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Commonwealth supported places and fee-paying places

Learn the difference between a Commonwealth supported place and fee-paying place, and make an informed decision about investing in your future. Find out which applies to you.

What is a Commonwealth supported place?

Did you know you can study now and pay later? A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) in a course receives some funding from the Australian Government. This means you will only need to contribute part of the cost of your course, referred to as the ‘student contribution’. Most undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses offer CSPs. You can check the eligibility under ‘Fees and scholarships’ on individual course pages or browse all courses using our course finder.

Am I eligible?

You may be eligible for a CSP if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • you are an Australian citizen, who studies some of your course while living in Australia
  • you are a New Zealand citizen
  • you are an Australian permanent visa holder
  • you are an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder
  • you are a Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) holder, who studies your entire course while living in Australia.

In addition, you must have sufficient Student Learning Entitlement available to undertake your studies. You will also need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) before the first census date.

Eligibility for a CSP and HECS-HELP are not the same. Find out more about HECS-HELP.

Find your dream course

You’ve worked hard to get to this point – reward yourself by studying at Deakin. Browse our courses to find one that suits your interests, strengths and career goals.

What is a fee-paying place?

A fee-paying place means the University does not receive any government funding and you must contribute the full cost of your course. If you are not eligible for a CSP, you will be offered a fee-paying place. Tuition fees depend on the units you enrol in, your course and the year you commence. As a domestic fee-paying student, you may be eligible to defer your fees with a Government FEE-HELP loan.

Find out more about FEE-HELP

Estimate your tuition fees

Don’t let fees hold you back from achieving your goals. Our fee estimator will give you a better idea of how much your studies will cost. Calculate by course, year and student type, whether you're a domestic or international student.

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Got a question but can't find the answer?

We've curated some of the most commonly asked questions our future student advisers get about course fees and study costs.

How much does it cost to study at Deakin?

Your tuition fees will depend on the type of student you are, the course you study and the year you start. Fees are based on an annual amount; they don't cover the entire duration of the course. Use our fee estimator to check what your fees could be per year.

For more information on future student services and courses:

Does it cost more or less to study online?

Whether you study online or on campus, there's no difference in cost. Your tuition fees will depend on the type of student you are (i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate, research), the course you study and the year you start. Use our fee estimator to check what your fees could be per year.

For more information on future student services and courses:

What is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)?

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a university place for which the government pays a proportion of your tuition fees. This will vary per course and year. Use our fee estimator to gauge what your fees could be per year.

For more information on future student services and courses:

What is HECS-HELP?

HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan program that helps eligible Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) students pay their tuition fees. If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, the Government will pay your tuition fees on your behalf until you're able to repay your loan from your employment income.

For more information on future student services and courses:

What is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is a non-means tested loan program. If you're an eligible fee-paying student you can receive a loan from the Australian Government to help pay your tuition fees. Once employed, you'll be required to start paying back the loan. The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2023-2024 income year is $51,550.

For more information on future student services and courses:

Is there a discount for past students?

Yes! If you're a past student of Deakin you may be eligible to receive a 10% discount on your tuition fees through the Deakin alumni postgraduate bursary. Available only for those commencing a postgraduate award course in a full-fee paying place.

For more information on future student services and courses:

Can my employer chip in for part of my fees?

Yes, if you're enrolled in an upcoming study period, your employer can contribute to or pay your tuition fees in full directly to Deakin. They must complete a Sponsorship Agreement form, which outlines the relevant course requirements, duration and level of sponsorship agreed to between you and your employer.

For more information on future student services and courses:

Can I be sponsored by my employer?

Yes, if you're enrolled in an upcoming study period, your employer can sponsor you to study at Deakin. They must complete a Sponsorship Agreement form, which outlines the relevant course requirements, duration and level of sponsorship agreed to between you and your employer.

For more information on future student services and courses:

How do I calculate fees for single-unit study?

Single units or non-award courses are full-fee paying, with the cost per unit depending on the study discipline. To find out information about specific unit and course fees visit Fees Estimator.

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What is the difference between Commonwealth supported places and fee-paying places?

If you're offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), you'll only need to contribute part of the cost of your course, as your fees are partially funded by the Australian Government. If you are offered a fee-paying place, the university doesn't receive any government funding, so you'll need to pay the full cost of your course. You may be eligible to defer payment of your fees through the Australian Government FEE-HELP loan scheme. Find out more about CSP and fee-paying places.

For more information on future student services and courses:

What is the difference between HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP?

Higher Education Loan Programs (HELP) are available to help you pay for your studies. If you've been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place, HECS-HELP loans are available to assist you with paying your remaining student contribution. If you are enrolled in a fee-paying place, FEE-HELP is available to help you cover your tuition fees. Find out more about Government HELP loans.

For more information on future student services and courses:

Contact us

We're here to support you. If you have a question about fees or study-related costs, contact us by phone or email.

Domestic students

1800 693 888

International students
+61 3 9918 9188
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