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.
• A range of SSAF funded projects, essential services and student-based activities have been transferred online, and continue to be available to students while studying remotely. To ensure these projects are supported for the remainder of 2020, the SSAF Fee for Spring Session and Trimester 3 2020 will be charged as per normal.

Financial hardship options:

• UOW established the COVID-19 Financial Assistance Grant Scheme to provide students access to emergency funding to help ease the financial burden and support living expenses during their studies. Refer to the financial grant page for more information and how to apply.
  UOW will temporarily pause the Financial Assistance Grant scheme. If during the time the scheme is paused any students find themselves in significant hardship, they should contact Student Service on +61 2 4221 3927 or askuow@uow.edu.au (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm), who will be able to provide advice on the support available.
• The Australian Government has introduced additional financial support for domestic students already in receipt of Centrelink payments such as Austudy or Abstudy. These include an economic support one-off payment ($750), additional coronavirus supplement payment ($550 per fortnight for up to 6 months), crisis payment and advancement payments. The most up to date information about these is available on the  Services Australia website.
  
  There is also an FAQ outlining some of these government support initiatives on the UOW coronavirus response website, under the ‘financial support for students’ section.
• UOW also has a range of scholarships for future and current students – you can find more information about them here.
  
  There will be further scholarships announced for domestic students for 2020 Spring session. Please keep an eye on SOLS for more information.
• UOW Equity Scholarships are also available to students who meet eligibility criteria. Applications are submitted through UAC.

Information for domestic full-fee paying students

Fees update:

• A 10% full fee paying remote bursary for domestic postgraduate coursework students has been announced. This bursary provides a 10% reduction in tuition fees for full fee paying postgraduate coursework students who will be studying remotely in Trimester 2, Spring and Trimester 3 this year. Eligible students with existing scholarships/bursaries will still be eligible to receive this bursary.
  
  This bursary will be automatically applied to eligible new and commencing students (no action from students will be required) and will appear in their fees statement in SOLS after the commencement of the relevant session. More information about this will be provided to students closer to that time.
• A range of SSAF funded projects, essential services and student-based activities have been transferred online, and continue to be available to students while studying remotely. To ensure these projects are supported for the remainder of 2020, the SSAF Fee for Spring Session and Trimester 3 2020 will be charged as per normal.
• Eligible students can receive an Australian Government FEE-HELP loan to pay all or part of their tuition fees.
• 2021 tuition fees will be 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. UOW has expanded instalment plan eligibility to allow more students to apply. An instalment plan allows students to pay 50% of tuition fees by census and then 50% at a later date. UOW has pushed back the due date of the second instalment date to allow greater flexibility for students, and has temporarily waived administration fees associated with instalment plans. You can find out more about tuition fee instalment plans here.
• UOW established the COVID-19 Financial Assistance Grant Scheme to provide students access to emergency funding to help ease the financial burden and support living expenses during their studies. Refer to the financial grant page for more information and how to apply.
• The Australian Government has introduced additional financial support for domestic students already in receipt of Centrelink payments such as Austudy or Abstudy. These include an economic support one-of payment ($750), additional coronavirus supplement payment ($550 per fortnight for up to 6 months), crisis payment and advancement payments. The most up to date information about these is available on the Services Australia website.
  
  There is also an FAQ outlining some of these government support initiatives on the UOW coronavirus response website, under the ‘financial support for students’ section.
• Postgraduate Coursework Scholarships may also be available. More information on what is currently available.

Information for international students

Fees update

• A 10% full fee paying remote bursary for international undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students has been announced. This bursary provides a 10% reduction in tuition fees for full fee paying international undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students who will be studying remotely in Trimester 2, Spring and Trimester 3 this year. Eligible students with existing scholarships/bursaries will also be eligible to receive this bursary.

  This bursary will be automatically applied to eligible new and commencing students (no action from students will be required) and will appear in their fees statement in SOLS after the commencement of the relevant session. More information about this will be provided to students closer to that time.

• A range of SSAF funded projects, essential services and student-based activities have been transferred online, and continue to be available to students while studying remotely. To ensure these projects are supported for the remainder of 2020, the SSAF Fee for Spring Session and Trimester 3 2020 will be charged as per normal.
• Where an applicant requests a deferral of course offer due to COVID-19 /remote delivery the original offer fee will be honoured for sessions in the commencing calendar year (after which variable fees will apply where appropriate).
• 2021 tuition fees will be 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

Financial hardship options:

• UOW established the COVID-19 Financial Assistance Grant Scheme to provide students access to emergency funding to help ease the financial burden and support living expenses during their studies. Refer to the financial grant page for more information and how to apply.
• Students who are experiencing difficulty in paying their tuition fees by census date can apply for a tuition fee instalment plan. UOW has expanded instalment plan eligibility to allow more students to apply. An instalment plan allows students to pay 50% of tuition fees by census and then 50% at a later date. UOW has pushed back the due date of the second instalment date to allow greater flexibility for students, and has temporarily waived administration fees associated with instalment plans. 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 recently announced a $20 million support package to fund temporary crisis accommodation for international students in NSW during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The support package provides international students in genuine hardship, who meet the eligibility criteria, with temporary accommodation at an approved accommodation provider, funded by the NSW Government. Visit the crisis accommodation support package website for more information about eligibility and how to apply.