Course costs and financial assistance

Course costs
Courses Available in 2009 Commonwealth-supported place (CSP) courses Paying your student contribution
Financial assistance Centrelink payments 1. Youth Allowance 2. Financial assistance for students 3. Austudy 4. Pensioner Education Supplement 5. ABSTUDY Equity scholarships 1. Commonwealth Scholarships (CS) 2. Institution Equity Scholarships (IES)Other scholarships Other financial assistance

Course costs

Courses available in 2009

The Australian Government is phasing out places in undergraduate domestic fee-paying (DFEE) courses from 1 January 2009.

Therefore there are no DFEE courses available for 2009 admissions.*

All courses available in 2009 are Commonwealth-supported place (CSP) courses.

* There are some exceptions, including arrangements for continuing and deferred students, for students who enrol in employer-reserved places, and for students who have consumed their Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).

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Commonwealth-supported place (CSP) courses

CSP courses used to be called HECS courses - you only have to pay part of the cost of your course (a student contribution). The Australian Government pays the remainder of the cost.

The amount you pay for your student contribution depends on the institution and the type of course. Each institution sets its own student contribution level for each unit of study within a range set by the Australian Government. The range varies depending on the area of study. Education and nursing have the lowest cost range because these areas of study have been identified by the Government as national priorities.

The following table shows the range of student contributions for 2008 admissions; these amounts are indexed each year. Amounts are based on a full year of full-time study.

Student contribution band	Student contribution range in 2008

National Priorities (education, nursing)	$0 - $4 077
Band 1 (humanities, arts, behavioural science, social studies, foreign languages, visual and performing arts)	$0 - $5 095
Band 2 (mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, health, engineering, science, surveying, agriculture)	$0 - $7 260
Band 3 (law, dentistry, medicine, veterinary science, accounting, administration, economics, commerce)	$0 - $8 499

The course search lists all CSP courses available and the relevant 2008 UAI cut-off for each course.

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Paying your student contribution

pay all of the student contribution up front and get a discount
receive a HECS-HELP loan for all of the student contribution
pay some of the student contribution up front and receive a HECS-HELP loan for the balance (you will receive a discount on the amount paid up front).

Repayments for HECS-HELP loans are based on income and are made through the taxation system. Students do not have to start repaying their HECS-HELP loan until their income reaches a certain level ($39 824 for 2007-08).

New Zealand citizens and holders of an Australian permanent resident visa (other than an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) do NOT have access to HECS-HELP loans and must pay all of the student contribution up front (with no discount).

Institutions will publish their student contributions for 2009 admissions on their websites in October 2008.

For more information about HECS-HELP loans visit www.goingtouni.gov.au.

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Financial assistance

Centrelink payments

Centrelink provides financial assistance for students studying full-time and part-time. The following information is correct as of April 2008. Contact Centrelink directly for the most up-to-date information.

Financial assistance for students

Did you know that if you are studying full-time or part-time you may be eligible for financial assistance? Centrelink provides assistance to students by way of income tested schemes such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY and Austudy. General information about the range of Centrelink payments available to students is given below. Full details of the schemes are available from Centrelink.

Youth Allowance

Youth Allowance provides assistance for people aged 16 to 24 who are studying full-time in an approved course.

Students are usually considered dependents of their parents and the rate of Youth Allowance paid is based on the application of the Parental Means Test. It is possible for a student to be classified as independent, which means that their parent's financial situation is not taken into account.

How to apply
Information about Youth Allowance or Austudy, including payment rates, and claim forms can be found at www.centrelink.gov.au. You can also register for online services and claim online if you are planning to study full-time. For more information, phone Centrelink on 13 2490. There are lots of things that can affect your payments so let Centrelink know when your situation changes.

Austudy

Austudy provides assistance to full-time students aged 25 and older who are undertaking an approved course. All such students are automatically considered independent, therefore the application of the Parental Income Test is not necessary. There is a partner and personal income and asset test.

Fares Allowance for tertiary students travelling between your home and education institution (please note that Fares Allowance is not paid for daily travel)
Rent Assistance if you live away from home to study
a Low Income Health Care Card to assist with medical costs
Pharmaceutical Allowance to assist with the cost of certain prescriptions
Remote Area Allowance for students living in remote parts of Australia
an interest-free Advance Payment of up to $500.

Pensioner Education Supplement

The Pensioner Education Supplement is designed to assist people to improve their chances of finding a job through study. To receive the Pensioner Education Supplement you must be enrolled in an approved course and receive specific Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs payments.

For more information, phone Centrelink on 13 24 90.

ABSTUDY

ABSTUDY helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to stay at school or go on to further studies, as well as offering assistance to eligible apprentices and trainees.

ABSTUDY is available if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who undertakes approved full-time or part-time study.

ABSTUDY consists of a fortnightly means tested living allowance as well as additional components to help you with costs associated with study.

There are lots of things that can affect your payments so let Centrelink know when your situation changes. For more information about ABSTUDY, including claim forms, visit www.centrelink.gov.au or phone 13 23 17.

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Equity Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships (CS), and
Institution Equity Scholarships (IES).

All CS applications and most IES applications are processed centrally though UAC. See below for general information about CS and IES.

Apply online

to UAC – for admission to a NSW or ACT institution or La Trobe University or
to QTAC – for admission to the Australian Catholic University QLD, Southern Cross University or the University of New England or
to VTAC – for admission to the Australian Catholic University VIC, or Charles Sturt University, Albury campus or
directly to a NSW or ACT institution.

b) you have an active enrolment (eg you are currently enrolled, or you are on approved leave of absence) at a NSW or ACT institution.

The main closing date for CS and IES applications is Tuesday 30 September 2008. The major CS and IES offer round will be in mid-January 2009.

To guarantee that your application will be considered in time for the major round, you must submit it by 30 September 2008. The late closing date for CS and IES applications is Friday 28 November 2008.

For more information read the Equity Scholarships booklet produced by UAC. Booklets are also available from UAC or participating institutions. If you are a 2008 Australian Year 12 student you can obtain a copy of the booklet from your school/TAFE college.

Commonwealth Scholarships (CS)

The Commonwealth Scholarships (CS) Programme was introduced by the Australian Government in 2004 to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly those from regional or remote areas and Indigenous students, who are Australian citizens or holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas, with costs associated with higher education. These scholarships are exempt from social security income tests and are non-repayable.

There are seven types of CS (payments are indexed annually):

Type of CS	2008 value	Duration
Ordinary Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (CECS)	$2 162	Up to four years
Ordinary Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (CAS)	$4 324	Up to four years
CECS – Associate Degree	$2 162	Up to two years
CAS – Associate Degree	$4 324	Up to two years
CECS – Indigenous enabling	$2 162	Up to one year
CAS – Indigenous enabling	$4 324	Up to one year
Indigenous Access Scholarship (IAS)	$4 080	Once in a lifetime

CS applications for NSW and ACT institutions are made online through UAC. Visit Equity Scholarships Online.

Institutions allocate CS using their own selection and offer processes, in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

New Scholarships in 2009
The Commonwealth Government has announced an expansion of the Commonwealth Scholarship program to include two new types of Commonwealth Scholarship to be introduced in 2009.

The two new scholarships are to be known as National Priority Scholarships and National Accommodation Scholarships and will target students in National Priority courses and students relocating to undertake specialist courses, respectively.

Details of the eligibility have not as yet been released, but will be available on the Equity Scholarships Online website as soon as known.

Eligibility

In broad terms, to be eligible for a CS you must:

be an Australian citizen or the holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa
be currently enrolled or about to commence an undergraduate course (ie Bachelor degree, Associate degree or Diploma) or a graduate diploma (or equivalent postgraduate course of study) in an area of National Priority required for initial registration to practise in the chosen National Priority area as a Commonwealth-supported student for that course of study
to be eligible for a CECS – Indigenous Enabling Scholarship or a CAS – Indigenous Enabling Scholarship you must be:
– enrolled or about to commence in an eligible enabling course
– an Indigenous person
to be eligible for an Indigenous Access Scholarship you must be:
– a commencing student in an undergraduate or eligible enabling course of study
– an Indigenous person
be enrolled as a full-time student, unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent you from studying full-time
be in receipt of a means tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY), or provide a statement demonstrating exceptional financial hardship and
not already have completed the requirements of a course of study which is equivalent to or higher than an Australian Bachelor's award unless such an award is a prerequisite to your current undergraduate course of study and there is no alternative pathway into that course at the university.

In addition, if you are applying for CAS you must:
have attended school and/or lived in a regional or remote area of Australia for an extended period and have moved away from that area to undertake your course of study or
have moved away from a regional or remote area of Australia to complete the whole, or the majority, of your schooling at a high school or college in a major city and it is necessary to remain in a major city in order to undertake your course of study or
have moved away from a regional or remote area of Australia to undertake vocational education training for a maximum of two years immediately preceding your current course of study.

Visit DEEWR's website at www.deewr.gov.au for more information about CS, including the Australian Government's guidelines.

Institution Equity Scholarships (IES)

NSW and ACT institutions that participate through UAC have their own Equity Scholarship schemes known as Institution Equity Scholarships (IES). The eligibility criteria for IES will vary between institutions and schemes, as will the duration and value of the scholarships.

IES applications for most NSW and ACT institutions are made online through UAC's Equity Scholarships Online.

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Other scholarships

Institutions offer a range of merit scholarships. For details, including how to apply, refer to the institution entries on this website.

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Other financial assistance

Travel concessions
A travel concession of half the normal adult fare is available to full-time university students. Ask whether you are eligible for concessions and how to apply when you enrol.

Employers
Some employers provide financial or study leave assistance by means of cadetships or other forms of support and sponsorship. These sources of assistance are sometimes advertised in the media. Some participating institutions may also provide further information. Refer to institution entries and the course search on this website.

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