Calculation of EFTD Used/Total and Submission Dates for a Candidature

The Research Subsystem uses the concept of Effective Full-Time Days (EFTD) as a means of assisting a candidate in monitoring their progress, establishing minimum and maximum dates for Thesis submission and in calculating the EFTSL a candidate's Research Studies contribute to their total EFTSL for any given Load Calendar.

This is because a range of unique aspects apply to Research Studies. Research is not necessarily limited to the standard Teaching Periods used for coursework studies. The Commencement Date of a candidate's research may not be the same as the defined Course Commencement Date. The amount of time any research candidate allocates to his/her research may vary over the period of their research.

The System calculates both the current number of (effective full-time) days already used and the total number of (effective full-time) days available for a Research Candidature (EFTD Used/Total field displayed on RESF3211). Both are displayed as values to two decimal places. These calculated values are used in the System calculation of Min / Max Submission Dates.

Note that for a candidate enrolled in a Research Unit and studying at a 'standard' full-time rate (100%), this candidate would consume one effective full-time day each Calendar Day. The same student studying at a 'standard' part-time rate (50%) would consume 0.5 of an effective full-time day each Calendar Day.

Example:

 

The EFTD Used value is recalculated daily and whenever the Attendance % is changed for a candidate. (The range of Attendance % values matching each defined Attendance Type is explained in detail below). The calculation of the EFTD Used value starts when a candidate's Student Course Attempt is confirmed. It is derived using data from the candidate's Attendance Percentage variations records. A candidate may have Intermission Periods in their attendance history. The inclusion or exclusion of these Intermission Periods is determined by the value of the Count in Progression check box (a Course Version attribute, defined by a course structure specialist using the form CRSF1210).

• In calculating the EFTD Used value, each Attendance Percentage record (up to and including the current date) is processed. The number of days in the record is multiplied by the Attendance Percentage for that record.
• The calculated values for all records are then totalled.
• Where periods of intermission are excluded, the EFTD of Intermission is calculated (by multiplying the number of intermission days by the Attendance % applicable before intermission) and subtracted from the total, returning the total EFTD Used figure.

Example.

The calculation of EFTD Total uses the Standard Full Time Completion Time value, an attribute of the Course Version (see form CRSF1210). The EFTD Total value is calculated once, when a Research Candidature record is created (in form RESF3211). The formula used to calculate the total days available for the candidature is:

(Standard FT Completion Time value/10) * 365.

Example.

Actual Total EFTD is calculated using the formula:

The calculated value can be overridden by manual entry of an EFTD value.

Where Submission Dates are System-calculated values (as opposed to Override Dates entered for a specific candidate), they are recalculated daily. (Refer to RESF3211 for explanation of overriding these values)

The Max Submission Date is calculated using the EFTD Used, Actual Total EFTD and the Attendance Percentage values, recorded for the candidature. The calculation is:

The remaining days are added to the current date at the rate specified by the current, and any future dated, attendance % records until all remaining days have been accounted for and the Max Submission Date has been reached.
 
Example.

The Min Submission Date calculates from the current date, using the same method as for the Max Submission Date, except that instead of adding remaining days at the recorded Attendance Percentage Rates, remaining days are added at the Min Submission Perc rate ((an attribute of the Course Version, established using form CRSF1210)

Example.

An Example of these Calculations:

Student One
A research candidate enrols in a course with a Std FT Cmpltn Time value of 20. The EFTD Total for this candidature	(20/10)*365 = 730
The candidate has a Prior Candidature credit of 30 days and the following Attendance Percentage entries: 31/5/02 - 1/7/02 at 50% Attendance 2/7/02 - 30/6/03 at 80% 1/7/03 - 2/12/03 at 100% 3/12/03 - 31/12/03 at 80% The current date is 6/12/03 The EFTD Used for this candidature at 6/12/03	Prior candidature = 30 50% of 32 days = 16 80% of 364 days = 291.2 100% of 155 days = 155 80% of 4 days (to 6/12/03) = 3.2   = 495.4
The current date is 6/12/03 and the candidate has future dated attendance percentage records of: 3/12/03 - 31/12/03 at 80% 1/1/04 - (record not end dated) at 100% The Max Submission Date is	730 - 495.4 = 234.6 EFT days remaining 7/12/03 - 31/12/03 accounts for 80% of 25 days = 20 234.6 - 20 = 214.6 EFT days remaining   31/12/03 + 214.6 days (at 100%) = 3/8/04
The course has a MinSubmission % value of 75%     The Min Submission Date is	75% of 730 = 547.5 days 547.5 - 495.4 = 52.10 52.10 / 0.75 = 69.47 6/12/03 + 69.47 = 13/02/04
Student Two:
A research candidate enrols in a course with a Std FT Cmpltn Time value of 10. The EFTD Total for this candidature	(10/10)*365 = 365
The current date is 7/12/02 and the candidate has the following Attendance Percentage entries: 1/4/02 - 1/7/02 at 100% Attendance 2/7/02 -  (record not end dated) at 75% The EFTD Used for this candidature at 7/12/02 is	100% of 92 days = 92 75% of 159 days (to 7/12/02) = 119.25 = 211.25
The current date is 7/12/02 and the candidate has future dated attendance percentage records of: 2/7/02 - (record not end dated) at 75% The Max Submission Date is	365 - 211.25 (to 7/12/02) = 153.75 EFT days remaining 153.75 / 0.75 = 205 calendar days remaining 7/12/02 + 205 days = 30/06/03
The course has a MinSubmission % value of 75%.     The Min Submission Date is	75% of 365 = 273.75 days 273.75 - 211.25 = 62.5 62.5 / 0.75 = 83.33 7/12/02 + 83.33 = 28/02/03

 

EFTSL Calculation for Research Units

The calculation of EFTSL for a research Student Unit Attempt assumes :

 

For more information on establishing appropriate Research Calendars & Date Aliases see Specialist Overview.

The calculated research EFTSL is used where:

and

The calculated research EFTSL is not used where:

Note: The calculated research EFTSL is adjusted when a candidate is enrolled in both a Research Unit and Coursework Unit/s. This is explained in detail below.

 

Recommended Effective Start/End Date Alias Instances

Because the majority of commencing students usually start their Research Studies at the same time as the Academic Year starts (late February or early March in Australian Universities), it is expected that these students generate the maximum EFTSL for their Attendance Type.

It is also important to be able to claim the load generated by a research student who begins Research Studies before the start of the first Research Teaching Period in any given Academic Period. In this case the student can be enrolled in a Research Unit for a Teaching Period which contributes to a Load Calendar with a 'NULL' Load Research %, so the standard EFTSL calculation applies. In the example configuration, the student would be enrolled in the SUM Teaching Period, if their Research Studies commence before 1/3/2005 and this would generate an EFTSL value, calculated in the standard way, for that Teaching Period.

The following example provides a structure within which these varied commencements will have the accurate EFTSL load calculated.

 

 

How EFTSL is Calculated for a Research Unit

Values: The calculation uses the following values:

• The EFTD for the Teaching Period - the total number of Effective Full-Time Days between the Effective Start/End Date Aliases in the research Teaching Calendar (EFTD in Teach Period.).
• The candidate's Attendance % at the Census Date (Census Att% ).
• The EFTSL per Load Calendar value.

Adjustment Values: The calculation may use any or all of the following adjustment values, depending on the candidate's Commencement Date, attendance history and periods of intermission.

• Where the candidate has Attendance Periods prior to the Census Date, at higher percentages than their Census Att%, an adjustment is calculated (HighAdj).
  The calculation =SUM((Higher Att% - Census Att%) * No. of Days at that higher percentage).
• Where the candidate has Attendance Periods, prior to Census Date, at a lower percentage than their Census Att%, an adjustment is calculated (LowAdj).
  The calculation = SUM((Census Att% - Lower Att%) * No. of Days at that lower percentage).
• Where the candidate commences their research after the Effective Start Date Alias Instance for the Research Teaching Period. The candidate has not used the full number of EFTD in Teach Period, as calculated for the applicable calendar so an adjustment is made (CommenceAdj).
  The calculation = (Effective Start Date - Research Comm Date) * Candidate's Att% at Research Comm Date.
• Where the candidate has any period of intermission (which is to be excluded) an adjustment is included in the EFTSL calculation (IntermissAdj).
  The calculation = SUM(each Att% during time of Intermission * No. of Intermission Days at that Att%).

 

The final calculation of EFTSL uses the following steps:

• Multiply EFTD in Teach Period by Census Att%
• Add HighAdj value (if any)
• Subtract LowAdj, CommenceAdj, IntermissAdj (if any)
• Divide resulting No. of Days by EFTD in Teach Period
• Multiply result by EFTSL per Load Calendar.

 

An Example of the EFTSL Calculations

In all scenarios given, the following values apply:

• Census Att% value is assumed to be 40% for all candidates.
• EFTD per Teaching Period is assumed to be 140 effective full-time days.
• The Research Load % value is assumed to be 50%, so the EFTSL per Load Calendar is 0.50

 

Explanation /Calculation:	EFTD in Teach Period * Census Att%	Adjustment	No. of Days (after Adjustments)	No. of Days / EFTD in Teach Period	Result * EFTSL per Load Calendar
Candidate One: Standard EFTSL calculation with no adjustments	56		56	= 56 / 140	= 0.40 * 0.5 = 0.2 EFTSL
Candidate Two: has an attendance history entry where for a period of 3 weeks in this Teaching Period (before the Census Date), the attendance percentage was higher (50%)	56	= (50% - 40%) * 21 = 10% * 21 2.1 HighAdj	= 56 + 2.1 = 58.1	= 58.1 / 140	= 0.415 * 0.5 = 0.207 EFTSL
Candidate Three: has an attendance history entry where for a period of 3 weeks in this Teaching Period (before Census Date) this candidate's attendance percentage was lower (25%).	56	= (40% - 25%) * 21 = 15% * 21 = 3.15 LowAdj	= 56 - 3.15 = 52.85	= 52.85 / 140	= 0.3775 * 0.5 = 0.188 EFTSL
Candidate Four: has an attendance history that shows for a period of 1 week in this Teaching Period (before Census Date) the candidate's attendance percentage was lower (20%) and for a period of 2 weeks was again lower at 30%.	56	= ((40% - 20%) * 7)+ ((40%-30%)*14 = 20% * 7 + 10% * 14 = 2.8 LowAdj	= 56 - 2.8 = 53.2	= 53.2 / 140	= 0.38 * 0.5 = 0.19 EFTSL
Candidate Five: has a Commencement Date of 15/03/2004, the Effective Start Date is 1/03/2004.	56	= (1/03/2004 - 15/03/2004) * 40% =15 days * 40% = 6 days CommenceAdj	= 56 - 6 =50	= 50 / 140	= 0.357 * 0.5 = 0.178 EFTSL
Candidate Six: has an Intermission Period of 14 days in the Teaching Period (before Census Date.), with no change to attendance percentage at any stage.	56	= 40% * 14 = 5.6 IntermissAdj.	= 56 - 5.6 = 50.4	= 50.4 / 140	= 0.36 * 0.5 = 0.18 EFTSL

 

The Implications for EFTSL Calculation of Enrolment in Both Research and Coursework Units

If a student is enrolled in both a Research Unit and one or more Coursework Units, there are important implications for the calculation of EFTSL for the Research Unit. The EFTSL values determine the disbursement of income to Organisational Units within the institution - the Organisational Unit 'owning' the Coursework Unit receives the coursework EFTSL proportion of the income generated by this research student and the Organisational Unit/s of the supervisor/s are allocated the research EFTSL proportion of the income.

The EFTSL applicable to a unit can be adjusted for an individual student if the Override Credit Points Indicator is set for that unit (see Maintain Basic Unit Details - CRSF2210). Reducing the EFTSL for a Coursework Unit through overriding it, causes a corresponding increase in the EFTSL attributed to the student's Research Unit. The OVERRIDE EFTSL value is entered against the Student Unit Attempt in ENRF3000. This causes a corresponding adjustment of the same ratio, to income disbursement.

The Attendance % value entered in the Candidature Details form (RESF3211) should be seen as the candidate's attendance % for their total studies - Research and Coursework Units. A student enrolled in a part-time course with the standard Attendance % of 50, would have an expected EFTSL of 0.250. This student is enrolled in one Research Unit (within a research Teaching Period contributing to a Load Calendar which has an appropriate Load Research % value, so using the research EFTSL calculation) and 2 Coursework Units under a standard Teaching Period (which have EFTSL of 0.125 each). The calculated EFTSL value for the Research Unit has to be 0 as the Coursework Units have used all the available EFTSL. He/she has, in effect, no time available for the Research Unit. In fact the student has enrolled in units which require a 75% attendance, so the value entered in RESF3211 should be altered. (This may prompt a warning, as this new Attendance % value is above the Upper Enrol Load Range for a part-time course).

The following steps apply to the EFTSL calculations when a candidate is enrolled in research and Coursework Units:

• An EFTSL value for the candidate's Attendance % is determined. This becomes the EFTSL Ceiling value against which the combined research and coursework EFTSL values will be checked. The method for calculating this Attendance % EFTSL value is explained in the next section.
• The EFTSL for the Research Unit (StartingResEFTSL) is calculated, using the method described in the section above.
• The Coursework Unit EFTSL (CourseEFTSL) is retrieved.
• CourseEFTSL is subtracted from StartingResEFTSL and the resulting value becomes the ResEFTSL value.

Examples of the Combined EFTSL Calculations:

 

 

Options Available where a Research Unit with an EFTSL of 0 is unacceptable:

• Override the Coursework Unit EFTSL for this student. The EFTSL value for the Coursework Unit can be lowered using this method. This means the Organisational Unit/s supervising the candidate's research will receive a higher proportion of the income generated by this student.
• Override the Research Unit EFTSL for this student. Again this allows disbursement of income to the Organisational Unit supervising the research. However the income split may not be in the proportions required by the institution and this could result in an EFTSL which exceeds the standard value for full-time or part-time studies, in a given period.

In either of these scenarios, the override value is a fixed value, so is used instead of the calculated value.

• Enrol the student in all units under a Teaching Calendar that has a subordinate Load Calendar where the Load Research % value is 'NULL'. In this case the Research Unit and Coursework Unit EFTSL will be calculated in the standard way.

 

Valid Candidature Attendance Percentage Ranges

Each value entered as the Attendance Percentage for a candidate (in RESF3211) is checked against the Load Ranges which apply to the enrolled course offering. These Load Ranges are attributes of Attendance Types (CRSF1170). In the Attendance Type Load block of this form, these load ranges are defined as EFTSL values, with a Lower and Upper Load value for each Load Calendar.

When an Attendance Percentage for a candidate is entered (in form RESF3211), an EFTSL value for that Attendance % is calculated and a check made against the Load Ranges which apply. When this calculated EFTSL value falls outside the range as defined for the course Attendance Type, a warning displays in RESF3211.

The same process and warning occur if the student's Course Offering Options are changed through form ENRF4110.

Example:

The following values exist in the database:

 

A candidate is enrolled in a course offering with an Attendance Type of FT and in a single Research Unit in the current Teaching Period. An entry of 40% is made in the Attendance Percentage field on the Candidature Details form RESF3211.

The EFTSL value of this attendance percentage is calculated using this formula:

For the example values:

This is below the lower limit of the defined range for a Full Time course, so will prompt a warning.

Last Modified on 17 January, 2005