According to the new rules students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2, attend at least 18 hours of "public-minded activity" each semester and show they are taking part in activities that are beneficial to society. The criteria will not apply to vocational students who need loans, since the goal is to encourage these students to continue on to higher education in vocational institutions. Loans will continue to be restricted to students from low-income families with a total annual income of less than 200,000 baht a year.