Study Costs 

Public Universities - Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)

Commonwealth supported places (CSP) are offered at public institutions to:

• Australian citizens
• New Zealand citizens;
• holders of a permanent visa.

The Australian Government contributes towards course costs for Commonwealth supported students. Students also pay a ‘student contribution’. This student contribution may be loaned from the Commonwealth government under the HECS-HELP Scheme.

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Each higher education provider sets its own student contributions for each unit of study, so student contributions vary between providers and courses. These student contributions must be within a range set by the government (see table below for a guide to the cost of a standard full-time year of tertiary study). The 2011 indicative costs will be available late in 2010 from each institution.

Going to Uni Website

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ (DEEWR) Going to Uni website – www.goingtouni.gov.au - provides information about the Australian higher education system, including information on education providers, courses and assistance provided by the Commonwealth Government such as HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET-HELP, and Commonwealth Scholarships. DEEWR can also be contacted by phone on 1800 020 108.

Student Contributions Per Year

Band	Estimated student contribution range for 2010*
National Priorities mathematics, statistics and science	$0 to $4249
Band 1 humanities, behavioural science, clinical psychology, education, nursing, social studies, foreign languages, visual and performing arts	$0 to $5310
Band 2 computing, built environment, health, engineering, surveying, agriculture	$0 to $7567
Band 3 dentistry, medicine, veterinary science, accounting, administration, economics, commerce, law	$0 to $8859

*  Costs are indicative and will depend on the individual subjects chosen. The student contributions shown are for first year full-time students. Student contributions are indexed each year according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The 2011 indicative costs will be available late in 2010 from the Going to Uni website, www.goingtouni.gov.au or institution websites.

TAFE Queensland study costs

TAFE tuition fees vary between institutes and do not include material and other program costs. Students are required to contribute to the cost of their program in all offerings. The study cost for programs is designated as standard offering (SO), partially government funded (PGF) or fee-based (fee). Standard offering means the program attracts a government subsidy. Partially government funded (PGF) means the program receives a partial subsidy, however the level of this subsidy can vary between programs. Fee-based (fee) programs are not subsidised. The minimum student contribution fees and full fees for TAFE Qld programs are available from 27 September online or by contacting the institute directly. Fee concessions (eg for Health Care Card holders) and VET FEE-HELP may be available.

CPI Increase: Note that 'SO' and 'PGF' programs are subject to CPI increases.

Southbank Institute of Technology study costs

The fees listed on the course entries do not include material and other program costs. Students are required to contribute to the cost of their program in all offerings. The study cost for programs is designated as standard offering (SO), partially government funded (PGF) or fee-based (fee). Standard offering means the program attracts a government subsidy. Partially government funded (PGF) means the program receives a partial subsidy, however the level of this subsidy can vary between programs.Fee-based programs are not subsidised but FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP may be available. Fee concessions (eg for Health Care Card holders) may also be available.

CPI Increase: Note that 'SO' and 'PGF' programs are subject to CPI increases.

Private provider study costs - Fee

Fees for non government institutions - Bond University, Christian Heritage College, Endeavour College of Natural Health, Qantm College, Queensland Institute of Business and Technology - are set out in course entries in Search for Courses. Modes of payment should be negotiated with the institution. FEE-HELP may be available.

International Applicants - Study costs

International applicants should confirm fees with individual institutions.

Financial assistance

Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP)

Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa may pay their student contribution or tuition fee up front or they may request a Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) loan. There are a number of HELP loans:

• HECS-HELP is for eligible Commonwealth supported students to pay their student contribution.
• FEE-HELP is for eligible fee-paying students enrolled at eligible higher education providers. Loans will cover up to the full amount of their tuition fees. Undergraduate FEE-HELP loans will be subject to a 20 percent loan fee.
• VET FEE-HELP is for eligible full fee-paying students undertaking diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma level study at an approved VET provider. Loans can cover up to the full amount of their tuition fee. VET FEE-HELP loans will be subject to a 20 percent loan fee.
• OS-HELP is for eligible full-time Commonwealth supported students who wish to study overseas. Loans will be up to $5523 per six-month period. Students can receive two OS-HELP loans in a lifetime.

Repayments for all HELP loans will depend on income. Students will not be required to start paying their HELP debts until their income reaches a minimum threshold, for the 2009-2010 income year that was $43,150.

New Zealand citizens and holders of other permanent visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees upfront without a discount.

Commonwealth scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarships Program financially assists students on low incomes with higher education costs. Following are the types of Commonwealth scholarships:

• Student Start-up Scholarships help with the up-front costs associated with higher education (Centrelink will automatically pay this scholarship to eligible customers)
• Relocation Scholarships help students from regional and remote areas with the accommodation costs associated with relocating for higher education (Centrelink will automatically pay this scholarship to eligible customers)
• Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships assist Indigenous students from low socio-economic backgrounds with education costs
• Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships assist Indigenous students from low socio-economic backgrounds from regional and remote areas with accommodation costs when they move to undertake higher education
• Indigenous Access Scholarships assist Indigenous people with the costs of undertaking an eligible enabling course at a higher education institution (apply through the university)

Visit www.centrelink.gov.au or www.goingtouni.gov.au for more information

Institution Equity Scholarships

Some tertiary institutions also offer equity scholarships are part of their wider equity programs. Details are provided on the institution web pages, view more....

Other Institution Scholarships

Many institutions offer scholarships such as sporting and academic scholarships. Applications for these are made directly to the institution. For further information, contact the institution.

Income support

Centrelink can give information about income support while you study.  

The Centrelink website is www.centrelink.gov.au.

• Youth Allowance - For eligible full-time students aged 16-24.
• Austudy - For eligible full-time students aged 25 and over.
• Abstudy - For eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who undertake approved full-time and part-time study.
• Pensioner Education Supplement - for recipients of some Centrelink and Veterans' Affairs payments to help with the costs of studying.

The above payments are subject to income and assets tests.  To find out more about Youth Allowance or Austudy, call Centrelink on 13 24 90.  For more information about Abstudy, call Centrelink on 13 23 17. For information in languages other than English, call 131 202; for TTY enquiries for the hearing and speech impaired, call 1800 810 586.

 

 

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