Student financial assistance & fees updates

Domestic commonwealth supported students

Fees update:

• Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) means that the Australian Government subsidises your tuition fees by up to 75%. All domestic undergraduate students holding Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or holders of an Australian permanent visa (including Humanitarian) living in Australia, are eligible for a CSP. Some domestic postgraduate students may also be eligible for a CSP.
  
  
• Students are required to pay the remainder of the fee not covered by the Commonwealth – this is known as the student contribution. Student contribution fees appear on UOW fee statements through SOLS. More information about this can be found here. More information about this can be found here.
  
  Eligible CSP students can elect to defer all or part of their student contribution fees to an Australian Government HELP loan. More information on HELP and eligibility.
  
  

  In 2021, if you make an upfront payment of $500 or more on your HECS-HELP loan you will receive a 10% discount. The HECS HELP up-front payment discount will apply for up-front payments of $500 or more for units of study with a census date on or after 1 January 2021. You can find out more about this on the Study Assist website.

• Our SSAF funded projects, essential services and programs play a critical role in supporting our students and enriching their university experience. Most of these essential services continue to be available for students whether studying remotely or on campus. To ensure these essential services continue to be available for students in 2021, the SSAF Fee for Trimester 1 and Autumn Session 2021 will be charged as per normal. To learn more about how SSAF relates to you, visit the SSAF website.

Financial hardship options:

• The Australian Government has introduced COVID-19 specific financial support for domestic students already in receipt of Centrelink payments such as Austudy or Abstudy. For the most up-to-date information about these financial support measures, visit the Services Australia website.
  
  
• The Australian Government has announced a Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment Scheme, to support people living in New South Wales who can't earn an income because they must self-isolate, quarantine, or care for someone who has COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information about this scheme, including eligibility criteria and to apply, visit the Services Australia website. If you have questions about this scheme, please contact Services Australia directly on 180 22 66.
  
  
• UOW has a range of scholarships for future and current students – you can find more information about them on our Scholarships page.

Information for domestic full-fee paying students

Fees update:

• In 2021, if you make an upfront payment of $500 or more on your student contribution you will receive a 10% discount on the amount you have paid. The discount will apply for up-front payments of $500 or more for units of study with a census date on or after 1 January 2021. You can find out more about this on the Study Assist website.
  
  
• Our SSAF funded projects, essential services and programs play a critical role in supporting our students and enriching their university experience. Most of these essential services continue to be available for students whether studying remotely or on campus. To ensure these essential services continue to be available for students in 2021, the SSAF Fee for Trimester 1 and Autumn Session 2021 will be charged as per normal. To learn more about how SSAF relates to you, visit the SSAF website.
  
  
• Eligible students can receive an Australian Government FEE-HELP loan to pay all or part of their tuition fees.
  
  
• 2021 tuition fees for domestic full-fee paying students have been held at 2020 rates.

Financial hardship options:

• Students who are not eligible for a FEE-HELP loan and are experiencing difficulty in paying their tuition fees by census date can apply for a tuition instalment plan. You can find out more about tuition fee instalment plans here.
  
  
• The Australian Government has introduced COVID-19 specific financial support for domestic students already in receipt of Centrelink payments such as Austudy or Abstudy. For the most up-to-date information about these financial support measures, visit the Services Australia website.
  
  
• The Australian Government has announced a Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment Scheme, to support people living in New South Wales who can't earn an income because they must self-isolate, quarantine, or care for someone who has COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information about this scheme, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Services Australia website. If you have questions about this scheme, please contact Services Australia directly on 180 22 66.
  
  
• Postgraduate Coursework Scholarships may also be available. More information on what is currently available.

Information for international students

• Our SSAF funded projects, essential services and programs play a critical role in supporting our students and enriching their university experience. Most of these essential services continue to be available for students whether studying remotely or on campus. To ensure these essential services continue to be available for students in 2021, the SSAF Fee for Trimester 1 and Autumn Session 2021 will be charged as per normal. To learn more about how SSAF relates to you, visit the SSAF website.
• 2021 tuition fees for international students have been held at 2020 rates.
• Future students may be eligible for a reduced deposit to receive their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). Contact UOW’s Compliance Team to find out more: futurestudents@uow.edu.au

Visas and commencing study

We understand that international students are experiencing delays in the processing of visa applications and that current restrictions preclude students from being able to travel to Australia to commence their studies.

To ensure students continue to be able to commence and/or progress in their course:

• Students should continue to apply for the relevant visa, in preparation for when travel restrictions are eased and students are able to again travel to Australia to study
• Students should continue to enrol in their course and commence/continue their studies online. International students will still need to obtain a visa outcome as soon as possible, and advise us of that notification once received
• Students must have a visa in order to travel to Australia, to study
• UOW will provide a tuition fee refund where the student, through no fault of their own, receives a visa refusal after they have commenced their course online. This refund is limited to students commencing in Session 1, or Trimester 1 2021 and will be capped at a full first session study load (maximum 24 credit points for semester students, and 18 credit points for Trimester students). 

Financial hardship options

• Students who are experiencing difficulty in paying their tuition fees by census date can apply for a tuition fee instalment plan. You can find out more about tuition fee instalment plans here.
• Students experiencing difficulty in paying tuition fees by census date can also contact the UOW Fees team to discuss their options: student-fees@uow.edu.au
• The NSW Government’s support package to fund temporary crisis accommodation for international students in NSW during the current COVID-19 pandemic was closed on 12 February 2021. No further applications will be processed by ServiceNSW.
  
  
• The Australian Government has announced a Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment Scheme, to support people onshore in Australia living in New South Wales who can't earn an income because they must self-isolate, quarantine, or care for someone who has COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information about this scheme, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Services Australia website.