Fees for Local Higher Education Students

Fees for courses are published on each applicable course page.

Tuition fees for individual units of study are available on the Schedule of Higher Education tuition fees.

Tuition fees are correct at time of publication and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.

Students may pay tuition fees for each enrolment period within an academic year in one upfront payment. Alternatively, if eligible students may apply for a Commonwealth Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) to cover all or part of the tuition fees.

To be eligible for a HELP loan, students must meet the citizenship and residency requirements as follows:

• an Australian citizen; or
• the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa or eligible former permanent humanitarian visa who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of study; or
• the holder of a permanent visa who is undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals and will be a resident in Australia for the duration of study; or
• the holder of a New Zealand Special Category Visa (NZ SCV)
  
  • who meets ALL of the long-term residency requirements; and
  • resides in Australia for the duration of the units of study; or
• the holder of a Pacific Engagement Visa who will be resident in Australia for the duration of study

Students must also:

• meet the Tax File Number requirements;
• obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI) by the census date;
• have enough available HELP balance;
• be assessed as a genuine student and as academically suitable for the course of study;
• maintain a reasonable study load of no more than 2 EFTSL per year unless approved by Melbourne Polytechnic;
• read the Australian Government’s HELP Information booklet; and
• submit an electronic Commonwealth Assistances Form (eCAF) by the census date or earlier.

Further information on HELP loans can be found on the Study Assist website.

Census Date

The census date is set at 20% of the duration of the unit of study, and can be found on the Higher Education calendar page.

It is important that you check the census date for each unit of study.

The census date is the last day you can submit your electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) to access a Commonwealth supported place or a HELP loan.

It is also the last day that you can withdraw your enrolment without incurring a FEE-HELP debt, or request a refund for upfront payments.

How to withdraw from your course or individual units of study

To avoid incurring a FEE-HELP debt it is important to withdraw on or before the census date. Should you wish to withdraw from the course or part of the course you must meet with the Head of Program or Course Administrator to officially request to be withdrawn and complete and sign a Withdrawal Form and an Application for a Refund Form. In order for your FEE-HELP debt to be cancelled, the withdrawal process must be completed prior to or on the census date.

Re-enrolling after course or unit of study withdrawal

Students who have previously withdrawn from a course or part of a course, will be required to authorise their re-enrolment in writing. This authority will be granted via the Addition to Enrolment Form at the time of re-enrolment.

Applying for re-credit of FEE-HELP debt under Higher Education Support Act (2003) Special Circumstances

You may only apply for a re-credit of a FEE-HELP debt under Special Circumstances if you withdraw from your unit of study after the census date and you have not completed the unit of study requirements. You cannot apply for a re-credit for a unit of study that you have successfully completed. Applications must be submitted within 12 months from the date of the notice of withdrawal.

Under Special Circumstances an application for re-credit of a FEE-HELP debt is considered on the basis that:

• Circumstances were beyond your control; and
• Did not make their full impact until on, or after, the census date; and
• Made it impracticable for you to complete the requirements for the subject in the period during which you undertook, or was to undertake, the unit of study.

Refer to instructions How to Apply for Re-credit of FEE Help Debt Under Special Circumstances

For more details please refer to the Study Assist website.