Glossary of terms

Additional Student Learning Entitlement (SLE)

see the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) page.

Census date

the date on which a student's enrolment is taken to be finalised. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP debts are incurred and Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) is consumed on census dates. Students must make their upfront payments and submit the appropriate HELP form by the census date.

Commonwealth assisted student

a student who is a Commonwealth supported student or who is in receipt of a Higher Education Help Program (HELP) loan or a Commonwealth Learning Scholarship (CLS).

Commonwealth contributions

contributions that the Commonwealth makes towards the cost of a student's education through the Commonwealth Grant Scheme.

Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)

a unique identifier for each student that accesses Commonwealth assistance for higher education.

Commonwealth supported place

a higher education place for which the Commonwealth makes a contribution direct to the University towards the cost of the student's education

Commonwealth supported student

a student who occupies a Commonwealth supported place

Domestic student

a student who is an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident

Equivalent full-time student l oad (EFTSL)

one EFTSL is a measure of the standard annual study load of a student undertaking a course on a full-time basis

FEE-HELP

a loan scheme to help eligible fee paying (ie. non-Commonwealth supported) students to pay their tuition fees

FEE-HELP limit

the lifetime maximum amount of FEE-HELP ($50,000, indexed to $50,950 for 2006) that a student can receive for tuition fees

Fee paying place

a place that is occupied by a fee paying student

Fee paying student

a student who pays tuition fees. Fee paying students are also known as ‘non-Commonwealth supported students'

HECS-HELP

a scheme that includes up front payment discounts and loans to help eligible Commonwealth supported students pay their student contribution amounts.

Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS)

an electronic information system that will provide students and higher education providers with a range of relevant information, such as the availability and usage of Commonwealth assistance by students and information on program management reporting

Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)

a loan program to help eligible students pay student contributions (HECS-HELP), tuition fees (FEE-HELP) and overseas study expenses (OS-HELP)

Holder of a humanitarian visa

a permanent resident who holds a visa of a humanitarian sub-class as determined by the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

International student

any student who is not a domestic student

Loan Fee

a fee that applies to all OS-HELP and undergraduate FEE-HELP loans.

National Priority areas

areas for which the Commonwealth offers additional assistance, either through offering additional places, increasing Commonwealth contributions or reducing the maximum student contribution amounts. Currently, education and nursing are the National Priority areas.

National Priority places:

Commonwealth supported places in National Priority areas

Ordinary Student Learning Entitlement (SLE)

see the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) page

OS-HELP

a cash loan available to eligible students who undertake some of their course overseas

OS-HELP maximum

the maximum loan amount ($5,000 indexed to $5,095 for 2006, and $5,196 for 2007) that a student can receive in respect of a given six-month period.

Permanent resident

a person who holds either a permanent humanitarian visa or a permanent non-humanitarian visa

Pre-2005 HECS student

a continuing student who commenced their course prior to 2005 as a HECS-liable student and who may be able to access HECS-HELP under pre-2005 HECS eligibility requirements. The maximum student contribution amount for a place for pre-2005 HECS students must not be higher than those for students commencing in 2005

Pre-2005 PELS student

a continuing postgraduate student who received a PELS debt prior to 2005 and who may access FEE-HELP under PELS eligibility requirements

Pre-2005 student:

a student who commenced their course prior to 2005 and who may be eligible to access student support programs determined under the Higher Education Funding Act 1988.

Student contribution band

one of four bands of disciplinary areas into which given subjects will fall. Student contribution bands are used to determine the maximum student contribution amounts, for both new and current students

Student Learning Entitlement (SLE)

an entitlement that gives eligible students access to Commonwealth supported places. See the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) page

Study abroad program

study at an overseas higher education institution by a domestic student enrolled with an Australian higher education provider, for which the student gains credit towards the Australian course. Such a student is not covered by an agreement between institutions and will typically pay fees set by the overseas institution while studying overseas

Study Period

The period of time during which a subject is undertaken, including any assessment or exam periods. Each subject is allocated to a Study Period

Teaching Period

One half of an academic year. Teaching Period 1 is the first six months of the year and Teaching Period 2 is the second six months of the year. Subjects with a census date prior to 1 July fall within Teaching Period 1 and subjects with a census date on or after 1 July fall within Teaching Period 2.

Tuition fees

Fees paid by domestic undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students and miscellaneous students.