Costs: HECS, Union fees, books and equipment, and where to find more information.
Assistance: Austudy and Abstudy.
Scholarships: Scholarships and awards for undergraduate students.
International: Please follow the link to the Office of International Affairs
Costs
The Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS)
Under the Federal Government's Higher Education Contribution Scheme all students are required to contribute towards the cost of their tertiary education. The amount varies depending on your study program - for new full-time students in 1998, costs ranged from $3,409 to $5,682 for the year. Part-time students pay a proportional amount based on the number of units studied. You can pay your HECS fee upfront or defer it to be paid as a tax levy when your earnings reach a certain level. A web page at the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs will help you calculate your HECS.
Union fees
Each student is required to pay a Union membership fee. This helps the Union provide services including entertainment, sports facilities, subsidised food outlets, welfare loans, accident insurance, legal aid, an employment service and taxation assistance.
In 1999 the fees for new full-time students were $275 at the Townsville campus and $255 in Cairns. Costs are lower for continuing and part-time students.
Books, laboratory fees and equipment
These costs vary according to different courses and subjects. The University Bookshops in Townsville and Cairns offer a student discount on textbooks.
For details of specific costs in your course, please contact the relevant faculty.
For more information
The University's booklet "Dollar Notes" contains detailed information on the cost of study. It is available: in Townsville from the Student Equity Officer
(tel: 0747 815 879; e-mail: Dominique.Thiriet@jcu.edu.au)
and in Cairns from Student Services
(tel: 07 40 421 150; e-mail: Brigitte.McKaskill@jcu.edu.au).
Financial Assistance
The Federal Government provides
financial assistance to students through Austudy, Abstudy (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and the Youth Allowance.
Eligibility for this assistance depends on factors such as your residential status, income and previous study.
More information is available from CentreLink
Austudy/Youth Allowance
tel: 132 316 fax: (Cairns) 07 4048 2899 fax: (Townsville) 07 4760 3999
Abstudy
tel: 132 317 fax: (Cairns) 07 4048 2899 fax: (Townsville) 07 4760 3999
Undergraduate Scholarships
The following general awards are available - for more information on these awards and others in specific disciplines
please contact:
Student Administration in Townsville (tel: 07 4781 4854; e-mail: EnquiriesTownsville@jcu.edu.au ) or in Cairns (tel: 07 4042 1 000; e-mail: EnquiriesCairns@jcu.edu.au ).
James Cook University Entry Scholarships
These scholarships are open to permanent residents of Australia who achieve a year 12 Overall Position of One (OP1) from a Queensland high school and who enrol in a bachelor degree course at JCU in the following year. The scholarships provide the equivalent of the upfront HECS payment for the year of the award.
