Student contribution amounts
Related links
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
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.
2021 student contribution amounts for students commencing a course of study from 1 January 2021
Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Commencing 2021
Excluding students in professional pathways.
For students commencing in the following professional pathways courses in 2021:
Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Commencing in Prof Pathway SocialWk 2021
- 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)
Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Commencing in Prof Pathway Psych 2021
- 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
| Band | Field of education funding cluster | Fee per 12 CP |
|---|---|---|
| New 2021 Band 1 | Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Foreign Languages, Agriculture | $493 |
| New 2021 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 | $993 |
| New 2021 Band 3 | Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science | $1412 |
| New 2021 Band 4 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture – any other subpart, Society and Culture – Social Studies or Behavioural Science subparts | $1812 |
2021 student contribution amounts for pre-2021 grandfathered continuing students from 1 January 2021
Download the Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Grandfathered 2021
For all grandfathered students in all courses.
| Band | Field of education funding cluster | Fee per 12 CP |
|---|---|---|
| New 2021 Band 1 | Education, Post Graduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics or Statistics, Nursing, Foreign Languages, Agriculture | $493 |
| Grandfathered Band 1 | Society and Culture, Social Studies, Behavioural Science, Communications, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work | $850 |
| New 2021 Band 2 | Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology | $993 |
| Grandfathered Band 3 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce | $1419 |
| New 2021 Band 3 | Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science | $1412 |
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 for both commencing and grandfathered continuing students in the Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit 2021 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:
- Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Commencing 2021
- Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Commencing in Prof Pathway Psych 2021
- Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Commencing in Prof Pathway SocialWk 2021
- Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - Grandfathered 2021
- Student Contribution Amounts Per Unit - 2022
HECS-HELP up-front discount
From 1 January 2021, if you are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan and make an up-front payment of $500 or more towards units of study with the same census date, or make an up-front payment equal to 90 per cent of your student contribution amount(s), you will receive a 10 per cent discount, called the HECS-HELP up-front discount.
The HECS-HELP up-front discount works by increasing your up-front payment by 10 percent. This means that you will pay less for your studies if you pay $500 or more up-front. The Government will pay the other 10 per cent directly to your provider.
For more details see Study Assist’s HECS-HELP up-front discount page.
The following scenarios demonstrate how a student would calculate their student contribution amount for the year.
Scenario 1
Ari is a Year 12 student seeking to enrol in a Bachelor of Education. Ari is seeking to commence studies in Term 1, 2021.
As Ari is a new student, they will need to pay the new 2022 Student Contribution Amounts.
Ari has decided 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 (2022 Band 1) |
2 × $498 | $996 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 2 |
1 × Mathematics 1 × Visual and Performing Arts |
1 × $498 1 × $1,002 |
$1,500 |
| Term 3 |
1 × English 1 × Society and Culture |
1 × $498 1 × $1,828 |
$2,326 |
| Term 4 |
1 × Society and Culture |
1 × $1,828 | $1,828 |
| Term 5 |
1 × Society and Culture 1 × Science |
1 × $1,828 1 × $1,002 |
$2,830 |
| Yearly total | $7,652 | ||
Therefore, Ari will be liable for $7,652 for studies undertaken in 2022. If Ari paid the fee up-front and in-full by each census date, they would save $765.20 based on the 10% discount.
Scenario 2
Max is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Work as a Commonwealth supported student. As a student undertaking a Professional Pathway course in Social work they should refer to the Prof Pathway SocialWk 2022 Student Contribution Amounts.
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 (2022 Band 4) |
2 × $1,828 | $3,656 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 2 | 2 × Society and Culture units (2022 Band 4) |
2 × $1,828 | $3,656 |
| Term 3 | 2 × Professional Pathway Social Work units (2022 Band 2) |
2 × $1,002 | $2,004 |
| Yearly total | $9,319 | ||
Therefore, Max will be liable for $9,319 for studies undertaken in that half year of 2022. If Max paid the fee up-front and in-full by each census date, they would save $931.90 based on the 10% discount.
Scenario 3
Kate is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing 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.
| Session 1 |
1 × Allied Health 1 × Nursing |
1 × $1,002 1 × $498 |
$1,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 2 |
1 × Nursing 1 × Statistics |
1 × $858 2× $498 |
$1,854 |
| Yearly total | $3,354 | ||
If Kate paid the fee up-front and in full by each census date, they would save $249.60 based on the 10% discount.
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.