Commonwealth supported places and fee-paying places
Discover the difference between a Commonwealth supported place and a fee-paying place so you can make an informed decision about investing in your future. Find out which place applies to you.
What is a Commonwealth supported place?
Did you know you the Australian Government pays most of the fees for some degrees? With a Commonwealth supported place (CSP), you only need to contribute part of the cost of your course, called the 'student contribution'.
CSP options for undergraduate degrees
At Deakin, most undergraduate courses have CSPs. Your student contribution can be paid with a HECS-HELP loan that you don’t pay until after you graduate and are earning a salary.
CSP options for postgraduate courses
Deakin has some CSPs for postgraduate degrees, primarily courses that the Australian Government sees as crucial to the workforce. The majority are fee paying but you may be able to get a FEE-HELP loan.
CSP eligibility criteria
Eligibility for a CSP is based on citizenship, visa status and where you live while studying. You must meet at least one of the following criteria as per the Australian Government Study Assist website:
- an Australian citizen who will study at least one unit of your course while living in Australia
- a New Zealand citizen who will study the entire course while living in Australia
- an Australian permanent visa holder who will study the entire course while living in Australia
- an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder who will study the entire course while living in Australia
- a Pacific engagement visa (PEV) holder who will study the entire course while living in Australia.
In addition, you must:
- have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) before the first census date
- have sufficient Student Learning Entitlement available to undertake your studies
- not undertake more than 2 years’ worth of higher education study within 12 months unless your provider has approved you to take on more.
Meeting these criteria doesn’t guarantee you a CSP. You still need to meet Deakin’s academic requirements for the course. Eligibility for a CSP and HECS-HELP are not the same. Check the eligibility criteria under 'Fees and scholarships' on individual course pages.
What is a fee-paying place?
In a fee-paying place, you pay the full tuition fee set by Deakin, without any government subsidy. This is most common in postgraduate degrees. Some undergraduate courses offer both CSP and fee-paying places, and if you’re not eligible for a CSP, you’ll be offered a fee-paying place. Tuition fees vary depending on the units you study, your course and your commencement year. As a domestic fee-paying student, you may be eligible to defer your fees with a FEE-HELP loan.
How much do fee-paying degrees cost?
Tuition depends on your course and mode of study. You can find the full fee for each course on the course page. The fee listed is the annual fee for full-time study. Fees are charged each trimester for every unit you enrol in, so part-time students pay a pro-rated fee.
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.
Frequently asked questions about types of fees
Only if you’re in a full fee-paying place and choose to pay upfront. Full-fee students can defer eligible fees with FEE-HELP. CSP students pay only the student contribution, which can be deferred with HECS-HELP if eligible.
It depends on how you’re paying. If you’re in a CSP, the government component is covered, so you only pay your student contribution. Both fee-paying and CSP students will receive a university invoice with a payment due date. If you’re applying for a HELP loan, you must submit it by the invoice due date.
If you’re enrolled and progressing at Deakin, you don’t need to repay your HELP loans. Repayments only start after you graduate and reach the minimum income threshold and are made through the ATO. For CSP students, the government contribution never needs to be repaid – only your student contribution is repayable.
All domestic students pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). This supports services such as fitness and sport facilities, counselling and wellness programs, and other initiatives that enhance your student experience. It also supports the Deakin University Student Association. You may be able to defer payment using an SA-HELP loan.
Yes! Scholarships are available for all students. Whether you’re a CSP student paying only your student contribution or a postgraduate student covering full fees, there are a variety of scholarships to help.
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