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.

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).

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 2009*
National Priorities education, nursing, mathematics, statistics and science	$0 to $4162
Band 1 humanities, behavioural science, social studies, foreign languages, visual and performing arts	$0 to $5201
Band 2 computing, built environment, health, engineering, surveying, agriculture	$0 to $7412
Band 3 dentistry, medicine, veterinary science, accounting, administration, economics, commerce, law	$0 to $8677

*  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 2010 indicative costs will be available late in 2009 from the Going to Uni website, www.goingtouni.gov.au and 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 tuition fees for programs are available from 25 September via the QTAC website or by contacting the institute directly. Fee concessions (eg for Health Care Card holders) may be available.

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 upfront or they may request a Higher Education Loan Program (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, 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 $5410 per six-month period. Students can receive two OS-HELP loans in a lifetime. OS-HELP loans will be subject to a 20% loan fee.

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 2008-2009 income year that was $41,594.

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.

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 on languages other than English, call 13 12 02; for TTY (text telephone) enquiries for the hearing and speech impaired, call 1800 810 586.

 

 

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