This information applies to Commonwealth Supported students only.

Contents:

• Student Contribution Amounts per unit
• Calculating your Student Contribution Amount
• Examples

Units are classified into one of four Student Contribution Bands by strict criteria controlled by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Student Contribution Amounts (SCA) are therefore applied at the unit of study level, not at the level of your course admission. You are charged the SCA for every unit in which you are enrolled as a Commonwealth Supported student. The fee is charged upon enrolment in the unit of study and incurred on the census date.

Student Contribution Amounts per unit

The following table shows the student contribution amounts per unit payable for commencing and continuing domestic undergraduate students in 2011 and 2012.

The following table shows the Student Contribution Bands for each discipline area (ie. the legislative classification).

Calculating your Student Contribution Amount (SCA) for the year

When calculating your SCA for the year, it is important to understand that you may be charged different Student Contribution Bands depending on the unit/s in which you are enrolled.

To find out which Student Contribution Band your unit falls into please download the

• Student Contribution Amount (SCA) by unit code file [PDF]
• Or go to Search for a SCU unit.

The following examples demonstrate how a student would calculate their SCA for the year. If a student is eligible for the HECS-HELP scheme it does not take into consideration any discounts he/she may receive if an upfront payment is made. Upfront payments are payments which are received before a unit’s census date for its relevant study period. To find out whether you are eligible for a HECS-HELP upfront payment discount please visit goingtouni.gov.au

Example 1 — Full time student

Peter is enrolled in the Bachelor of Contemporary Music. He commenced study in 2012. In 2012 he has decided to study full-time (4 units in Session 1 and 4 units in Session 2).

The 4 units he has decided to study in Session 1 are classified as “Visual & Performing Arts” and falls into the Student Contribution Band 1. The 4 units he has enrolled into for Session 2 are also classified as “Visual & Performing Arts” and fall into the Student Contribution Band 1.

Peter will be charged the 2012 Student Contribution rate as he commenced study his degree in 2012. The calculations for study undertaken in 2012 are:

Therefore, Peter will be liable for $5648 for studies undertaken in 2012.

Example 2 — Part time student

Michael is enrolled in the Bachelor of Business. He commenced study in 2012. In 2012 he has decided to study part-time (2 units in Session 1 and 1 unit in Session 2).

In Session 1 he is studying one unit which is classified as “Mathematics” and falls into the Student Contribution Band National Priority (NP), and his second unit is classified as “Accounting” and falls into the Student Contribution Band 3. In Session 2 he is studying a unit which is classified as “Commerce” and falls into the Student Contribution Band 3.

Calculations for study undertaken in 2012 are:

Therefore, Michael will be liable for $2921 for studies undertaken in 2012.

Example 3 — Student commencing study in a previous year

Maree is enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and was admitted into her course in 2009. In 2012 she has decided to study full-time (4 units in Session 1 and 4 units in Session 2).

The 4 units she has enrolled into for Session 1 are classified as “Humanities” and fall into the Student Contribution Band 2. The 4 units she has decided to study in Session 2 are classified as “Education”. As she was admitted into her course in 2009 she is classified as a “Pre 2010 Student”. Education units are classified as “National Priority” in 2009. She will be charged at the 2012 National Priority rate.

(NB: If Maree had been admitted into the Bachelor Arts/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in 2010 she would be considered a “2010 Student” and her Student Contribution would be Band 1 for Education units)

Calculations for study undertaken in 2012 are:

Therefore, Maree will be liable for $5084 for studies undertaken in 2012.

Updated: 24 October 2011