Full-time vs Part-time

Full-time and part-time study

At Cairnmillar, a standard full-time study load is 100 credit points per academic year, or 50 credit points per semester.

See also: Credit Points and Work Load.

For some purposes, including Centrelink student payments such as Austudy and Youth Allowance, you may still be considered a full-time student if you are enrolled in at least 75% of the standard full-time study load. At Cairnmillar, this is generally 75 credit points per academic year or 37.5 credit points per semester. Services Australia uses the 75% threshold when assessing full-time study for these payments.

However, study-load requirements can vary depending on the purpose. For example, requirements relating to student visas, government payments and other benefits may differ. If you are an international student or your eligibility for a government payment depends on your study load, you should check the requirements of the relevant government agency or visa authority.

Part-time study

Part-time study generally means undertaking less than 75% of the standard full-time study load. At Cairnmillar, this is generally less than 37.5 credit points per semester or 75 credit points per academic year.

Many part-time students undertake 25 credit points per semester (two 12.5-credit-point units), which is equivalent to 50 credit points per academic year. However, the study load available to you will depend on your course structure, unit availability and any prerequisite requirements.

A reduced study load may affect your course completion timeframe and, depending on your circumstances, your eligibility for government payments or other benefits. If your study load changes, check the relevant requirements and notify the relevant government agency where required. For example, Services Australia requires students receiving Austudy or Youth Allowance to notify them if their study load changes.

Availability of part-time study

Due to our relatively small student cohorts, some units are offered only once per year. As a result, part-time study may not be available for all courses or may extend the time required to complete your course.

If you are considering part-time study or a reduced study load, please speak with your Course or Program Coordinator before changing your enrolment. They can advise you about your course structure, unit availability, prerequisites and the potential impact on your expected course completion date.

Full-time for Extensions

Students undertaking a placement or thesis extension may be concerned about whether they will continue to be considered a full-time student, particularly for purposes such as Centrelink payments.

For Austudy and Youth Allowance, Services Australia generally considers a student to be studying full time when they are undertaking 75% or more of their course’s standard full-time study load. Services Australia may determine study load using the education provider’s EFTSL, credit points or study hours.

At Cairnmillar, a standard full-time study load is 100 credit points per academic year, or 50 credit points per semester. However, where a student is completing a placement or thesis under an approved extension, the appropriate study load may need to be assessed based on the requirements and workload of the remaining component of the course.

For internal administrative purposes, Cairnmillar currently estimates the study load of students undertaking extensions as follows:

Thesis extension: approximately 2 days (14 hours) per week.
Placement: based on the number of days per week the student is required to attend or undertake placement.

Under this approach:

A student undertaking thesis extension only is generally considered to have a part-time study load.
A student undertaking a thesis extension plus one day of placement per week is generally considered to have a full-time study load for CMI’s administrative assessment.
A student undertaking an extended placement without any other enrolment or study component would generally need to undertake 2.5 days or more of placement per week to meet CMI’s internal estimate of a full-time study load.

Important information about Centrelink

CMI’s assessment of study load is provided for administrative purposes and does not determine eligibility for Centrelink payments.

If you receive Austudy, Youth Allowance or another government payment, Services Australia makes the final determination about your eligibility. Services Australia currently considers 75% or more of the course’s normal full-time study load to be full-time study for Austudy and Youth Allowance.

If your study load changes, you should notify Services Australia within 14 days.

Students should contact Services Australia directly to confirm how an approved placement or thesis extension will affect their individual circumstances and payment eligibility.

See Services Australia – Study loads for Austudy and Youth Allowance for further information.

Changes in Study Load Status

Change by withdrawal: If you are full-time and then withdraw from more than 25% of your study load (see: Credit Points and Work Load) then we will change your study load to part-time for you when we process your withdrawals.

Change at unit enrolment: If you are part-time and choose to enrol in a full-time load at a later stage, or if you were full-time but then only enrol in a part-time load, please email education@cairnmillar.edu.au after you enrol to let us know so that your study load status can be amended and your expected course of study end date updated as needed.

Updated: 23/09/2026