There are many financial elements to consider when undertaking university study and you will need to budget for costs associated with your course. Costs may vary depending upon the course of study, the education provider and miscellaneous factors such as the cost of transport to attend classes. Examples of the financial considerations include:
Refer to the following worksheets to assist you
plan your course of study:
To undertake study at university students must pay tuition fees. These fees are either subsidised by the Commonwealth government or are paid in full by the student. The exact amount of fees that you need to pay depends on what sort of student you are and the course you are studying.
There are three types of students at university: commonwealth supported students who pay student contributions, domestic students who pay full tuition fees up front and international students who pay full tuition fees up front. The amount of tuition fees charged depends upon the number of subject points that a student is enrolled in. If a student changes the number of subjects they are studying by adding or dropping a course then the fee charged for that study load will also change.
To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place at university you must be an Australian Citizen or hold an Australian Permanent Resident Visa. The contribution that each student is required to pay is calculated using the 'weight' of the course and the band the course falls within as determined by the Commonwealth government. Some Commonwealth supported students are eligible to defer payment of their tuition fees via the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS - HELP) or to receive a discount for paying their student contribution upfront. Domestic full fee paying students are required to pay the costs of their tuition upfront. This cost is determined on the number of credit points that a student is enrolled in and the fee per credit point charged for that program in the current year.
Further information on the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS).
Refer to Worksheet 2 - Finding a course that is right for you (worksheet 2 as text 27KB or worksheet 2 as PDF 85 KB) to assist you identify the questions that you need to ask a course coordinator when investigating the requirements of a particular course.
University students are also required to a pay a compulsory general services or service fee that contributes to the cost of a range of services, activities and facilities provided by university institutions. The amount charged differs between universities and students may be eligible for a discounted fee depending on their enrolment circumstances and the level of access they have to facilities and services provided by the university. The amount charged varies each year and a fee is generally charged for each semester.
The general services fee or service fee is NOT deferrable to a HECS - HELP debt. Students are required to pay the fee upfront by the due date. Students who do not pay this fee will not be given access to essential university services and may be barred from receiving exam results and graduating from certain universities. Examples of circumstances where the general services fee or service fee may be discounted include non award students, limited 'on campus' attendance, off campus students, leave of absence or cross institutional enrolment.
In addition to the cost of course fees students will be required to pay for extra materials associated with their course. These can include a wide range of items such as art canvases, sketch books, paint, bound reading materials. The cost and amount of course materials depend solely on the course. Some university courses charge students a flat 'materials fee' and purchase the materials. Other education providers require the student to locate and purchase the items. To find out about the extra materials that may be required for your course contact the course coordinator before applying so that you can budget for any unforeseen expenditures. Once you have enrolled in your course your lecturer will inform you of any extra materials or material fees that you may be required to pay.
text books, photocopying, transport and parking
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Students need to consider the cost of text books and related study expenses such as photocopying, parking permits, stationery and internet access when setting their budget.
Parking Permits
Most universities that have parking facilities sell annual parking permits that allow students to park on campus including disability spaces. To find out the cost of these permits contact the student administration centre at the university or log onto their website and search under 'parking permits'. If you have a mobility impairment you may also be eligible for a Disability Parking Permit that is issued by the transport department in each State and Territory. This permit allows you to park in any parking space that is allocated to people with disabilities. The cost of these permits vary between jurisdictions and supporting documentation must be provided.
Refer to disability parking permits for further information.
Photocopying
During the course of their studies most students will need to photocopy various material. Photocopying services are available at most university libraries but the service is not free. Discounted rates per page are charged for students but the cost does add up. Therefore it is important to budget for this expense.
Text books
Most courses require students to use text books. Libraries do provide copies of text books but student numbers can outweigh the number of books available in the library. New editions of text books are also being continually published and some library book versions can be out of date. To save money on the purchase of text books ask your lecturer if there are any second hand text books for sale. Many courses run second hand text book sales with students from the previous year selling their text books at discounted rates.
Transport
Transport costs to and from campus such as the cost of petrol, bus, train, tram tickets or taxis need to be considered. Students with physical disabilities may be eligible for financial assistance via access cab schemes or transport concession cards. Recipients of Centrelink payments may also be eligible for transport subsidies.
For further information see transport subsidies and financial assistance.
Some university courses have practical components that students are required to undertake for example field trips. These placements are often funded at the expense of the student and therefore it is important to find out about these costs in advance. Many universities provide students with essential equipment such as tents but often students will be required to meet any outstanding costs such as travel, food expenses and appropriate clothing.
To find out if your course has practical components that are funded by the student contact the course coordinator in advance. This will assist you budget for extra expenses associated with your course.