The Australian Government’s Job-ready Graduates Package changes funding arrangements in higher education. This includes:
- Updated student contribution amounts for new students who enrol with a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) from 1 January 2021. You can learn more about these changes at StudyAssist.
- New completion rate requirements for students who receive Commonwealth assistance. These changes mean that you are less likely to incur a debt for a course that you’re not suited to.
Who does this affect?
The new completion rate requirements will apply if you:
- started or transferred to a course on or after 1 January 2022 and
- are enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and/or defer part or all of your student contribution to HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.
This requirement does not apply to fee-paying international students.
What’s new?
There are now limits on the number of subjects you can fail. Under the new completion rate requirements, if you receive Commonwealth assistance (studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place or getting HELP loans for your study) you must successfully complete at more than half (50%) of the subjects of study you attempt.
Students who do not successfully complete more than 50% of their subjects after completing eight or more subjects in a bachelors or higher, or four or more subjects in a sub-bachelors (e.g. a diploma through UOW College) risk losing their Commonwealth assistance. For more information, see What is a low completion rate.
Losing Commonwealth assistance does not mean you can’t continue your studies, however it will mean that you are no longer be eligible for a Commonwealth Support Place (CSP) or to access HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP and you will be required to pay full fees upfront. For more information, see What can I do if you reach the ‘low completion rate’ threshold.
For more information on the Job-Ready Graduates Package, see the Department of Education, Skills and Employment FAQs.