Notes on Austudy/Abstudy

1. Austudy is presently available for students registered as undertaking the Bachelor of Theology degree, the Advanced Diploma in Ministry, the Diploma in Ministry, the Associate Diploma in Ministry, and for a combination of these awards. Austudy is not available to students undertaking graduate awards.
   
2. Austudy has advised that the Bachelor of Theology degree is a three year course and that full-time study is classed as undertaking 8 units per year (4 units per semester). Normally Austudy will only be granted for the three years allowed to complete the degree. A combined Bachelor of Theology/Advanced Diploma in Ministry is deemed to be a five year course, while a combined Bachelor of Theology/Diploma in Ministry is a four year course.
3. Students who undertake only 3 units a semester will still get Austudy under the 75% provision, however, these students will normally only get finance for the three years allowed to complete the degree (even though more units are still required to complete the degree).
4. The 75% provision is to allow for student 'drop-out', ie. a student undertaking a full-time load and then dropping out of one or two subjects due to 'overload'. If a student is doing only 3 units per semester and drops out of one, full-time Austudy will no longer be applicable, and the student will be required to refund all fees received during the affected period.
5. When applying for Austudy, students must state that they are undertaking studies towards the degree of Bachelor of Theology of the Melbourne College of Divinity at the Whitley College campus. Whitley College office will provide students with a letter of confirmation of enrolment, on request, to accompany their application to Centrelink. The CentreLink office does not recognise the constituent colleges as education providers for Austudy purposes.
6. Austudy undertakes an 'audit' of students towards the end of each semester (ie. they ask MCD to tell them how many units are actually being undertaken at that time.) They will also be advised if students do not comply with the regulations of the course in which they are enrolled.
7. Further information is available from CentreLink offices, listed in the Melbourne White Pages.

Notes on Abstudy

Assistance is available to Aboriginal and Islander students under the Abstudy scheme. Abstudy benefits are largely the same as Austudy, but with the following additions:
(a)    The income test is different;
(b)    A book allowance is paid each year;
(c)    A living allowance may be payable on a second degree.