Funding and payments – learner component

Funding and payments – learner component

Last updated 22 October 2024
Last updated 22 October 2024

This page explains funding and payments under the learner component of DQ3-7.

Funding rates for total learner component allocation calculations

For 2025, funding rates for each learner group are:

Learner group Funding rates/EFTS
Learners with low prior achievement $1,327
Disabled learners $1,327
Māori and Pacific learners, Level 7 (non-degree) $364

Māori and Pacific learners to Level 6

$152

These rates are used to calculate a provider’s total learner component allocation.

Calculations for learners with more than one eligible characteristic

Learners identified as disabled with low prior achievement: Where a learner is identified in the data as disabled and having low prior achievement, they will only attract one relevant funding rate for these two categories.

Learners identified as Māori and Pacific: Similarly, where a learner is identified as Māori and Pacific, they will only attract one relevant funding rate.

Learners identified as disabled and/or low prior achievement, and Māori and/or Pacific: Where a learner is identified as both disabled and/or having low prior achievement and as Māori and/or Pacific, they will attract both relevant rates.

Payments for the total learner component allocation

Providers that are required to set milestones will be paid 80 percent of learner component funding in equal monthly instalments. The remaining 20 percent (performance element) will be paid as per the agreed schedule once milestones are met.

Providers who do not need to set milestones will be paid all their learner component funding in equal monthly instalments.

For more information, see Performance element requirements for 2025.

Recovery of funding

Learner component funding cannot be recovered through the wash-up process.

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) may withhold performance element payments for any tailored performance expectations set through milestones. We pay funding for successful completion of milestones, so we may extend the payment date until we are satisfied that you have achieved the milestone.