Fees and charges
General information is available from http://studyassist.gov.au
Unit specific information is available at http://courses.utas.edu.au
Types of Places
Universities and institutions offering higher education courses may offer domestic students either a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or a Postgraduate Fee-paying place. CSPs may only be offered to:
- Australian citizens
- New Zealand citizens (resident in Australia during their studies)
- Australian permanent residency visa holders (resident in Australia during their studies)
- Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders (resident in Australia during their studies)
Students born outside Australia will be required to provide evidence of their citizenship or residency status at the time of application for admission.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)
While the Australian Government contributes substantially towards course costs for CSPs, students are also required to pay a student contribution. Each institution sets its own student contribution for each unit of study, and student contributions will vary between institutions and courses. These student contributions must be within a pre-determined range, set by the Australian Government. The student contribution for each unit of study is published on the Course and Unit website at http://www.utas.edu.au/units.
Fee-Paying Places (Postgraduate only)
Each institution sets its own tuition fee for each course and unit. The tuition fee you pay for your course is the sum of the tuition fees for each enrolled unit. The cost of each unit is published on the Course and Unit website at http://www.utas.edu.au/units. Tuition fees will not be less than the student contributions paid by Commonwealth supported students.
Student Learning Entitlements (SLE)
SLE was introduced on 1 January 2005. The intent of SLE was to limit a person's ability to study at a university as a Commonwealth supported student to the equivalent of seven years full-time study, subject to exceptions specified in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 which allowed for further periods of 'additional' SLE and 'lifelong' SLE to be allowed.
Parliament has since passed legislation that will abolish SLE from 1 January 2012. Continuing students need not be concerned by any limits formerly placed on them by the operation of the SLE. Students who have used up their allocation of SLE will now be able to re-enrol from 1 January 2012 to complete their studies as a Commonwealth supported student or to undertake further study in a Commonwealth supported place. Those students who used up their SLE and have paid tuition fees for a fee paying place and/or received a FEE-HELP loan are not able to receive a remittance of those tuition fees or a reduction in their FEE-HELP debt.
Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)
When a person applies for admission to a higher education provider, personal details will be provided electronically to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Applicants must give informed consent to their data being provided to, and stored by, the Commonwealth at the time of application by completing the declaration on the application form. DEEWR will allocate a CHESSN or return an existing CHESSN and the usage (or balance) of the person’s ordinary SLE to the University. DEEWR is responsible for allocating CHESSNs. This means that every student receiving Commonwealth higher education assistance through a CSP will be allocated a CHESSN. This number will stay with the student throughout their academic life, allowing confirmation of eligibility for Commonwealth support.
Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS)
The Australian Government has established a web-based information management system, HEIMS, to assist in the management of student and higher education providers.
Students can access a private portal for a summary of their personal details regarding Commonwealth assistance provided to you by visiting http://www.goingtouni.gov.au. Using your CHESSN and other personal identifying data, students have access to their liability under HELP debts (deferred student contribution or tuition fee loan) and their use of SLE and Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.
For further information visit http://www.heims.deewr.gov.au or Ph 1800 020 108.
Payment Options
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)
Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa who are resident in Australia during the course of their study in a CSP may:
- pay up front; or
- receive HECS-HELP by deferring payment of the full student contribution; or
- pay some of the student contribution up front and receive HECS-HELP for the remainder.
From 1 January 2012, if a student pays their whole student contribution or at least $500 they will receive a 10% discount (previously 20%) on the amount paid up front. Outstanding HECS-HELP debts are recorded with the Australian Taxation Office. There are no fees charged on administering HECS-HELP debts. Australian permanent residency visa holders (non-humanitarian) and New Zealand citizens must pay student contributions up-front and will not be eligible to receive a discount.
Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
If you have previously been or are currently studying with a Higher Education provider and you have queries about your study please contact DEEWR for further information. DEEWR can be contacted through the HELP enquiry line Ph 1800 020 108 or on the web at http://www.goingtouni.gov.au. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides information on repayment of HELP debts through:
Books and stationery can prove expensive, especially during the early part of the year. Essential textbooks are listed in the unit information provided at http://www.utas.edu.au/courses and you will be advised which ones to buy early in the course. You should budget for this expense and should typically allow for an expenditure of $600-$900 per year. You may also be required to pay specific course/unit related charges to cover costs of excursions and field-trips, laboratory costs, lecture notes etc. Note: Fine Art students are required to meet the cost of materials which will be at least $1000 per year. Nursing students are required to meet costs associated with uniforms, travel and accommodation for nursing practice in second and third year.
The Co-op Bookshop in Hobart can be contacted on Ph (03) 6226 2863 and in Launceston on Ph (03) 6324 3296.
Financial Assistance
UTAS Scholarships and Bursaries
The UTAS Scholarships program at the University of Tasmania is a multi-million dollar program that provides generous financial support for a large range of students, particularly those commencing an undergraduate course who need financial assistance to study. The program includes not just academic scholarships but numerous sponsored scholarships and around 200 access scholarships each year.
Full details of these scholarships, including information on the Commonwealth Indigenous Access Scholarships (see below), are available on the UTAS Scholarships website http://www.scholarships.utas.edu.au. It is recommended that every applicant considers whether they could be eligible for a scholarship or bursary.
Online applications for the UTAS Scholarships program open on 1 August and close on 31 October 2011 and are available on the Tasmania Scholarships website http://www.scholarships.utas.edu.au. Generally one application covers all awards available under the program. An early application – preferably during September – will assist us to make offers as soon as practicable. Offers will be made progressively from early December 2011.
Indigenous Access Scholarships
Indigenous Access Scholarships are also available to assist Indigenous students, particularly those from rural or remote areas of Australia, who are undertaking tertiary study. These are worth $4321 and may be held with an Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship and an Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship. Some Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships of up to 5 years duration are available for Indigenous students undertaking the University Preparation Program.
More details are available from the UTAS Scholarships website http://www.scholarships.utas.edu.au.
Centrelink
Details of assistance under Abstudy, Assistance for Isolated Children, Pensioner Education Supplement, Youth Allowance and Austudy Payment are available at http://www.centrelink.gov.au.
Accommodation Allowance for Tertiary Students (AATS)
From 1 July 2011 this scheme closed to new applicants. Existing
applicants approved prior to 1 July 2011 will still be eligible for the
allowance provided they continue the course they were enrolled in at
that date.
Accommodation
For accommodation information visit http://www.futurestudents.utas.edu.au/accommodation.
|
