www.bridgetostudy.com.au
Finances and Uni
Students support themselves financially at university in a
number of ways:
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Centrelink benefits
Scholarships, bursaries and grants
Part-time work
HECS-Help
University services which are free, or discounted
Parental support where possible
Income support for students
There are a range of student income support payments
provided by the Government to help students manage study
costs. You may already be receiving one of these payments or
may be applying for the first time. Common allowances for
students include Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY.
Additional payments such as Education Entry Payments or
other support payments may be available. If you are receiving
a qualifying pension or payment and you are studying at
university you may be eligible for Pensioner Education
Supplements.
All Government student income support payments depend on
your age, personal circumstances and eligibility. You should
talk to the Department of Human Services about which
allowance is appropriate to you or visit
www.humanservices.gov.au or www.studyassist.gov.au
Government Scholarships
Student Start-up Grant
From 1 July 2015, new recipients of student payments (Youth
Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY) can receive a Start-up grant
of $1,025 for each six months of eligible full time study. For
more information www.humanservices.gov.au or
www.studyassist.gov.au
Relocation Scholarship
This scholarship is for eligible regional students on Youth
Allowance and ABSTUDY enrolled (full-time) in an approved
course who have to move to or from a rural location to attend
uni.
In 2015 students receive $4269 in their first year of study and
$2135 in years 2 and 3, and $1067 in year 4 depending on the
location of their family home, and course location. For more
information visit
www.humanservices.gov.au or www.studyassist.gov.au
Scholarships
Scholarships, bursaries and prizes come in all types:
 Merit-based scholarships i.e. based on academic
achievement such as OP score or university GPA (Grade
Point Average)
 Equity scholarships are provided by universities based on
financial need. Apply for the Educational Access Scheme
(EAS) when completing your QTAC online application and
check each university website for Equity Scholarships
Schemes and additional benefits.
 Scholarships with other criteria e.g. sporting, community
service, rurality, Indigenous background, gender or area of
study
 Scholarships with additional benefits e.g. internships,
work experience, OS exchange
 Scholarships from community organisations
Make sure you apply for everything. Find out about closing
dates, eligibility and what forms/documents you need to
complete. Tax is usually exempt from scholarship income.
Part-time work
Most students have a part-time job while they are studying.
Students have flexible timetables and this allows for work in a
range of industries. The trick is to balance work (up to
15hrs/wk) and study (40 to 48hrs/wk) so you don’t overload
yourself. And remember your study needs to take priority.
Where to find jobs
Most universities have their own careers services that can help
you realise your career aspirations with careers advice and
counselling. They can also help you to prepare for job-seeking
while at uni and once you graduate. Your university careers
services will have people and resources to assist with writing
resumes and preparing job applications and preparing for
interviews. Careers Services will also connect you to careers
fairs, graduate careers programs, internships, work
experience, career mentoring and access to industry partners.
Most universities also have some on-campus jobs for students
so check out what is available at your university.
Local newspapers and job websites advertise vacancies and
most organisations have their own recruitment staff and job
vacancy pages.
Tips for managing part-time work
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Find a balance - don’t skip classes or over-commit to work
Develop time management skills
Consider jobs close to home or on-campus
Consider adjusting study load around exam time or clinical
practice blocks
Know your rights in the workplace. Visit Fair Work
Australia at www.fwa.gov.au
Correct at February 2015
www.bridgetostudy.com.au
HECS-HELP
Course costs
Many students choose not to pay their contribution to tuition
fees up front and defer payments with a government HECSHELP loan. The tuition costs are divided by areas of study
(bands) in the table below.
Apart from textbooks, some courses may have additional costs
such as uniforms, safety equipment, vaccinations, safety
certificates, specialised equipment, field trips and so on. These
additional costs are not covered by your tuition fees. Check
with your university about any of these additional costs.
2015 Student Contribution Bands for
Commonwealth supported places (CSP)
Who else can help?
Band
Areas of study
cost (pa)
Band 3
Law, accounting, administration, economics,
commerce, dentistry, medicine, veterinary
science
Mathematics*, statistics*, computing, built
environment, other health, allied health,
science*, engineering, surveying, agriculture
Humanities, behavioural science, social studies,
education*, clinical psychology, foreign
languages, visual and performing arts, nursing*
$10,266
Band 2
Band 1
$8768
$6152
* Bands are indicative only and subject to change via legislation. Visit www.studyassist.gov.au for more detail.
Actual contribution may vary depending on units studied, and band for each unit.
Loans are repaid through the tax system when students begin
work. Students pay a percentage per week through tax
depending on their earnings (see the table below). In 2013, the
median annual starting salary for bachelor degree graduates
under 25 years was $52,450 (www.graduatecareers.com.au).
Repayment thresholds (2014-2015)
Below $53,345 Nil
$53,345 - $59,421
$59,422 - $65,497
$65,498 - $68,939
$68,940 - $74,105
$74,106 - $80,257
$80,258 - $84,481
$84,482 - $92,970
$92,971 - $99,069
$99,070 and above
Repayment % rates
Nil
4.0%
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
6.0%
6.5%
7.0%
7.5%
8.0%
If you can afford to pay your contribution in full at the
beginning of each teaching period you may receive a small
(5%) discount. You can make voluntary payments which may
also attract a discount when repaying your HECS loan. Find out
more about HECS-HELP visit www.studyassist.gov.au
What other costs are there?
Student Services and Amenities Fee
This fee supports non-academic student services such as:
 health and welfare services
 employment and career advice including practical work
experience while studying
 developing study skills outside academic courses
 orientation information and enriching campus life
 more accessible and flexible support services
You can defer this payment via SA-HELP. Find out more at
www.student.qut.edu.au/fees-and-finances/study-costs/
Most universities have a wide range of services to support
students once enrolled. This may include:
 Special admissions schemes via QTAC for low-income,
Indigenous, regional, Yr 12s and high achievers (see page
35 of the 2015 QTAC guide – www.qtac.edu.au).
 QTAC’s EAS (Educational Access Scheme) for applicants
who have experienced difficult circumstances.
 Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
including entry programs, tutoring, cultural support and
scholarships
 Disability services for people with a disability, health
condition or injury that may impact their study
 Counselling and health services
 Language and learning support for people from nonEnglish speaking backgrounds
 Scholarships
 Orientation programs
 Academic support such as peer mentoring, academic skills
development and computer support
 Careers and employment services
 Accommodation services
 Medical clinics
 Student guild or student union services
Still have unanswered questions?
Choosing a degree and a university is a very personal decision.
Here are some tips to help you make that decision:
 Do your research! Contact your preferred university for an
Undergraduate Guide and Faculty Guide or go on-line
 Do your sums! What is uni going to cost you? This sheet
has some good links to the relevant Government websites
 Ask questions. Go to an open day – most unis hold them
between June and September. Talk to the staff and
students at these open days about your course
preferences
 Get some opinions. But remember they are just opinions!
 Find out about employment/career prospects in your
fields of study by attending careers fairs, talking to
employers and looking on-line at:
www.myfuture.edu.au
www.graduatecareers.com.au
www.jobguide.deewr.gov.au
Correct at February 2015