Background
In a CSP, the Australian Government subsidises the cost of a student's course. Student's pay the remainder, known as the student contribution amount.
Each year, the maximum student contribution amount a university can charge for a unit is set by the Australian Government based on its discipline area. Prior to 2021, these maximum amounts were usually increased each year by approximately 1-2% on average.
Changes
From 1 January 2021, there will be significant changes to the student contribution amount universities can charge students enrolled in a CSP for 2021. These changes include a reduction or increase in the student contribution amounts depending on the discipline area relevant to each unit.
Where the fee for a unit has decreased from 2020 to 2021, all students enrolled in a CSP will be charged the reduced student contribution amount.
Where the fee for a unit has increased from 2020 to 2021, the amount a student will be charged will be dependent on whether they are a 'continuing student' or 'new student' in 2021.
Continuing students commenced before 1 January 2021
Where a fee for a unit has significantly increased from 2020 to 2021, continuing CSP students will continue paying the same amount as they would have, had the Job-ready Graduates Package not been implemented. This is referred to as the 'grandfathered rates'.
For the purposes of how much a CSP student can be charged in 2021, a student is classified as continuing if they:
- Enrolled and passed the census date for at least one unit prior to 1 January 2021; and
- Are continuing in the same course from 2020 to 2021 in a CSP; or
- Are one of the following:
- undertook an Undergraduate Certificate leading to a higher education award and are commencing a bachelor's course that relates to the Undergraduate Certificate; or
- completed a course of study prior to 1 January 2021 and, are commencing an honours course relating to the previously completed course
2021 student contribution fees by discipline area for continuing students:
| Discipline Cluster1 | Student Contribution per year2 |
|---|---|
| Law, Accounting, Commerce, Administration, Economics | $11,352 ($1,419/unit) |
| Health, Information Technology, Creative Arts, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Computing, and Science | $7,944 ($993/unit) |
| Undergraduate Psychology, Humanities, Arts, Behavioural Sciences, Social Studies, Society and Culture, Visual & Performing Arts, Communications | $6,800 ($850/unit) |
| Education, Nursing, Languages, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, Mathematics, Agriculture | $3,944 ($493/unit) |
1 This table combines units in funding clusters with the same value.
2 A standard year is calculated on 8 units or a total of 80 cp. Not all units come from the same discipline cluster for every degree.
To view the specific unit cost/s for continuing CSP students in 2021, visit Units and costs for domestic students.
New students commenced on or after 1 January 2021
A student commencing a new course in 2021 is subject to the new 2021 rates which are referred to as the 'non-grandfathered rates'.
For the purposes of how much a CSP student can be charged in 2021, a student is classified as new if they:
- Do not meet the criteria as a continuing student; and
- Are commencing a new course on or after 1 January 2021 in a CSP
This includes, but is not limited to the following scenarios:
- ACU students transferring from one course in 2020 to another in 2021 as a CSP (including dual degree to single degree and single degree to dual degree);
- Students who were offered a CSP prior to 1 January 2021 but did not commence their course until on or after 1 January 2021;
- Students transferring from one institution to another in a CSP
2021 student contribution fees by discipline area for new students:
| Discipline Cluster1 | Student Contribution per year2 |
|---|---|
| Management and Commerce, Arts, Humanities (excluding languages), Law, Economics and Communications Undergraduate Psychology4 |
$14,496 ($1,812/unit) |
| Health, Information Technology, Creative Arts, Engineering, Environmental Studies and Science Undergraduate Psychology3 |
$7,944 ($993/unit) |
| Education, Nursing, Languages, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, Mathematics, Agriculture | $3,944 ($493/unit) |
1 This table combines units in funding clusters with the same value.
2 A standard year is calculated on 8 units or a total of 80 cp. Not all units come from the same discipline cluster for every degree.
3 Applies to new students in 2021 enrolled in one of the following undergraduate psychology courses: Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Commerce; Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science; Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Laws; Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours); Bachelor of Psychology (Honours); or Bachelor of Psychological Science
4 Applies to new students in 2021 who are not enrolled in one of the undergraduate psychology courses listed in note 3
To view the specific unit cost/s for continuing CSP students in 2021, visit Units and costs for domestic students.