IDI Data Dictionary: Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink

IDI Data Dictionary: Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink November 2015 edition

Crown copyright This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to copy, distribute, and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to Statistics NZ and abide by the other licence terms. Please note you may not use any departmental or governmental emblem, logo, or coat of arms in any way that infringes any provision of the Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981. Use the wording Statistics New Zealand in your attribution, not the Statistics NZ logo. Liability While all care and diligence has been used in processing, analysing, and extracting data and information in this publication, Statistics New Zealand gives no warranty it is error free and will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the use directly, or indirectly, of the information in this publication. Citation Statistics New Zealand (2015). IDI Data Dictionary: Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink (November 2015 edition). Available from www.stats.govt.nz. ISSN 2463-2937 (online) Published in November 2015 by Statistics New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa Wellington, New Zealand Contact Statistics New Zealand Information Centre: info@stats.govt.nz Phone toll-free 0508 525 525 Phone international +64 4 931 4600 www.stats.govt.nz

Contents 1 Purpose of this data dictionary... 4 Background... 4 2 About the Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink... 5 Coverage... 5 Methodology... 6 Quality information... 6 Privacy, security, or confidentiality issues... 6 List of datasets... 6 Dataset history... 6 3 Data dictionary for Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink... 8 Dataset description... 8 Summary table... 8 Detailed information... 11 3

1 Purpose of this data dictionary IDI Data Dictionary: Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink (November 2015 edition) documents the content of the Student loans and allowances data the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) provides to Statistics New Zealand to use in the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). This dictionary gives information on the variables contained in the dataset from 1999 onwards including technical information and descriptions. This document provides a standardised central reference point for users of the dataset. Use this data dictionary if you are interested in understanding and accessing the MSD student loans and allowances data in the IDI for your research. Background The student loans and allowances integrated dataset was initially established by Statistics NZ in 2002 comprising student loan data, and then expanded in 2006 to include student allowances data. Scholarship data was added subsequently. This document replaces and updates earlier versions of the MSD data dictionary. It uses a new standardised format common to all the data dictionaries for data included in this dataset. 4

2 About the Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink Coverage Reference period start: Student allowances data (including accommodation benefit and A & B bursary) is available for study starting on or after 1 January 1999 (prior to that time student allowances were delivered by the Ministry of Education). Student loan data is available for study starting on or after 1 January 2000 (prior to that time student loans were delivered by the Ministry of Education). Top Scholar Awards commenced in 2004. The data reflects awards paid by StudyLink from that point in time. These awards were renamed the NZQA Scholarship Monetary Awards from 2007, and are often referred to as the New Zealand Scholarship Awards. There are five different categories within the award scheme. See the NZQA website for more details. StudyLink commenced payment of some of the TeachNZ Scholarships (some were retained by the Ministry of Education) in 2005. The data reflects payments made by StudyLink from that point in time. There are four types of TeachNZ Scholarship. See the Ministry of Education website for more details. Step Up Scholarships were first awarded in 2004. The data reflects payments made by StudyLink from this point in time. Bonded Merit Scholarships were first awarded in 2006. The data reflects payments made by StudyLink from this point in time. Reference period end: Student allowances data (including accommodation benefit) is ongoing. A & B bursary data ceased from 2006, as these awards were phased out from 2006 with the introduction of NCEA level 3 from 2004. Student loan data is ongoing. Top Scholar data is ongoing. TeachNZ data is ongoing. The Step Up Scholarship Scheme was closed from 2009, and therefore the last payments will likely be in 2013. The Bonded Merit Scholarship Scheme was closed from 2009, and therefore the last payments will likely be in 2013. Geographic coverage: Eligible students studying in New Zealand, and in some cases overseas. Target population: Eligible students. Observed population: Eligible students who apply for and receive financial support under these schemes. Analysis unit: The individual student is the unit of analysis. 5

Methodology Type of data: Administrative data. Data collector: Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Mode of data collection: Extracted from MSD data warehouse where copies of all data from the administrative system (SAL) are held for research and analysis purposes. Frequency of data collection: Annual Quality information Editing: The source administrative data is subject to correction or updating as new information becomes available. Missing data: The presence of a blank field in the dataset will not represent an error. All mandatory fields are populated. Other quality information: Administrative data is subject to change over time. The collection of a snapshot of data at a point in time does not always reflect this reality. Individual records are subject to change/correction as new information become available or errors are identified and fixed. Policy changes, particularly changes to eligibility and/or entitlement, mean that new data is added and some data will stop being collected (as required) to meet the requirements of those policy changes. Privacy, security, or confidentiality issues The student loans and allowances tables that are accessible to researchers do not contain any name or address information to identify an individual. All researchers who have access to the student loans and allowances data have had their research proposals assessed using Statistics NZ s microdata access protocols and only approved researchers who have been granted access by Statistics NZ and the Ministry of Social Development may view the student loans and allowances data. Read Statistics NZ s microdata access protocols. All outputs produced from the student loans and allowances data must be aggregated and counts suppressed if the underlying unrounded count is fewer than six. List of datasets Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink Dataset history Changes to the dataset have been outlined in the Coverage section. Changes to concepts over time Policy changes made by the Government (including changes to the relevant law) have changed some key variables, or added new ones to MSD s system over time. In some cases this has changed the data collected for inclusion in the integrated dataset. 6

Changes in coverage over time The target population as noted above has changed as the government has (and will continue to) amended eligibility and entitlement over time. Consistency of data collection and data entry processes over time Applications forms and the online application system are updated as required for policy changes as well as improvements, or to fix problems. New variables are introduced if policy changes require the collection of new or different information to establish eligibility or entitlement. 7

3 Data dictionary for Student loans and allowances data from StudyLink Last updated on: 07 July 2015 Dataset description Contents of dataset: The Student loans and allowances data contains data provided by applicants, their education provider(s), the Tertiary Education Commission (approved study programmes or qualifications), the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (Top Scholar Awards), and the Ministry of Education (TeachNZ Scholarships) that StudyLink uses to assess eligibility and entitlement to student allowances, student loans and scholarships. Type of file: Tab delimited text Summary table IDI variable name Primary key Format Classification name Source variable name snz_uid Y Y N SNZ unique identifier snz_ird_uid Y Y N IRD nbr msd_sla_year_nbr Y 4N Year msd_sla_snz_unique_nbr N 9N snz_swn_uid Y Y 9N SWN nbr msd_sla_birth_month_nbr N N Month of Birth msd_sla_birth_year_nbr N N Year of Birth msd_sla_sex_snz_code Y 100A gender Gender msd_sla_residency_status_co de msd_sla_residency_date Y N 1A Mandatory YYYY- MM-DD table_residential_stat us Residential status Residency date msd_sla_ethnic1_code N 6N table_ethnic_groups Ethnicity1 msd_sla_ethnic2_code N 6N table_ethnic_groups Ethnicity2 msd_sla_ethnic3_code N 6N table_ethnic_groups Ethnicity3 msd_sla_iwi1_code N 6N table_iwi Iwi1 msd_sla_iwi2_code N 6N table_iwi Iwi2 msd_sla_iwi3_code N 6N table_iwi Iwi3 msd_sla_iwi4_code N 6N table_iwi Iwi4 msd_sla_iwi5_code N 6N table_iwi Iwi5 msd_sla_sl_study_start_date N YYYY- MM-DD msd_sla_sl_study_end_date N YYYY- MM-DD SL Study start SL Study end msd_sla_in_prison_ind Y 1A table_yes_no In prison msd_sla_ann_drawn_fee_amt N 13.2N Course fees msd_sla_ann_drawn_course_r el_amt N 13.2N Course related cost 8

IDI variable name msd_sla_ann_drawn_living_co st_amt Primary key Mandatory Format Classification name Source variable name N 13.2N Living costs msd_sla_ann_admin_fee_amt N 13.2N Administration fee msd_sla_balance_amt N 13.2N Total balance msd_sla_ann_allowance_paid _amt msd_sla_ann_allowance_repai d_amt msd_sla_ann_accommodation _amt msd_sla_ann_accommodation _repaid_amt N 13.2N Student allowance paid N 13.2N Student allowance repaid N 13.2N Accommodation benefit paid N 13.2N Accommodation benefit repaid msd_sla_a_bursary_amt N 13.2N A bursary paid msd_sla_a_bursary_repaid_a mt N 13.2N A bursary repaid msd_sla_b_bursary_amt N 13.2N B bursary paid msd_sla_b_bursary_repaid_a mt msd_sla_top_scholar_paid_a mt msd_sla_top_scholar_repaid_ amt msd_sla_bonded_merit_paid_ amt msd_sla_bonded_merit_repaid _amt N 13.2N B bursary repaid N 13.2N Top scholar paid N 13.2N Top scholar repaid N 13.2N Bonded merit paid N 13.2N Bonded merit repaid msd_sla_step_up_paid_amt N 6.2N Step up paid msd_sla_step_up_repaid_amt N 6.2N Step up repaid msd_sla_teachnz_paid_amt N 13.2N TeachNZ paid msd_sla_teachnz_repaid_amt N 13.2N TeachNZ repaid msd_sla_ann_repayment_amt N 13.2N x Repayments msd_sla_ann_fee_refund_amt N 13.2N x Fee Refunds msd_sla_study_post_code N 5A Study post code msd_sla_postal_post_code N 5A Postal post code msd_sla_allowance_type_cod e N 30A table_allowance_type s Allowance type msd_sla_over_200_weeks_ind N 1A table_yes_no Over 200 weeks msd_sla_parental_income_tes t_ind N 1A table_yes_no Parentally income tested msd_sla_parent1_income_amt N 13.2N Parents income 1 msd_sla_parent2_income_amt N 13.2N Parents income 2 msd_sla_total_partner_income _amt msd_sla_ann_gross_declared _income_amt N 13.2N Total partner income N 13.2N 9

IDI variable name msd_sla_number_of_partners _studying_nbr msd_sla_number_of_partners _nbr msd_sla_number_of_studying _siblings_nbr msd_sla_studying_siblings_ab atement_amt msd_sla_separated_parents_a batement_amt msd_sla_weeks_of_allowance _nbr msd_sla_support_period_i nd_nbr Primary key Mandatory Format msd_sla_sa_study_start_date N YYYY- MM-DD msd_sla_sa_study_end_date N YYYY- MM-DD msd_sla_sl_study_status_cod e Classification name Source variable name N 2N Number of studying partners N 2N Number of partners N 2N SA number of studying siblings N 13.2N SA studying siblings abatement amount N 13.2N Separated parents abatement amount N 2N Weeks of allowance Y N Support period indicator number SA Study start SA Study end N 1N table_sl_study_status SL Study Status snz_student_id1_uid N N Stud1_code snz_student_id2_uid N N Stud2_code snz_student_id3_uid N N Stud3_code snz_student_id4_uid N N Stud4_code snz_student_id5_uid N N Stud5_code snz_student_id6_uid N N Stud6_code snz_student_id7_uid N N Stud7_code snz_student_id8_uid N N Stud8_code snz_student_id9_uid N N Stud9_code snz_student_id10_uid N N stud10_code msd_sla_qual1_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual2_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual3_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual4_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual5_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual6_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes Qual1_code Qual2_code Qual3_code Qual4_code Qual5_code Qual6_code 10

IDI variable name Primary key Mandatory Format Classification name msd_sla_qual7_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual8_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual9_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_qual10_code N 6A table_moe_course_c odes msd_sla_provider1_snz_code N 4A msd_sla_provider2_snz_code N 4A msd_sla_provider3_snz_code N 4A msd_sla_provider4_snz_code N 4A msd_sla_provider5_snz_code N 4A msd_sla_provider6_snz_code N 4A table_provider_codes table_provider_codes table_provider_codes table_provider_codes table_provider_codes table_provider_codes Source variable name Qual7_code Qual8_code Qual9_code Qual10_code Provider1_nbr Provider2_nbr Provider3_nbr Provider4_nbr Provider5_nbr Provider6_nbr msd_sla_ethnic1_snz_code N 6A Ethnic1 code msd_sla_ethnic2_snz_code N 6A Ethnic2 code msd_sla_ethnic3_snz_code N 6A Ethnic3 code msd_sla_ethnic_grp1_snz_ind Y N msd_sla_ethnic_grp2_snz_ind Y N msd_sla_ethnic_grp3_snz_ind Y N msd_sla_ethnic_grp4_snz_ind Y N msd_sla_ethnic_grp5_snz_ind Y N msd_sla_ethnic_grp6_snz_ind Y N msd_sla_study_region_code N 2A Study Region msd_sla_study_ta_code N 3A Study TA code msd_sla_postal_region_code N 2A Postal Region msd_sla_postal_ta_code N 3A Postal TA code Detailed information Variable name: snz_uid Definition: A global unique identifier created by Statistics NZ. There is a snz_uid for each distinct identity in the IDI. This identifier is changed and reassigned each refresh. Format: 11

Variable name: snz_ird_uid Definition: A local unique identifier derived by Statistics NZ from the source agency s unique identifier(s). This identifier will remain the same for an identity across refreshes. Where we receive more information during a subsequent refresh that indicates that two or more identities represent the same identity, the identifier may change. Format: Variable name: msd_sla_year_nbr Definition: Calendar year the record relates to. Format: Numeric, 4 Identify Academic year data in row relates to: student allowance: 1999 to current. student loan: 2000 to current. For loans data, year is the year study finished for a loan account. Variable name: msd_sla_snz_unique_nbr Definition: Format: Variable name: snz_swn_uid Definition: SNZ encrypted client number allocated by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Format: Numeric, 9 Variable name: msd_sla_birth_month_nbr Definition: Month in which the student was born. 12

Format: Numeric Variable name: msd_sla_birth_year_nbr Definition: Year in which student was born. Format: Numeric Student s age is recorded for identification and confirming entitlement: student allowance - eligibility and determining rate of payment. student loan - age is open but students aged under 18 years must have consent from their parent(s) to get a loan. Variable name: msd_sla_sex_snz_code Definition: Gender as supplied by student and verified against official documents, such as the student s birth certificate or passport. Format: Character, 100 Variable name: msd_sla_residency_status_code Definition: Residential status as supplied by the student and verified against official documents, such as the student s birth certificate or passport. Format: Character, 1A table_residential_status Residential status should be recorded for all students however, due to SAL system issues, this is unknown for approximately 1,200 students from 1999, two from 2001 and three from 2002. It is also unknown for some scholarship only students such as Top Scholars. Records a student s residential status for confirming eligibility for student allowance and/or student loan. Variable name: msd_sla_residency_date Definition: Records the date permanent residency was granted, if applicable, otherwise null. 13

Format: Date, YYYY-MM-DD Data is verified against official documents, such as the student s passport, as this affects entitlement. Permanent residency date is used to determine entitlement to student allowance. Permanent residents must have held permanent residency status and lived in New Zealand for at least two years before they are eligible to receive a student allowance. Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic1_code Definition: Ethnicity as supplied by the student. Format: Character, 6 table_ethnic_groups Students may change this at any time, and may enter more than one ethnicity. Due to a major change in structure of ethnic group coding in 2003, only the latest ethnic groups for students are used.ie No historical data is presented. Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic2_code Definition: Ethnicity as supplied by the student. Format: Character, 6 table_ethnic_groups Students may change this at any time, and may enter more than one ethnicity. Due to a major change in structure of ethnic group coding in 2003, only the latest ethnic groups for students are used ie no historical data is presented. Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic3_code Definition: Ethnicity as supplied by the student. Format: Character, 6 table_ethnic_groups Students may change this at any time, and may enter more than one ethnicity. Due to a major change in structure of ethnic group coding in 2003, only the latest ethnic groups for students are used ie no historical data is presented. _ Variable name: msd_sla_iwi1_code Definition: Iwi as supplied by the student. 14

Format: Character, 6 table_iwi Up to five iwi codes. Students may change this at any time. _ Variable name: msd_sla_iwi2_code Definition: Iwi as supplied by the student. Format: Character, 6 table_iwi Up to five iwi codes. Students may change this at any time. _ Variable name: msd_sla_iwi3_code Definition: Iwi as supplied by the student. Format: Character, 6 table_iwi Up to five iwi codes. Students may change this at any time. _ Variable name: msd_sla_iwi4_code Definition: Iwi as supplied by the student. Format: Character, 6 table_iwi Up to five iwi codes. Students may change this at any time. _ Variable name: msd_sla_iwi5_code Definition: Iwi as supplied by the student. Format: Character, 6 table_iwi Up to five iwi codes. Students may change this at any time. _ Variable name: msd_sla_sl_study_start_date Definition: Course start date as supplied by the provider 15

Format: Date, YYYY-MM-DD 1JAN2000 to end of current year. Variable name: msd_sla_sl_study_end_date Definition: Course end date as supplied by the provider, or the date the student withdrew from the course, supplied by the provider. Format: Date, YYYY-MM-DD 1JAN2000 to end of current year. Variable name: msd_sla_in_prison_ind Definition: In prison as declared by the student. Format: Character, 1A table_yes_no Y or N A prisoner s entitlement to a student loan is restricted to course fees and course-related costs. Living costs are only available to prisoners who are on home detention. Variable name: msd_sla_ann_drawn_fee_amt Definition: Total course fees borrowed during the calendar year. There is no limit, however TEC takes course fees into account when they approve courses. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_ann_drawn_course_rel_amt Definition: Total course-related costs borrowed during the calendar year. The maximum costs that can be borrowed are in the table of system parameters, code CRCLMT. 16

The limit is $1,000 per loan account. Due to timing of courses, students may be paid more than $1,000 in a calendar year. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_ann_drawn_living_cost_amt Definition: Total living costs borrowed during the calendar year. Maximum is abated by any student allowance that is paid. Living costs are not abated by income. The limit is in the system limits and parameters table, code LCLMT. Students nominate the amount to be paid, within the maximum available, and may choose to have this adjusted according to the consumers price index on 1 April each year. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_ann_admin_fee_amt Definition: Total administration fees charged to a student during the year. Value is in the system limits and parameters table, code ADMLMT. The administration fee was $50 a year from 2000. In 2010, for study commencing on or after 1 January 2011, it was renamed establishment fee and increased to $60 per loan account. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_balance_amt Definition: Total loan balance - course fees, course-related costs, living costs, administration fee, less any repayments and refunds. Can be negative if repayments and refunds exceed the total of other fields. This may occur if a provider makes a fee refund in the year following the year the fees were paid. -999,999.00 to 999,999.00 0 or null if NA Variable name: msd_sla_ann_allowance_paid_amt Definition: Total allowance paid to a student during the year. 17

This is the gross figure, and does not include any reversal of overpayments. Allowance rates are detailed in the table Allowance Rates. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_ann_allowance_repaid_amt Definition: Reversals of overpayments. Null or -999,999.99 to 0 Variable name: msd_sla_ann_accommodation_amt Definition: Total accommodation benefit paid to a student during the calendar year. Accommodation benefit rates are detailed in the table Accommodation Rates. 0 to 999,999.99. Null if N/A or unknown/no data Variable name: msd_sla_ann_accommodation_repaid_amt Definition: Total accommodation benefit adjustments. Accommodation benefit rates are detailed in the table Accommodation Rates. 0 to -999,999 null if N/A Variable name: msd_sla_a_bursary_amt Definition: Total A Bursary paid to a student during the calendar year. A student achieving an A bursary was awarded $200 per year of study until the age of 20. As the last bursary examinations were held in 2003, and students had to be less than 18

20 years old on the date their study commenced for the year, it is unlikely that any further bursary payments will be made. 0 to -999,999 null if N/A Variable name: msd_sla_a_bursary_repaid_amt Definition: Reversals of overpayments. 0 to -999,999 null if N/A Variable name: msd_sla_b_bursary_amt Definition: Total B Bursary paid to a student during the year. A student achieving a B bursary was awarded $100 per year of study until the age of 20. As the last Bursary examinations were held in 2003, and students had to be less than 20 years old on the date their study commenced for the year, it is unlikely that any further bursary payments will be made. 0 to -999,999 null if N/A Variable name: msd_sla_b_bursary_repaid_amt Definition: Reversals of overpayments. 0 to -999,999 null if N/A Variable name: msd_sla_top_scholar_paid_amt Definition: This is the amount paid in the year, from March 2005, set to 0 for previous years. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_top_scholar_repaid_amt Definition: This is paid from March 2005, set to 0 for previous years. 19

Adjustments for overpayments. Null or -999,999.99 to 0 Variable name: msd_sla_bonded_merit_paid_amt Definition: Records the total amount of scholarship paid in the year. Bonded merit scholarship was paid from 2005 and disestablished from 2010, with the last awards made in 2009. Paid from 2005, set to 0 for previous years. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_bonded_merit_repaid_amt Definition: This is paid from March 2005, set to 0 for previous years. Adjustments for overpayments. Null or -999,999.99 to 0 Variable name: msd_sla_step_up_paid_amt Definition: Records the total amount of scholarship paid in the year. Step Up scholarship was paid from 2005 and disestablished from 2010, with the last awards made in 2009. Paid from 2005, set to 0 for previous years. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_step_up_repaid_amt Definition: This is paid from 2005, set to 0 for previous years. Adjustments for overpayments. 20

Null or -999,999.99 to 0 Variable name: msd_sla_teachnz_paid_amt Definition: These are paid manually. Will be paid via SAL starting in December 2007. Set to null or zero. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_teachnz_repaid_amt Definition: These are paid manually. Will be paid via SAL starting in December 2007. Set to null or zero. Adjustments for overpayments. Null or -999,999.99 to 0 Variable name: mds_sla_ann_repayment_amt Definition: Total repayments made during the year. A repayment can be for one of two reasons: a repayment made by a student before transfer to IRD. repayment of a loan for living costs borrowed when a student allowance is later approved for the same period (this is automatic). -999,999.00 to 999,999.00 0 or null if NA Variable name: msd_sla_ann_fee_refund_amt Definition: Total fees refunded by an education provider during the year. These may occur the following year if the refund is not finalised until then. -999,999.00 to 999,999.00 0 or null if NA 21

Variable name: msd_sla_study_post_code Definition: Last recorded postcode derived from the study address supplied by the student extracted at 31 December of the relevant year. Format: Character, 5 Study address is compulsory for student allowance, but not for student loans. Variable name: msd_sla_postal_post_code Definition: Last recorded postcode derived from the postal address supplied by the student extracted at 31 December of the relevant year. Format: Character, 5 Postal address may not be supplied for student allowance if this is the same as the student s study address. Variable name: msd_sla_allowance_type_code Definition: Records allowance type. Format: Character, 30 table_allowance_types See table_allowance_types for a list of these. Variable name: msd_sla_over_200_weeks_ind Definition: Records whether an allowance has been approved to be paid for more than 200 weeks. Format: Character, 1A table_yes_no This flag is set by an operator as part of manual application processing. Once set the flag should remain set, but this is not always the case. If the flag is set to Yes at any time during a year, it is reported as Yes for that year. Otherwise, it is reported as No. This field is used to override the 200-week limit to student allowance, in cases where an extension is approved. Variable name: msd_sla_parental_income_test_ind Definition: Parental income tested indicator 22

Format: Character, 1A table_yes_no Applies to allowance types 4H, 4A + ACCOMM '3 H, and 3A + ACCOMM only. Prior to 1 January 2005, students who were under 25 years old had their parents income tested to determine their entitlement to student allowance, unless they qualified for an independent circumstance allowance, were married, or had children. In 2005, parental income testing was extended to include married students under 25 who did not have dependent children. From 1 January 2009, the age for parental income testing was reduced and applied only to students aged 23 or younger. See table Abatement Parameters for the values of these exemptions. Parental income testing is subject to change. See StudyLink s website for information (www.studylink.govt.nz) Variable name: msd_sla_parent1_income_amt Definition: Parents income provided by the parents as part of the student s application. The figures are recorded as an annual income for each parent with a start and end date. The later defaults to the year 2040 unless the student supplies an updated figure for a following year. Parental income information is verified by documents such as payslips, letters from employers and statements from accountants. Information is used to assess entitlement to student allowance for students who are subject to a parental income test. Only parental income for students with a 4H, 4A + ACCOM '3 H, and 3A + ACCOM allowance type and who received at least one student allowance payment during a year are reported. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_parent2_income_amt Definition: Parents income provided by the parents as part of the student s application. The figures are recorded as an annual income for each parent with a start and end date. The later defaults to the year 2040 unless the student supplies an updated figure for a following year. 23

Parental income information is verified by documents such as payslips, letters from employers and statements from accountants. Information is used to assess entitlement to student allowance for students who are subject to a parental income test. Only parental income for students with a 4H, 4A + ACCOM '3 H, and 3A + ACCOM allowance type and who received at least one student allowance payment during a year are reported. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_total_partner_income_amt Definition: Records the student s partner s weekly gross income from employment or other sources. Income provided by the partner of the student, as part of the student s application. Partner income is taken into account for students on an allowance type that pays for a couple. Students are required to advise StudyLink whenever their partner s income changes. Null or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_ann_gross_declared_income_amt Definition: Records the student s annual gross income from employment or other sources. Student allowance is abated depending on personal income. This information is declared by the student, who is required to update it whenever their income changes. One out of every 12 students is required to provide evidence of their income. Variable name: msd_sla_number_of_partners_studying_nbr Definition: Number of individual recognised partners that the student has advised StudyLink of during a calendar year. Format: Numeric, 2N Partner details are kept with start and end dates and a flag indicating whether the student and their partner BOTH study more than half of a full-time course. Flag is set to Yes, No or Unknown. We count partners where the flag has been set to Yes at any time during the year. 24

Null or 0 to 20 Variable name: msd_sla_number_of_partners_nbr Definition: Number of individual recognised partners that the student has advised StudyLink of since they became a client. Format: Numeric, 2N If a student has separated from a partner and they have later reconciled, the partner is still counted only once. Null or 0 to 20 Variable name: msd_sla_number_of_studying_siblings_nbr Definition: Records the number of other dependent students (aged 16 to 23 at 1 January of the year study commences) the parents support. Format: Numeric, 2N Used to calculate parental income disregard, currently $7000 per student. Null for non-parental income tested students or 0 to 20. Variable name: msd_sla_studying_siblings_abatement_amt Definition: Records the amount of the abatement applied due to other siblings studying. Null for non-parental income tested students or 0 to 999,999.99 Variable name: msd_sla_separated_parents_abatement_amt Definition: Records the amount of the abatement allowed when the parents live apart. This applies from 2006 onwards. Income is not abated if a one parent application is approved. This abatement recognises the additional costs of maintaining two households. Parents must be living apart, but do not have to be separated to qualify. For example, one parent may live in another area for the majority of each week for employment purposes. Null for non-parental income tested students or 0 to 999,999.99 25

Variable name: msd_sla_weeks_of_allowance_nbr Definition: The number of weeks a student was entitled to payment. This may not reconcile with actual payments if the student s entitlement changes for a period already paid. Format: Numeric, 2N Null or 0 to 53 Variable name: msd_sla_support_period_ind_nbr Definition: Format: Numeric, 1N Variable name: msd_sla_sa_study_start_date Definition: Student Allowance Study Start Date Format: Date, YYYY-MM-DD Course start date as supplied by provider. We report the earliest study start date of any study, not just the study start date for the provider we report. Note that study going from one year to the following will result in a study start date of 1 January for the second year. Null or ddmmmyyyy, > 01JAN1999 Variable name: msd_sla_sa_study_end_date Definition: Student Allowance Study End Date Format: Date, YYYY-MM-DD Course end date, or the date the student withdrew from the course, as supplied by provider. We report the latest study end date of any study, not just the study end date for the provider we report. Note that study going from one year to the following will result in a study end date of 31 December for the first year. Data is missing for a small number of students approximately 1,360 as at 2005 Null or ddmmmyyyy, > 01JAN1999 26

Variable name: msd_sla_sl_study_status_code Definition: Status of a student in receipt of a student loan. Format: Numeric, 1N table_sl_study_status Attempt to categorise the type of study (eg full-time/full year or part-time/full year). Not definitive as study status is changeable depending on what period is being looked at. Variable name: snz_student_id1_uid Definition: Student ID 1. Format: Numeric Notes Up to five student IDs for providers the student enrols at during the year. Data is as supplied by the student, but if the provider returns a different student ID, it replaces the previous ID. Student ID is linked to applications so there can be more than one current ID. _ Variable name: snz_student_id2_uid Definition: Student ID 2. Format: Numeric _ Variable name: snz_student_id3_uid Definition: Student ID 3. Format: Numeric _ Variable name: snz_student_id4_uid Definition: Student ID 4. Format: Numeric 27

_ Variable name: snz_student_id5_uid Definition: Student ID 5. Format: Numeric _ Variable name: snz_student_id6_uid Definition: Student ID 6. Format: Numeric _ Variable name: snz_student_id7_uid Definition: Student ID 7. Format: Numeric _ Variable name: snz_student_id8_uid Definition: Student ID8 Format: Numeric Variable name: snz_student_id9_uid Definition: Student ID9 Format: Numeric 28

Variable name: snz_student_id10_uid Definition: Student ID10 Format: Numeric Variable name: msd_sla_qual1_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual2_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual3_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. 29

A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual4_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual5_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual6_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual7_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes 30

Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual8_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual9_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. Variable name: msd_sla_qual10_code Definition: Format: Character, 6A table_moe_course_codes Up to five codes for courses the student enrols in during the year. Initial data is supplied by the student and may change when study details are confirmed by the provider. A small number of students may not have any course information due to incomplete data. 31

Variable name: msd_sla_provider1_snz_code Definition: The code for the provider that the student declared on their student allowance application. Format: Character, 4A table_provider_codes A small number of students have no information due to incomplete data these relate mostly to 1999 when the SAL system went live. A number of students will have studied and received an allowance at more than one provider during the year. Report the provider that an allowance was paid for the longest time, and report the NSCED and student ID in the following two fields, but list the course codes(s) for the remaining provider so one or more course codes in the remaining SA NSCED2-5 columns may not have a provider that matches the provider. Variable name: msd_sla_provider2_snz_code Definition: The code for the provider that the student declared on their student loan application. Format: Character, 4A table_provider_codes Up to five provider codes. All students should have at least one provider however there is a small number of students for whom no provider data is held. Variable name: msd_sla_provider3_snz_code Definition: The code for the provider that the student declared on their student loan application. Format: Character, 4A table_provider_codes Up to five provider codes. All students should have at least one provider however there is a small number of students for whom no provider data is held. Variable name: msd_sla_provider4_snz_code Definition: The code for the provider that the student declared on their student loan application. Format: Character, 4A table_provider_codes 32

Up to five provider codes. All students should have at least one provider however there is a small number of students for whom no provider data is held. Variable name: msd_sla_provider5_snz_code Definition: The code for the provider that the student declared on their student loan application. Format: Character, 4A table_provider_codes Up to five provider codes. All students should have at least one provider however there is a small number of students for whom no provider data is held. Variable name: msd_sla_provider6_snz_code Definition: The code for the provider that the student declared on their student loan application. Format: Character, 4A table_provider_codes Up to five provider codes. All students should have at least one provider however there is a small number of students for whom no provider data is held. Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic1_snz_code Definition: Claimant's associated ethnic group that they consider themselves to be associated with selection 1 (claimant may select more than one ethnicity). Format: Numeric, 6N Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic2_snz_code Definition: Claimant's associated ethnic group that they consider themselves to be associated with selection 2 (claimant may select more than one ethnicity). Format: Numeric, 6N Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic3_snz_code Definition: Claimant's associated ethnic group that they consider themselves to be associated with selection 3 (claimant may select more than one ethnicity). 33

Format: Numeric, 6N Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic_grp1_snz_ind Definition: an indicator created by Statistics NZ to categorise a person by their ethnic group according to the Statistics NZ ethnicity classification. Where 1 appears in this column it indicates the person has given their ethnicity as European. Format: Numeric, 1N Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic_grp2_snz_ind Definition: an indicator created by Statistics NZ to categorise a person by their ethnic group according to the Statistics NZ ethnicity classification. Where 1 appears in this column it indicates the person has given their ethnicity as Māori. Format: Numeric, 1N Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic_grp3_snz_ind Definition: an indicator created by Statistics NZ to categorise a person by their ethnic group according to the Statistics NZ ethnicity classification. Where 1 appears in this column it indicates the person has given their ethnicity as Pacific peoples. Format: Numeric, 1N Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic_grp4_snz_ind Definition: an indicator created by Statistics NZ to categorise a person by their ethnic group according to the Statistics NZ ethnicity classification. Where 1 appears in this column it indicates the person has given their ethnicity as Asian. Format: Numeric, 1N 34

Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic_grp5_snz_ind Definition: an indicator created by Statistics NZ to categorise a person by their ethnic group according to the Statistics NZ ethnicity classification. Where 1 appears in this column it indicates the person has given their ethnicity as Middle Eastern / Latin American / African (MELAA). Format: Numeric, 1N Variable name: msd_sla_ethnic_grp6_snz_ind Definition: an indicator created by Statistics NZ to categorise a person by their ethnic group according to the Statistics NZ ethnicity classification. Where 1 appears in this column it indicates the person has given their ethnicity as Other ethnicity. Format: Numeric, 1N Variable name: msd_sla_study_region_code Definition: Format: Character, 2A Study address is compulsory for student allowance, but not for student loans. Variable name: msd_sla_study_ta_code Definition: Format: Character, 3A Study address is compulsory for student allowance, but not for student loans. Variable name: msd_sla_postal_region_code Definition: Format: Character, 2A Postal address may not be supplied for student allowance if this is the same as the student s study address. 35

Variable name: msd_sla_postal_ta_code Definition: Format: Character, 2A Postal address may not be supplied for student allowance if this is the same as the student s study address. 36