University fees and charges

Student contributions by Commonwealth supported students
Tuition fees for fee-paying domestic students in award courses, and retention of fees
Tuition fees for fee-paying international students in award and non-award courses, and retention of fees
Non-award tuition fees (domestic)
Encumbered or terminated enrolment or voluntary discontinuation of studies (all students)
Other fees and charges

Student contributions by Commonwealth supported students

Under the Higher Education Support Act 2003, students who are Commonwealth supported are required to make a contribution towards the cost of their education. This amount is set by the higher education provider within a range set by the Government and according to the band in which the unit of study is classified. Final details of applicable rates for 2007 are not yet available.

Commonwealth-supported students are given a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) which will normally allow access to seven years of equivalent full-time study.

The Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS) is used to record the SLE and its reducing balance. All Commonweathl-supported students require a Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN) to record their SLE.

A Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is available to eligible students including:

• HECS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth supported students
• FEE-HELP for eligible full fee-paying students
• OS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth-supported students who want to study overseas.

From 1 January 2005, only Australian citizens and holders of permanent humanitarian visas in a Commonwealth-supported place are eligible for HECS-HELP.

Students who are eligible for HECS-HELP assistance may pay their student contribution in three different ways:

• pay all of their student contribution up front and receive a HECS-HELP discount of 20%
• receive a HECS-HELP loan for the full student contribution
• pay some of the student contribution up front (and receive a 20% discount on payments over $500) and receive a HECS-HELP loan for the balance.

If a student takes out a HECS-HELP loan, the Commonwealth pays the loan amount directly to Deakin on the student’s behalf and a HECS-HELP debt is recorded for the student with the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

Requests for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP are to be made online on StudentConnect via the eCAF (electronic Commonwealth Assistance form).

Students are not charged any fees on HECS-HELP loans.

OS-HELP is a loan program that provides financial assistance to eligible Commonwealth-supported students wishing to undertake part of their study overseas. Eligible students may borrow up to $5095 (indexed) per study period for one or two study periods of overseas study. Deakin will be allocated a number of OS-HELP loans, and selects students who meet the eligibility and selection criteria.

A student incurs an OS-HELP debt when they receive their OS-HELP loan amount. A 20% loan fee applies to OS-HELP loans, so the debt reported to the ATO is 120% of the loan amount paid to the student.

Higher education providers are responsible for remission of HELP debts.

Commonwealth Learning Scholarships are also available for eligible Commonwealth-supported students.See www.deakin.edu.au/scholarships (Note: link will open in new window).

Information booklets for Commonwealth Supported students about HECS-HELP are available from Deakin Central or on the DEST website (Note: link will open in new window).

All fees are assessed, and Invoices issued, on a semester basis.

Continuing students enrolled prior to 2005
Students who were enrolled in 2004 as HECS students are able to study under the current (indexed) HECS student contribution levels until the end of 2008, unless they discontinue their enrolment without formally deferring or completing their course of study.

Since 1 January 2005, only Australian citizens and holders of permanent humanitarian visas in a Commonwealth-supported place are eligible for HECS-HELP. New Zealand citizens and holders of other permanent visas who are already in the system, however, are able to continue under the current HECS deferred payment arrangements eligibility requirements until the end of their existing course of study or the end of 2008, whichever occurs first.

From the start of 2009, all eligible students (including pre-1997 students) will come under the new arrangements for loan schemes and student contribution levels.

Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) limits apply to all eligible students, continuing and commencing, from 1 January 2005.

Back to top

Tuition fees for fee-paying domestic students in award courses, and retention of fees

All tuition fees are assessed, and Invoices issued, on a semester basis.

Students who withdraw from a fee-paying course or whose enrolment in the course is terminated or lapses, will be liable to pay the tuition fees applicable for the year that they apply for re-admission to the same course.

Domestic students who commence studies on an undergraduate full-fee paying basis are guaranteed a transfer to a Commonwealth-Supported Place, provided the student:

• completes a minimum of eight (8) credit points of study; and
• achieves a weighted average mark (WAM of 65 in the eight (8) most recently completed credit points of study.

FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP is a loan program that assists eligible fee-paying students to pay their tuition fees at higher education providers. Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa are eligible for FEE-HELP. Holders of other permanent visas are also eligible for FEE-HELP if they are undertaking a bridging course for overseas trained professionals.

The following courses are eligible for FEE-HELP:

• accredited undergraduate award programs
• accredited postgraduate award programmes including higher degrees by research
• bridging courses for overseas trained professionals to enable them to meet the requirements for entry into their profession in Australia
• courses to enable students to meet the requirements for entry into an award program
• units of study made available by higher education providers, access to which was provided by Open Learning Australia.

Eligible students can borrow up to the limit of the tuition fee charge by their higher education provider. Over their lifetime, however, students will only be able to borrow up to a maximum of $80 000.

A loan fee of 20% applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses of study only.

Information booklets for domestic tuition fee paying students about FEE-HELP and available from Deakin Central or on the DEST website (Note: link will open in new window).

Requests for FEE-HELP are to be made online on StudentConnect via the eCAF link (electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form).

Fees for continuing students enrolled prior to 2005
Students enrolled prior to 2005 were enrolled on fee contracts which fixed the cost of the course at the time of initial enrolment. These contracts will be maintained (for the pre-2005 course only) unless the student has exceeded the minimum period required for completion of the course on a full-time basis.

Tuition fees are charged on a per unit basis. If the fee contract has expired, or if there was a transfer to a new course, including a combined course, students will be charged the current rate per unit of study.

Fees for students commencing after 1 January 2005
Tuition fees are charged on a per unit basis. Rates are set annually.

Retained fees
Fees forfeited under the undergraduate and postgraduate award course tuition fee retention conditions contribute towards the administrative costs incurred at the time of withdrawal from the applicable unit(s).

Standard fee retention conditions for domestic tuition fee-paying students

Summer semester
Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 1 January 2006: One hundred per cent (100%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Semester 1
Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 31 March 2006: One hundred per cent (100%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Semester 2
Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 31 August 2006: One hundred per cent (100%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Payment of tuition fees by instalments
Following the introduction of the Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme (PELS) in 2002, and FEE-HELP in 2005, the University discontinued the availability of the payment by instalment option to domestic full fee-paying students.

Back to top

Tuition fees for fee-paying international students in award and non award courses, and retention of fees

Fees for international students apply to persons living in Australia with temporary residence status, provided that there is no limitation on study, and persons living abroad who are not Australian citizens and do not have permanent residency in Australia.

These policies comply with the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee’s guidelines on fees for international students. They are subject to changes when the guidelines are reviewed by the Australian education authorities.

New international students are not normally permitted to undertake summer semester studies in their first year of study unless they are studying through one of the University’s off-shore partners, approved TAFE, Study Abroad or Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology programs.

On-campus international students must meet Commonwealth Government guidelines for entry into Australia and enrolment at the University.

These policies apply to all international on-campus students, irrespective of who pays the fees. They apply to commencing and continuing students and to those persons who have been offered a place in a course of study at the University.

Fees for continuing students enrolled prior to 2006

Students enrolled prior to 2006 were enrolled on fee contracts which fixed the cost of the course at the time of initial enrolment. These contracts will be maintained (for the pre-2006 course only) unless the student has exceeded the minimum period required for completion of the course on a full-time basis.

Tuition fees are now charged on a per unit basis. If the fee contract has expired, or if there was a transfer to a new course, including a combined course, students will be charged the current rate per unit of study.

Fees for students commencing after 1 January 2006

Fees are assessed and Invoices are issued on a semester basis. From 2006 international tuition fees are charged on a per unit basis. Rates are set annually. The tuition fee includes an International Student Services Fee to enable the University to provide the level of services to international students required under the Educational Services for Overseas Students Act (the ESOS Act) and Code of Practice. The International Student Services Fee is set annually and is used by the University to provide academic and non-academic support services for students.

Fee liability
Students who withdraw from a fee-paying course or whose enrolment in a fee-paying course is terminated or lapses, will be liable to pay the tuition fees applicable to the year that they enrol in the same course that is being offered on a fee-paying basis subsequently. Similarly, if students transfer to a new course, including a combined course, the new tuition fees apply.

Retained fees
Fees forfeited under the undergraduate and postgraduate award course tuition fee retention conditions (international students) have been set at levels to contribute towards the administrative costs incurred at the time of withdrawal from the applicable unit(s). The retained fees are due and payable, notwithstanding the fact that the fees may not have been paid at the time of withdrawal from the applicable unit(s).

No fee retention applies if:

• a student withdraws from a unit and immediately enrols in a replacement unit of equal value in the same semester
• a student withdraws from a unit on the advice of a Faculty Enrolment Officer before the census date for a semester but does not enrol in a replacement unit
• a student is refused a student visa by the Commonwealth Government authorities
• a student has changed residency status before the HECS census date for a semester and is not offered a Commonwealth-funded place or an Australian fee-paying place at the University
• an offer is withdrawn or an enrolment cancelled because the University is unable to provide the course of study
• the University changes and is unable to offer unit(s) such that a student is prevented from completing the unit(s) and no credit is given towards other unit(s)
• the course does not commence on the agreed start date and the student is not already withdrawn
• the government has limited Deakin’s right to conduct courses for overseas students.

Refunds are made in Australian dollars only and by cheque.

Consistent with the Educational Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act of 2000, the Deakin University Fee Retention Conditions for international students does not remove the right of students to take further action under Australia’s consumer protection laws and other legal remedies.

Standard fee retention conditions for international tuition fee-paying students

Summer semester
Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 1 January 2007: One hundred per cent (100%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Semester 1
Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 12 March 2007 and up to and including 31 March 2007: Fifty per cent (50%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 31 March 2007: One hundred per cent (100%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Semester 2
Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 30  July 2007 and up to and including 31 August 2007: Fifty per cent (50%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Discontinuation/withdrawal from unit(s) or course of study after 31 August 2007: One hundred per cent (100%) fee retention of fees assessed for the discontinued unit(s).

Additional Fees and Charges
Prospective students are required to pay an Application Charge to meet the cost of processing applications for admission to on-campus courses of study for fee-paying international students. This charge may be waived in special circumstances at the discretion of the Executive Director, Deakin International.

On-campus international students are liable for the medical health cover and other university fees and charges applicable to their study in addition to the tuition fees.

Off-campus international students are liable for other University fees and charges applicable to their study in addition to the tuition fees.

Transfer fees
Refunds in the form of a transfer of fees to another institution will not be made directly to a student. A student must provide evidence of acceptance into the applicable institution before the approved refund will be transferred. No transfers will be made to another English language teaching (ELICOS) centre.

Change of residency status
If an international student obtains Australian Permanent Resident status before their initial enrolment the fee-paying (international) place will be withdrawn. If the student wishes to continue to study at the University, they must apply for admission into a Commonwealth Government-funded or fee-paying place in competition with Australian citizens and other permanent residents, and be subject to the same selection criteria applicable to these applicants.

If an international student obtains Australian Permanent Resident status during the first semester of their enrolment, the student will still be classified as an international student for the remainder of that semester. If a student wishes to continue to study in subsequent semester/s, they must apply for admission into a Commonwealth Government-funded or fee-paying place in competition with Australian citizens and other permanent residents, and be subject to the same selection criteria applicable to these applicants.

Payment of international award course tuition fees by instalments
International students undertaking award courses, except students in their first semester of study, are eligible to pay the tuition fees by instalments.

Conditions

• This option does not apply where a student’s fees and charges are paid by a sponsor, employer or any other person or organisation.
• The option applies only to the course tuition fees. All other university fees and charges which the student is liable to pay as a condition of enrolment, must be paid in full by the due date specified on their Invoice.
• At least thirty per cent (30%) of the course tuition fees must be paid by the due date specified on the Invoice. No further Invoices or Final Notice will be issued.
• The balance of the course tuition fees may be paid progressively in any amounts and at times which suit each student provided that the total amount is paid by no later than 15 January for summer semester, 15 April for semester 1 and 15 September for semester 2 course tuition fees.
• The initial payment may be made by any method stipulated on the Invoice. Subsequent payments cannot be made at the ANZ Bank.
• Extensions of time will not be granted for either the initial payment or the final payment.
• If a variation to an enrolment results in an increase in the amount of course tuition fees, no extensions of time will be granted for payment of the additional fees.
• If a student fails to make the required payments and does not contact the University by the applicable due date/s for payment, the student’s enrolment may be terminated.
• The effective date of termination of enrolment will be the due date of the missed payment for the respective semester.
• If a student’s enrolment is terminated for non-payment of fees and the effective date of termination is on or before the census date for the applicable semester, the standard fee retention conditions for international tuition fee-paying students will apply.

If the effective date of termination is after the census date for the applicable semester, all course tuition fees paid will be forfeited.

Back to top

Non-award tuition fees (domestic)

A non-award unit is a unit that does not lead to an award but:

• is a unit of study from an award course or courses at the University and
• may be counted as credit towards some award course at the University by all students who complete the unit of study.

Fees are assessed as for award students on a per unit basis, and Invoices are issued each semester.

Retained fees
Fees forfeited under the non-award tuition fee retention conditions contribute towards the administrative costs incurred at the time of withdrawal from the applicable unit(s).

Standard fee retention conditions-as for fee-paying domestic students in Award courses

Back to top

Encumbered or terminated enrolment or voluntary discontinuation of studies (all students)

An encumbrance is a restriction placed on a student’s enrolment for breaching specified due dates and conditions relating to matters such as enrolment fees, library loans, residential fees or student loans. Encumbrances remove students’ access to services provided by the University including IT, Deakin Studies Online (DSO) and Library access, the ability to vary enrolments in any way, despatch of course materials (off-campus students) and re-enrolment information, access to assessment results, examination date/location advice (off-campus students) and approval to graduate.

Termination of enrolment—Students whose enrolments are terminated for non-payment of fees may apply for reinstatement of their enrolment in the same academic year provided that they pay all outstanding fees and charges and the prescribed reinstatement charge. Students whose enrolments are terminated for non-payment of an up-front HECS liability cannot have their enrolment reinstated for that semester in accordance with federal legislation.

Failure of Commonwealth supported students to complete the electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form by census date will result in termination of enrolment. Students may apply for reinstatement in the following semester.

Voluntary withdrawal from enrolment—Students who voluntarily withdraw from studies while owing fees may apply for reinstatement of their enrolment in the same academic year provided that they pay all outstanding fees and charges.

Readmission in subsequent years—Students whose enrolments cease for any reason (e.g. termination for non-payment of fees or withdrawal from studies or allowing their enrolment to lapse) may apply for admission in subsequent years provided that they pay all outstanding fees and charges applicable to those prior studies. Students will be liable for the fees which are charged at the time of their subsequent enrolment.

Back to top

Other fees and charges

Late re-enrolment charge
This charge is levied on all re-enrolling students who do not re-enrol by the scheduled dates.

This charge has been set to encourage students to act responsibly in maintaining their enrolment with the University. It is necessary to set penalty charges at levels that ensure this outcome is achieved.

Executive discretion may be exercised to waive this charge in special circumstances where it can be demonstrated that the causes that led to the levying of the charge were beyond the student’s control.

2007 rate
Late re-enrolment charge—$200

Reinstatement charge
This charge applies to the reinstatement of an enrolment in the same academic year in which the enrolment lapsed (e.g. termination for non-payment of fees or a voluntary discontinuation from a course of study).

This charge has been set to encourage students to act responsibly in maintaining their enrolment with the University. It is necessary to set penalty charges at levels that ensure this outcome is achieved.

Executive discretion may be exercised to waive this charge in special circumstances where it can be demonstrated that the causes that led to the levying of the charge were beyond the student’s control.

2007 rate
One hundred per cent (100%) fee retention

Dishonoured cheque charge
This charge applies to all cheques for payment of student enrolment fees that are dishonoured by the drawers’ banks for any reason.

2007 rate
$30.

Replacement of Deakin Card (student ID card) charge
This charge is levied to cover the cost of issuing a new Deakin Card, the original of which may have been lost by the student or destroyed.

2007 rate
$20.

Late change of examination location charge
This charge applies to students undertaking award courses who require their examination location to be changed between two to four weeks before the commencement of the applicable scheduled examination period. No change of examination location is possible within two weeks of the commencement of the applicable scheduled examination period.

The charge applies to late changes made within any examination period. The rates apply to each unit of study examined.

Charges will be applied to student records within two weeks of the relevant examination period.

Note: On-Campus students are expected to sit their examinations at the campus of Unit enrolment. Requests to change exam location to another campus will only be supported where capacity allows.

On-Campus Students

Off-Campus Students

For further information refer to:

• Timetable Release Schedule
• On-campus and Off-campus Examinations

Examination charges for Deakin Study Abroad students
This charge relates to students who have been enrolled as Exchange or Study Abroad students at other universities and who wish to complete their host university examinations at Deakin with the approval of the host institution.

All fees and charges for examinations due to the host university are to be paid by the student to that university.

Deakin International will arrange an examination at a Deakin campus for the student only through direct contact with, and a request by, the host institution. Deakin International will liaise with Off-campus Assessments, DSA, who will administer the examination for the student.

The rates apply to each unit of study examined.

2007 rates
Where the exam is to be conducted during a regular Deakin award examination period, an administration fee of $50 will be levied.

Where the examination is to be conducted outside regular Deakin examination periods, a supervisor will be required and the student will be liable for the costs of the examination supervision at the standard hourly charge rate as well as the administration fee. For example, a three hour examination would cost approximately $120. This fee will apply to each examination.

Academic transcript charge
Each student will receive one original academic transcript free of charge when deemed eligible to receive their award. This charge contributes toward the cost of additional transcripts and, where applicable, a search fee for transcripts issued prior to 1987 (Warrnambool), 1979 (Geelong) and 1985 (Melbourne) (i.e. prior to computerisation of records). The search charge is in addition to that set for the original transcript.

2007 rates
First original—$20
Additional originals produced in the same run as the first—$5
Search charge for transcripts issued prior to1979 (Geelong), 1985 (Melbourne), 1987 (Warrnambool)—$40

Testamur charges
This charge is to cover the cost for replacement and mailing of testamurs which may have been lost by a student or destroyed.

Where the name is different from that on the original award, applications must be supported by original or certified documentation deemed appropriate by the University.

2007 rates
Replacement —$60

Graduation and academic dress charge
The domestic graduation ceremony charge is an all-inclusive charge that includes, among other things, the hire of academic dress, two guest tickets and the post-ceremony reception.

The off-shore graduation ceremony charge represents actual costs to conduct graduation ceremonies in the respective countries. They allow for local taxes and charges and currency fluctuations.

The additional guest ticket charge is a charge for each ticket in addition to the two tickets included in the graduation ceremony charge.

2007 rates
Domestic graduation ceremony charge (inc GST) - $130
Overseas graduation ceremony charge - AUD $130
Additional guest ticket charge for domestic ceremonies (inc GST) - $20

Standard fee retention conditions
Graduation ceremony charge and additional guest tickets:

Domestic and off-shore ceremonies—Notice of withdrawal from attending a ceremony received up to 4 weeks prior to the date of the applicable graduation ceremony—No fee retention.

Notice of withdrawal from attending a ceremony received between 2 weeks and 4 weeks prior to the date of the applicable Graduation Ceremony—$25 retained.

Notice of withdrawal from attending a ceremony less than 2 weeks prior to the date of the applicable Graduation ceremony—100% fee retention.

Hire of academic dress for non-graduation purposes:
All deposits are refundable on return of academic dress in good order and condition.

2007 rates
Full regalia $70, plus returnable deposit of $125 (within Australia) or full regalia $70 plus returnable deposit $225 (overseas).

International student application charge
This charge applies to prospective international on-campus and off-campus students who are liable to pay tuition fees prescribed in Section 4 of this document to meet the cost of processing applications for admission to the University.

2007 rate
$55 (inc GST).

Education Abroad program administration charge
This charge applies to Deakin University students who apply for an Education Abroad place in an exchange program. The charge contributes towards the cost of processing applications, liaising with overseas institutions and other administrative costs associated with the program.

2007 rate
$110 (inc GST).

Assessment of credit (private providers) fee
This fee may be levied on private providers or registered training organisations (RTOs) who seek assessments of credit for their courses.

The University may accept or decline a request for assessment of credit at its discretion in accordance with associated university guidelines.

2007 Rate
$1000 (inc GST). Each subsequent hour (or part thereof) $100

Back to top