Student contribution amounts
This information applies to Commonwealth Supported students only.
Contents:
- Student contribution amounts per unit
- Calculating your student contribution amount
- Examples
- How to check your HELP debt
- Commonwealth supported student definitions
In a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the Australian Government pays some of your fees and you pay the rest, this is called your student contribution amount.
Units are classified into student contribution bands by strict criteria controlled by the federal government. Student contribution amounts are therefore applied at the unit of study level, not at the level of your course admission.
You are charged the student contribution amounts 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
2023 student contribution amounts
In 2023 we have four cohorts of students for their fees:
- Current
- Psychology Professional Pathway
- Social Work Professional Pathway
- Pre 2021 Grandfathered
All students pay the current student rate unless an alternative rate is specifically listed for their Cohort for each unit.
Psychology Professional Pathway Courses:
- 3007244 Bachelor of Psychological Science
- 3507245 Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours
- 3207007 Bachelor of Psychological Science, Bachelor of Laws
- 3207113 Bachelor of Exercise Science and Psychological Science
Social Work Professional Pathway Courses:
- 3007268 Bachelor of Community Welfare
- 3007316 Bachelor of Social Work
- 3007268 Bachelor of Social Welfare (Non-grandfathered students)
- 1207269 Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying)
| Band | Field of education funding cluster | Fee per 12 CP |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Band 1 | Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Agriculture, Indigenous and Foreign Languages | $515 |
| 2023 Band 2 | Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology | $1037 |
| 2023 Band 3 | Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science | $1475 |
| 2023 Band 4 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture – any other subpart, Society and Culture – Social Studies or Behavioural Science subparts | $1892 |
| Grandfathered Band 1 | Society and Culture, Social Studies, Behavioural Science, Communications, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work | $888 |
| Grandfathered Band 3 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce | $1482 |
12 credit points is the most common subject value, however you can view the credit point value and student contribution band details for individual subjects in the Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - 2023 document.
2022 student contribution amounts
In 2022 we have four cohorts of students for their fees:
- Current
- Psychology Professional Pathway
- Social Work Professional Pathway
- Pre 2021 Grandfathered
All students pay the current student rate unless an alternative rate is specifically listed for their Cohort for each unit.
Psychology Professional Pathway Courses:
- 3007244 Bachelor of Psychological Science
- 3507245 Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours
- 3207007 Bachelor of Psychological Science, Bachelor of Laws
- 3207113 Bachelor of Exercise Science and Psychological Science
Social Work Professional Pathway Courses:
- 3007268 Bachelor of Community Welfare
- 3007316 Bachelor of Social Work
- 3007268 Bachelor of Social Welfare (Non-grandfathered students)
- 1207269 Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying)
| Band | Field of education funding cluster | Fee per 12 CP |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Band 1 | Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Agriculture, Indigenous and Foreign Languages | $498 |
| 2022 Band 2 | Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology | $1002 |
| 2022 Band 3 | Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science | $1425 |
| 2022 Band 4 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture – any other subpart, Society and Culture – Social Studies or Behavioural Science subparts | $1828 |
| Grandfathered Band 1 | Society and Culture, Social Studies, Behavioural Science, Communications, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work | $858 |
| Grandfathered Band 3 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce | $1432 |
12 credit points is the most common subject value, however you can view the credit point value and student contribution band details for individual subjects in the Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - 2022 document.
Calculating your student contribution amount for the year
When calculating your student contribution amount 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 refer to:
Scenario 1
Ari is in a Bachelor of Education. Ari has chosen teaching areas which require them to undertake a mixture of units from different fields of education. Even though these fields may be varied, the overall cluster will determine the band contribution amount.
| Term 1 | 1 × English 1 × Education (2023 Band 1) |
2 × $515 | $1030 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 2 |
1 × Mathematics 1 × Visual and Performing Arts |
1 × $515 1 × $1037 |
$1552 |
| Term 3 |
1 × English 1 × Society and Culture |
1 × $515 1 × $1892 |
$2407 |
| Term 4 |
1 × Society and Culture |
1 × $1892 | $1892 |
| Term 5 |
1 × Society and Culture 1 × Science |
1 × $1892 1 × $1037 |
$2929 |
| Yearly total | $9810 | ||
Therefore, Ari will be liable for $9810 for studies undertaken in 2023.
Scenario 2
Max is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Work as a Commonwealth supported student.
The first 6 units Max enrols into fall into a mixture of Society and Culture units and Professional Pathway Social Work units.
| Term 1 | 2 × Society and Culture units (2023 Band 4) |
2 × $1892 | $3784 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 2 | 2 × Society and Culture units (2023 Band 4) |
2 × $1892 | $3784 |
| Term 3 | 2 × Professional Pathway Social Work units (2023 Band 2) |
2 × $1037 | $2074 |
| Yearly total | $9642 | ||
Therefore, Max will be liable for $9642 for studies undertaken.
Scenario 3
Kate is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Laws as a Commonwealth supported student. Kate commenced her course in 2020 which makes them a Grandfathered continuing student. Kate is undertaking the course part time completing 4 units per year.
| Term 1 |
1 × Law |
1 × $1482 |
$1482 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 2 | 1 × Law (2023 Grandfathered Band 3) |
1 × $1482 | $1482 |
| Term 3 | 1 × Law (2023 Grandfathered Band 3) |
1 × $1482 | $1482 |
| Term 2 |
1 × Society and Culture |
1 × $888 |
$888 |
| Yearly total | $5334 | ||
How do I check my HELP debt?
Your myGov account will show you how much you owe and any repayments you have made.
If you don't have a myGov account, you can set one up following the instructions on the ATO website.
The myHELPbalance portal will show your available HELP balance (the amount you have available to borrow using HELP loans).
myHELPbalance portal does not:
- show how much you owe,
- show loan fees or indexation on your debt, or
- include any debts incurred before 2005.
For Further information in relation to Commonwealth Supported Places and HELP Loans including eligibility and Student Contribution Amounts please see the Study Assist website
Commonwealth supported student definitions
| Pre 2021 Continuing Grandfathered student Commenced study prior to 1 January 2021. (must have been enrolled into at least 1 unit past census date prior 1 January 2021) |
Students already studying in a Commonwealth supported place will have their contribution amounts grandfathered. From 1 January 2021, current students who enrol in units where the student contribution has decreased will have these reduced amounts applied. If you are a continuing student (enrolled before 1 January 2021) studying units in disciplines with increased student contribution amounts, you will continue paying the same amount as you would have, had these reforms not been implemented for any units that would otherwise have an increased student contribution |
| Post 2020 Commenced Students Commenced study after the 1 January 2021 |
Students commenced study in their Commonwealth supported place after the 1 January 2021 will be subject to the current student contribution amounts each year. Excluding those admitted to a Professional Pathway Course |
| Professional Pathway Social Work |
Students who are admitted to one of the following courses who commenced after the 1 January 2021:
|
| Professional Pathway Psychology |
Students who are admitted to one of the following courses who commenced after the 1 January 2021:
|
For further details see the Australian Government’s Job Ready Graduates Package website.