Student Learning Entitlement (SLE)
On 1 January 2022, the Australian government introduced the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).
The SLE allows students to undertake 7 years (7 EFTSL) of full-time subsidised study in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). Any course taken by a student in a CSP that has a census date after 1 January 2022 will reduce the student's SLE balance by the EFTSL value of that course. Once a student has used all available SLE, they will be transferred to a full-fee paying place (DTF) for the remainder of their study.
In some cases, students are able to accrue 'additional SLE' and 'lifelong SLE'.
For further information, please see the .
SLE calculation example:
Stan commenced a Bachelor of Science with a CSP, on 1 January 2021. The courses undertaken in 2021 did not reduce his SLE amount.
In 2022, Stan enrols in a total of 8 courses of study, 4 courses in each semester. As Stan is still enrolled in the 4 courses after the semester one census date passes, his SLE amount is reduced by 0.5 EFTSL. As Stan is still enrolled in the 4 courses after the semester two census date passes, his SLE amount is reduced by a further 0.5 EFTSL.
His SLE amount at the end of the year will be:
7 EFTSL - 1 EFTSL (0.5 EFTSL x 2 Semesters) = 6 EFTSL.
This means Stan has 6 years left of Commonwealth supported study.