Student services and amenities fee

From 1 January 2012 an annual Student services and amenities fee will apply to all domestic students (except higher degree by research students), to raise money for student services and facilities.  These student services may include items such as counselling, employment/career advice, child care, financial advice, food services and sporting and recreational activities, as well as independent student representation structures.

Whilst this fee is compulsory no student will be forced to join any student organisation and the legislation expressly prohibits fee revenue being used to support a political party.

A summary of the Student services and amenities fee for 2012 is detailed in the table below:

Student type Enrolment Amount
Domestic on campus undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students* Full time (3 units or more)  $87 per trimester 
Domestic on campus undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students* Part time (1-2 units)  $55 per trimester
Domestic off-campus undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students* Full time and part time   $42 per trimester

* International students will not be charged this fee in 2012 as their fees include a component for the provision of services required under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act, presently $22 per credit point.

* Higher Degree by Research students will not be charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee.

SA-HELP, deferring your payment of the SSAF

Eligible students who do not wish to pay the fee upfront to the University, can request assistance from the Commonwealth and defer the fee through a new element of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) known as SA-HELP.

Eligible students may choose to pay some of the fee upfront and obtain a SA-HELP loan for the remainder or obtain a loan for the full amount of the fee.

The amount of the loan will be added to the student's accumulated HELP debt. An eligible student will be able to take out a SA-HELP loan even if they do not wish to take out any other HELP loan.

To be eligible for SA-HELP a student must:

  • be an Australian citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder resident in Australia
  • be enrolled in an eligible course of study with a higher education provider
  • meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements, and
  • complete the online SA-HELP form by the census date each Trimester/Semester.

To apply for SA-HELP go to StudentConnect and select the SA-HELP menu option. 

Refunds of SSAF

Students may be eligible for a full (or partial) refund of the SSAF if they withdraw from units of study prior to the applicable census date. 

All applications for a refunds should be completed using the Application for Refund of Student Fees (55 KB) form.

If students withdraw from unit(s) after the applicable census date, the SSAF will still apply and no refund will be given.

If students have elected to defer payment of the SSAF, a SA-HELP debt will still be incurred if they withdraw from unit(s) or courses of study, after the applicable census date.  Any amount deferred to the ATO through SA-HELP will not be refunded.

Background

In October 2011, the Australian Parliament passed the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2011. This legislation allows universities and other higher education providers to charge a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) from 1 January 2012.

Find out more

For further information:

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2nd April 2012