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Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

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What is the Student Services and Amenities Fee?

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) provides Australian universities with a significant increase in funds available to maintain and improve essential services and amenities of a non-academic nature for students without reducing funding for teaching. These funds can be used by universities to focus on student services that will support and enrich the student experience.

SSAF is a Commonwealth Government legislated compulsory fee with restrictions on how much can be charged and how the funds are to be used. Some students are exempt from paying the SSAF, see fee schedules for details.

Students who are eligible to defer the SSAF should do so, by completing a SA-HELP form. If you choose to pay your SSAF up front, payment must be made by the due date. Any remaining balance after the census date will be deferred to your SA-HELP loan. Students who are not eligible to defer payments will pay this fee direct to Southern Cross University.

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SSAF schedules

This schedule lists the Services and Amenities Fees applicable to students. These fees are payable in accordance with the Rules — Fees, Charges and Sanctions policy.

Student Services and Amenities Fee 2023 rates

  • $326 is the maximum SSAF amount for 2023
  • SSAF is charged in all teaching periods
  • SSAF amount is the same regardless of enrolment mode or location
  • SSAF is charged per unit based on the unit’s credit point value
Credit Points 6 12 24 36 48
SSAF Amount $20 $40 $81 $122 $163

* 12 credit points is the most common unit value

Student Services and Amenities Fee 2022 rates

  • $315 is the maximum SSAF amount for 2022
  • SSAF is charged in all teaching periods
  • SSAF amount is the same regardless of enrolment mode or location
  • SSAF is charged per unit based on the unit’s credit point value
Credit Points 6 12 24 36 48
SSAF Amount $19 $39 $78 $117 $156

* 12 credit points is the most common unit value

SSAF scenarios

Max is enrolled into the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points) for 2023 Terms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. This includes a double-weighted placement unit in Term 4:

Term 1 2 × 12 CP units 2 × $40 $80
Term 2 2 × 12 CP units 2 × $40 $80
Term 3 1 × 12 CP units 1 × $40 $40
Term 4 1 × 24 CP units*
* double-weighted unit		 1 × $81 $81
Term 5 1 × 12 CP units 1 × $40 $40
Yearly SSAF total $321

Susie is enrolled into 9 × 12 CP units for 2023:

Summer Term 1× 12 CP units 1 × $40 $40
Term 1 1 × 12 CP unit 1 × $40 $40
Term 2 2 × 12 CP unit 2 × $40 $80
Term 3 1 × 12 CP unit 1 × $40 $40
Term 4 2 × 12 CP unit 2 × $40 $80
Term 5 2 × 12 CP unit
(SSAF Cap Reached)		 2 × $40 $46
Yearly SSAF total $326

SSAF Exempt Students

All students will be charged unless they are in one of the following exemption categories:

  • International offshore students (admitted to an offshore degree)
  • International SCU Sydney, SCU Melbourne and SCU Perth
  • Studying the Preparing for Success at SCU Program, or Transition to Uni
  • Studying the Undergraduate Qualifying Program or the Postgraduate Qualifying Program
  • Studying the SCU Head-Start program
  • Incoming cross-institutional student
  • English language courses students
  • Incarcerated students
  • Studying a Doctor of Philosophy, Masters by Research, Professional Doctorate Program

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Deferring the SSAF to the Australian Taxation Office

Only Australian citizens and holders of Permanent Humanitarian visas who are enrolled in an award course may choose to defer their fees. All other students must pay their fees directly to the University. To defer the SSAF you need to complete a Request for SA-HELP Loan form. Students who use a SA-HELP loan will be required to pay their debt through the tax system when they earn above the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment in the same way that a HECS-HELP loan works.

How to complete a 'Request for SA-Help Loan' Form

  1. Ensure you have your tax file number available
  2. Login to My Enrolment
  3. Go to Commonwealth Assistance Forms and choose Add New
  4. Complete form for ‘Request for SA-Help Loan’
  5. After you have successfully filled in all fields select Submit
  6. This form will automatically be approved. If filled in correctly you will see a green confirmation box.

* If you are admitted to more than one course, please ensure you complete a request for SA-HELP Loan for all courses.

The SA-HELP Commonwealth Assistance form should be completed prior to enrolling in units. Payments can be made to the University prior to the due date, and any outstanding balance will be deferred. Failure to defer or pay the fee by the due date may result in a student sanction being imposed.

The SA-HELP form is different to the HECS-HELP form which you may have completed in order to defer your course fees. See for more information.

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