About SSAF

All students enrolled at an Australian campus or online are charged the SSAF (with some exemptions). The rate of SSAF charged depends on your campus of enrolment, delivery mode, and your study load (full-time or part-time). 

In recognition of their inability to access UOW services and amenities, certain students are exempt from paying the SSAF. These include:

• students on full-time work experience placements;
• students on outbound study abroad placements;
• inbound exchange students enrolled in course code 904; and
• inbound visiting research students enrolled in course code 907; and
• students enrolled at overseas campuses or UOW offshore education partners.

The Department of Education sets a maximum fee, annually, that Universities can charge students to contribute to services and amenities.

Services, amenities, and programs funded by SSAF are designed so that students can access them regardless of study mode or location as much as possible. Fee reductions, as outlined below, are given to some students in recognition that levels of access can vary for some services.

• Students enrolled full-time at UOW Wollongong campus are charged the full fee.
• Students enrolled full-time at an Australian campus other than UOW Wollongong, including students studying online or via distance delivery, are charged 50% of the fee.
• Part-time students are charged 75% of the fee related to their campus.

If you have any questions about your SSAF payment obligations, please contact the AskUOW team.

2024 SSAF = $351

If you're required to pay SSAF, it's due the date after census date. For specific dates, visit the key dates website.

Domestic students

• If you're eligible to pay the SSAF, you'll find it itemised on your fee statement in SOLS.
• If you plan to pay the SSAF upfront, you may use the same payment method you use to pay your other fees (see your fee payment options).
• If you plan to defer the SSAF, you can access an SA-HELP loan. You must set this option in SOLS prior to the fee due date.

International students studying in Australia

• Your SSAF will need to be paid upfront by the  due date. You may use the same payment method you use to pay your other fees (see your fee payments options).

More information about payment options is available here.

Australian citizens or permanent humanitarian visa holders who are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP will be able to access a loan to cover the SSAF under a new SA-HELP scheme.

More information about payment options is available here.

Federal government legislation determines what UOW can spend your fee on:

• providing food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider;
• supporting a sporting or other recreational activity by students;
• supporting the administration of a club most of whose members are students;
• caring for children of students;
• providing legal services to students;
• promoting the health or welfare of students;
• helping students secure accommodation;
• helping students obtain employment or advice on careers;
• helping students with their financial affairs;
• helping students obtain insurance against personal accidents;
• supporting debating by students;
• providing libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for students;
• supporting an artistic activity by students;
• supporting the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided by students;
• helping students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking courses of study in which they are enrolled;
• advising on matters arising under the higher education provider's rules (however described);
• advocating students' interests in matters arising under the higher education provider's rules (however described);
• giving students information to help them in their orientation;
• helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment.

UOW spending priorities based on student feedback

• The University believes that funds raised from students at non-Wollongong locations should be re-invested at non-Wollongong locations.
• The SSAF is charged biannually to students to fund services and facilities which benefit students.

How the SSAF is spent

Further information about the Student Services and Amenities Fee, including frequently asked questions and access to the Student Services, Amenities, Representation and Advocacy Guidelines, is available from the Department of Education.

If you have questions, please contact the AskUOW team.