Domestic Tuition Fee Policy

Scope

This policy determines dates by which payment of tuition fees is required and the circumstances where refunds will be made.

Definitions

Census Date

The census date for a subject is the date on which a student’s enrolment in the subject is taken to be finalised, and by which a tuition fee liable student, must:

• have paid their fee liability in full; or

• if eligible for FEE-HELP, have undertaken the appropriate steps, in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003, to defer payment of tuition fees through the Government’s FEE-HELP program.

The census date for each subject is listed in the Student Handbook.

Course

A combination of subjects, the successful completion of which, in accordance with the relevant Requirements, will fulfil the prescribed requirements for a particular Award.

Subject

A discrete portion of a course, identified by a code, title and credit point value.

Commencing student

A student who is enrolling in a particular course for the first time, whether or not they have previously been enrolled at the University.

Continuing student

A student who is continuing in his/her enrolment in the same course from a previous year.

Policy and Procedures

The University charges domestic tuition fees to:

• domestic students admitted to undergraduate, postgraduate coursework or higher degree by research awards as tuition fee liable students

• domestic students admitted to non-award courses

• domestic students admitted as miscellaneous students

• domestic students admitted as cross-institutional students, who do not meet the eligibility requirements for a commonwealth supported place

• domestic students admitted to coursework awards as commonwealth supported students who elect to undertake specific subjects as a tuition fee liable student

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and approved by Finance Committe.

1. Fees

1.1 Domestic tuition fees are quoted and charged on a per credit point basis according to the subject area of the subjects in which the student is enrolled.

1.2 Applicants who have a conditional offer, or who request a change in their offer in any way, will be subject to the fees quoted in the final unconditional offer.

1.3 Students are required to pay the fees prescribed for the year in which they are studying, as indicated in their letter of offer.

1.4 Tuition fees for continuing students will not be increased by more than 15% from one year to the next.

1.5 Students are required, by the census date for each subject to:

• have paid their fee liability in full; or

• if eligible for FEE-HELP, have undertaken the appropriate steps, in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003, to defer payment of tuition fees through the Government’s FEE-HELPprogram.

Failure to do so will result in cancellation of the student’s enrolment in that subject.

Students who are eligible for FEE-HELP and have completed the appropriate steps, in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003, to defer payment of tuition fees through the Government’s FEE-HELP program, and who have not made a full up-front payment of their tuition fee by the census date, will incur a FEE-HELP debt if enrolled in a subject after the census date.

1.6 If a student is permitted to enrol in a subject after the relevant census date for that subject, the student will be liable for the fee for that subject plus a Late Subject Enrolment fee payable at the time of enrolment in that subject.

1.7 If a student withdraws from a subject after the relevant census date for that subject, the student will be liable for the fee for that subject.

2. Transfers and Deferments

2.1 Students who transfer from one course to another are liable to pay fees for the new course as prescribed for that year.

2.2 A student who defers their commencement of a course will be subject to the fees prescribed in the year of commencement.

2.3 A student who recommences a course following an unapproved absence will be subject to the fees prescribed in the year of recommencement.

3. Fee Refunds

3.1 A full refund of fees will be paid only when:

3.1.1 a student withdraws from a subject, subjects or the course prior to the applicable census date.

3.1.2 an offer of enrolment is withdrawn by the University (unless the offer was made on the basis of incorrect or incomplete information being supplied by the applicant).

3.2.1the University is unable to provide the course in which the student is enrolled.

3.2.2 the student is not permitted to enrol because the relevant requirements (usually course or subject pre-requisites, or the terms of a conditional offer) are not satisfied.

Refunds will not be paid after the applicable census date, other than in those special circumstances defined by the Higher Education Support Act 2003, as explained on the University’s Re-credit / Remission / Refund webpages.

3.2 All applications for a refund of fees must be submitted on the appropriate application form to the Director, Student and Academic Services and must be accompanied by supporting documentary evidence.

4. Tuition Fee Internal Sponsorships

Internal sponsorship of tuition fees will be granted only under circumstances as outlined in the Tuition Fee Internal Sponsorship Policy.

5. Penalties for Non-Payment, Reinstatement and Late Subject Enrolment

5.1 A student’s enrolment in a subject will be cancelled when the student has not, by the census date for the subject:

• paid their fee liability for the subject in full; or

• if eligible for FEE-HELP, undertaken the appropriate steps, in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003, to defer payment of tuition fees through the Government’s FEE-HELP program.

5.2 In order for an enrolment to be reinstated the student must pay the fees in full plus an Enrolment Reinstatement Fee within 21 days of the date of the issuing of the cancellation notice.

5.3 If a student is permitted to enrol in a subject after the census date for that subject, the student will be liable for the fee for that subject plus a Late Subject Enrolment Fee (which will be equivalent to the Enrolment Reinstatement Fee), payable at the time of enrolment in that subject.

6. Exceptional Circumstances

The University may consider special cases where this policy does not adequately encompass individual circumstances. Applications for special consideration must be received in writing and include supporting documentation, including a recommendation from the relevant Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Applications for special consideration are to be directed to the Director, Student and Academic Services or nominee in the first instance, with final decision made by the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor or nominee.

Approval Details

Modification History