Commonwealth supported fees and payment options
If you are an undergraduate student enrolled in a degree or course of study (not single subjects), you are most likely eligible to be Commonwealth supported.
To check what type of student you are, log into eStudent, click on the My Offers tab, then View next to your course. Your student type will be next to the Liability Category.
What does 'Commonwealth supported' mean?
The Australian government will pay part of your subject fees directly to JCU and the remaining amount is paid by you - these amounts are known as student contribution amounts.
Australian citizens – you must undertake, in Australia, at least one unit of study contributing to your course of study.
Permanent visa holders (including Humanitarian) and New Zealand citizens – you must reside in Australia for the duration of your studies to be eligible for Commonwealth support.
Subject fee amounts (student contributions) for Higher education relief package short courses only
In line with the Australian Federal Government's COVID-19 recovery package, JCU is now offering a number of subsidised online courses.
Your subject fee amounts (student contributions) are based on what field of education each of your subjects sits in and the credit point value of the subject.
The student contribution for a 3CP subject, under the Teaching, Nursing, Psychology, English, Mathematics, Languages or Agriculture fields of education, is $312.50.
The student contribution for a 3CP subject, under the Allied Health, Other Health, Information Technology, Architecture and Building, Science, Engineering, Medical Science and Environmental studies fields of education, is $625.00.
$312.50 and $625.00 are the subject fees. You are also required to pay the Student Services and Amenities fee of $46.20 for each 3CP subject.
Please see the JCU Short course page for more information on course available under the Higher education relief package.
Subject fee amounts (student contributions)
Your subject fee amounts (student contributions) are based on what band/subject discipline each of your subjects sits in and the credit point value of the subject.
For example, if you study a law subject (Band 3) within an Arts degree you would pay the Band 3 fee for that subject even though most of your Arts degree subjects are listed under Band 1.
See the subject fee amounts below to view your fees by year (24 credit points) and subject (3 credit points). Three credit points is the most common subject value, however you can view the credit point value and student contribution band details for individual subjects on Subject Search.
2020 student contributions
Student Contribution Band | Subject disciplines/Field of Education | Students who commenced | Per subject (3cps) | Maximum amount per year (24cps) |
3 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | All students | $1,394 | $11,155 |
2 | Mathematics, Statistics, Computing, Built Environment, Other Health, Allied Health, Science, Engineering, Surveying, Agriculture | All students | $1,190 | $9,527 |
1 | Humanities, Behavioural Science1, Clinical Psychology2, Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts | All students | $835 | $6,684 |
1 | Education, Nursing3 | On or after 1 January 2010 | $835 | $6,684 |
1 | Education, Nursing3 | Prior to 1 January 2010 | $668 | $5,348 |
1. Excluding clinical psychology, which is in cluster 5, but still in Band 1.
2. Clinical psychology units of study are postgraduate coursework psychology units of study (Field of Education code 090701) that contribute to courses that are accredited for the purposes of professional registration by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Clinical Psychologists, the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, the APS College of Counselling Psychologists, the APS College of Educational & Developmental Psychologists, the APS College of Forensic Psychologists, the APS College of Health Psychologists, the APS College of Sport Psychologists and the APS College of Community Psychologists. Other units of study in psychology are in cluster 3.
3. For students who commenced their course of study before 1 January 2010, the maximum annual student contribution amount that may be charged for Education and Nursing units is $5,348.
Students who started their course of study on or after 1 January 2010 are subject to the maximum student contribution amount specified in the above table.
Please note: The outcome of your transitional arrangements assessment may result in an increase or decrease in your student contribution amounts.
*Other conditions do apply
2019 student contributions
Band | Subject disciplines/Field of education | Students who commenced | Per subject (3cps) | Maximum amount per year (24cps) |
3 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | All students | $1,369 | $10,958 |
2 | Mathematics, Statistics, Computing, Built Environment, Other Health, Allied Health, Science, Engineering, Surveying, Agriculture | All students | $1,169 | $9,359 |
1 | Humanities, Behavioural Science1, Clinical Psychology2, Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts | All students | $820 | $6,566 |
1 | Education, Nursing3 | On or after 1 January 2010 | $820 | $6,566 |
Transitional Arrangement | Education, Nursing3 | Prior to 1 January 2010 | $656 | $5,254 |
1. Excluding clinical psychology, which is in cluster 5, but still in Band 1.
2. Clinical psychology units of study are postgraduate coursework psychology units of study (Field of Education code 090701) that contribute to courses that are accredited for the purposes of professional registration by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Clinical Psychologists, the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, the APS College of Counselling Psychologists, the APS College of Educational & Developmental Psychologists, the APS College of Forensic Psychologists, the APS College of Health Psychologists, the APS College of Sport Psychologists and the APS College of Community Psychologists. Other units of study in psychology are in cluster 3.
3. For students who commenced their course of study before 1 January 2010, the maximum annual student contribution amount that may be charged for Education and Nursing units is $5,254.
Students who started their course of study on or after 1 January 2010 are subject to the maximum student contribution amount specified in the above table.
Please note: The outcome of your transitional arrangements assessment may result in an increase or decrease in your student contribution amounts.
*Other conditions do apply
2018 student contributions
Band | Subject disciplines/Field of education | Students who commenced | Per subject (3cps) | Maximum amount per year (24cps) |
3 | Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | All students | $1,344 | $10,754 |
2 | Mathematics, Statistics, Computing, Built Environment, Other Health, Allied Health, Science, Engineering, Surveying, Agriculture | All students | $1,148 | $9,185 |
1 | Humanities, Behavioural Science, Clinical Psychology, Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts | All students | $805 | $6,444 |
1 | Education*, Nursing* | On or after 1 January 2010 | $805 | $6,444 |
Transitional Arrangement | Education*, Nursing* | Prior to 1 January 2010 | $644 | $5,157 |
*See Nursing and Education subjects, below.
Nursing and education subjects
If you commenced a Commonwealth supported course before 1 January 2010, and are undertaking Nursing or Education subjects, you may be eligible for Pre-2010 fees.
To find out, email the following details to ecteam@jcu.edu.au:
- Your name and student ID
- Course title
- Year commenced
- Last active year of study
- If you completed the course, and
- The name of the university.
The outcome of your transitional arrangements assessment may result in an increase or decrease in your student contribution amounts. Other conditions also apply.
For further information, see the Australian Government's Information for Commonwealth supported students booklet.
Payment options
Student contribution amounts must be paid upfront, or by deferral by arrangement (if eligible) by the payment due date for each study period.
Defer payment of your student contributions
If you are:
- An Australian citizen, or
- A permanent humanitarian visa holder, or
- A New Zealand citizen who meets certain criteria,
and you meet the residency requirements, you may be eligible to defer payment of your student contributions via HECS-HELP. See defer your fees.
New Zealand citizens (who do not meet certain criteria) and permanent residents are not eligible to defer payment.
Pay your student contributions
New Zealand citizens (who do not meet certain criteria) and permanent residents must pay your subject fees in full by the payment due date. See pay your fees.
Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSA Fee)
You are also required to pay or defer payment of the SSA Fee by the payment due date for each study period.
If you are:
- An Australian citizen, or
- A permanent humanitarian visa holder, or
- A New Zealand citizen who meets certain criteria,
and you meet residency requirements, you may be eligible to defer payment of your SSA Fee (either in full or by part-payment) by submitting an SA-HELP form. This form must be submitted by the payment due date for the course you are currently enrolled.
New Zealand citizens (who do not meet certain criteria) and permanent residents must pay the SSA Fee up-front.
Exceptions
Commonwealth support does not apply if:
You are studying single subjects and not admitted to a full course (miscellaneous students), or
You began your Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Dentistry or Veterinary Science course as an international student and your residency has changed, or
You have chosen not to be Commonwealth supported by the census date and you have requested in writing by email to Student Finance to pay domestic tuition fees for a subject(s) within 21 days after this date.
Refer to the Domestic undergraduate fees for more information.
International students changing residency
If you commenced your course as an international student but your residency status has since changed to domestic, depending on what you are studying, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place. For more information see fee information for international students.
Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)
Commonwealth supported students can access their CAN for each study period within 28 days of the census date via eStudent. This notice details your Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN), any fee payments you have made and your HELP debt balance for that study period. For more information, see Commonwealth Assistance Notices.