Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

SSAF Funding Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What is the SSAF
SSAF schedules
SSAF scenarios
Exempt students
Deferring the SSAF to the ATO

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 upfront, 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.

 

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 2025 rates

  • $364.80 is the maximum SSAF amount for 2025
  • 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 SSAF Amount
12 $45.60
24 $91.20
36 $136.80

* 12 credit points is the most common unit value.

Total SSAF amount based on units completed in 2025

Unit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
EFTSL 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0.750 0.875 1.000
CP 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
SSAF $45.60 $91.20 $136.80 $182.40 $228.00 $273.60 $319.20 $364.80

* Once eight (8) units have been studied for the year, no additional SSAF is charged.

Student Services and Amenities Fee 2024 rates

  • $351 is the maximum SSAF amount for 2024
  • 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 SSAF Amount
6 $22
12 $44
24 $88
36 $132

* 12 credit points is the most common unit value.

Total SSAF amount based on units completed in 2024

Unit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
EFTSL 0.125 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.625 0.750 0.875 1.000
CP 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
SSAF $44 $88 $132 $176 $220 $264 $308 $351

* Once eight (8) units have been studied for the year, no additional SSAF is charged.

SSAF scenarios

Jordan is enrolled into 6 units (96 CP) including a triple-weighted* placement unit in Tri Term 1, 2025:

Teaching Period Unit CP SSAF EFTSL
Term 1 Unit 1 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 1 Unit 2 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 2 Unit 3 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 2 Unit 4 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 3 Unit 5 12 $45.60 0.125
Tri Term 1 Unit 6 36 $136.80 0.375
Yearly SSAF total 6 Units 96 $364.80 1.000

* 12 credit points is the most common unit value.

 

Courtney is enrolled into 8 units (96 CP) for 2025:

Teaching Period Unit CP SSAF EFTSL
Term 1 Unit 1 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 1 Unit 2 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 2 Unit 3 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 2 Unit 4 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 3 Unit 5 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 3 Unit 6 12 $45.60 0.125
Term 4 Unit 7 12 $45.60 0.125
Dual Term 4 Unit 8 12 $45.60 0.125
Yearly SSAF total 8 Units 96 $364.80 1.000

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, Transition to Uni, or UniStart
  • Studying the Undergraduate Qualifying Program
  • Incoming cross-institutional student
  • English language courses students
  • Incarcerated students
  • Studying a Doctor of Philosophy, Masters by Research, Professional Doctorate Program*

* The SSAF exemption will no longer apply from 2025.

Deferring the SSAF to the Australian Taxation Office

Eligible students who wish to apply for a SA-HELP  will need to submit a request for SA-HELP loan form by the census date. The form is only available via My Enrolment. After your SA-HELP Loan is approved, your SA-HELP loan amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt and is repaid through the Australian tax system to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Open My Enrolment

How to complete a ‘Request for SA-HELP Loan’ Form

  1. Ensure you have your tax file number available
  2. Log in 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.