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 Australian Government StudyAssist website.

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.