15 0.125
    20 0.1667
    30 0.25
    45 0.375
    60 0.5
    75 0.625
    90 0.75
    120 1

    There are some education providers that don’t use points or credits. Papers or courses at these education providers still have an EFTS value. Talk to your education provider to find out how many EFTS you’re studying.

  • Full-time study

    To be full-time you have to be studying a certain amount of EFTS.

    To work out if you're studying full-time, we look at how many EFTS you have over the number of weeks you're studying for.

    Number of weeks Minimum EFTS you need to be full-time
    Under 12 weeks 0.025 EFTS a week
    12-15 0.3
    16-19 0.4
    20 0.5
    21 0.525
    22 0.55
    23 0.575
    24 0.6
    25 0.625
    26 0.65
    27 0.675
    28 0.7
    29 0.725
    30 0.75
    31 0.775
    32-52 0.8
    53 or more 1

  • Unsure how many EFTS

    If you’re unsure how many EFTS you’re studying, contact your education provider.

linksRelated links

Find out how EFTS are assigned to courses
Definition of full-time