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Postgraduate students

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Commonwealth supported places (CSPs)

A Commonwealth supported place is a university place where, for eligible domestic students, tuition fees are made up of two parts: 

  • an Australian Government contribution (for some courses, up to three-quarters of the tuition fee is funded by the Australian Government); and 
  • a student contribution (which may be deferred and repaid later via a HECS-HELP loan) 

If you apply for any CSP approved courses at UOW, your eligibility is automatically considered when we assess your application.  

A UOW subsidised fee (USF) reduction refers to a reduction in the cost of study for full-fee-paying places which are not subsidised by the government. For 2026, UOW is offering a fee reduction on select postgraduate full-fee paying degrees. This initiative will make postgraduate study more accessible for those seeking to upskill, retrain or pursue their passions. 

If you apply for any USF approved courses at UOW, your eligibility is automatically considered when we assess your application

From Tuesday, 16 September 2025.

If you are an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent visa holder, or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder, and are planning to study in Australia, you must provide the relevant documentation. 

Permanent humanitarian visa holders and Australian and New Zealand citizens on a Special Category Visa and meet the residency requirements, may also be able to access a HECS-HELP loan to defer all or part of their course fees.  

When your place is Commonwealth supported, the cost of your student contribution depends on your choice of subjects and your year of enrolment and completion. The CSP is only available for the subjects that are part of the approved course structure. See how tuition fees and student contributions are calculated.

Yes, but any changes to your offer may impact your eligibility.

CSPs will remain on some study areas, including Education and Health (excluding the Master of Occupational Health and Safety and Master of Occupational Hygiene) and on all UOW graduate certificate courses. Outside of this, courses will be full-fee paying; however, you will be eligible for a UOW subsidised fee (USF) reduction.

If you apply for a course with CSP’s available at UOW, your eligibility is automatically considered when we assess your application. You do not need to submit a separate application. 

Visit Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) - Study Assist, Australian Government for more information about CSP eligibility requirements. 

Deferral requests submitted prior to Tuesday, 16 September 2025 will be eligible for a CSP. Any requests submitted after this date will revert to the new 2026 fee structure. 

If your course still offers CSPs in 2026, your updated offer letter will reflect that.

If you are eligible for a CSP, this will be listed in your offer.

The new fees will come into effect on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. If you have submitted a complete application prior to this date, a CSP will be offered. Incomplete applications or any application submitted after this date will be subject to the new 2026 fee structure.

The UOW subsidised fee (USF) reduction on a Domestic Full-Fee Paying (DFP) course only applies to 2026 intakes so you will receive the full-fee paying price. Where the course is Commonwealth supported, you will receive a CSP.

Your 2027 offer and fees will depend on which course you have applied to study: 

  • If your 2027 course is currently Commonwealth supported, you may be eligible to receive a CSP offer. 
  • If your 2027 course is currently full-fee paying, you may be eligible to receive a full-fee paying offer, however, there will be no UOW subsidised fee (USF) reduction applied to 2027 offers.  
  • Please note: 2027 fee structures and the allocation of Commonwealth supported places are subject to change. Any future changes will be reflected in offers issued from the point of change.

*A packaged offer is a conditional offer for two or more courses, for example a graduate certificate and a master’s. Any conditions must be passed to gain entry into the second degree.   

If you are issued with a new offer, it will be assessed under the fee structure applicable to the year you start studying. Any 2026 CSPs and UOW subsidised fee (USF) reductions cannot be guaranteed beyond 2026.

In most cases, the CSP is for the entire length of the course as long as it adheres to the Student Learning Entitlement guidelines. 

From 1 January 2022, any study undertaken in a CSP will count towards a student's Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE determines the amount of time a student can take to complete their course with a CSP. Students are eligible for seven years of full-time equivalent study in a CSP before they reach their SLE limit. 

No, student contribution amounts have increased slightly between 2025 and 2026.

The new 2026 fees will come into effect on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. If you have submitted a complete application* prior to this date, and you satisfy all course admission requirements, the CSP will be offered. Incomplete applications or any application submitted after this date will be subject to the new 2026 fee structure. 

Where a CSP is not offered, UOW will be offering a subsidised fee reduction in 2026 to help reduce financial burden and encourage postgraduate study that supports career growth and upskilling. 

* Complete applications refer to where admissions can finalise the assessment and issue an offer based on the information provided. 

UOW subsidised fee (USF) reductions

Yes, if you receive an offer for a course with a USF, this will remain for the duration of your enrolment.

Where a student has, or receives a package offer with the master’s, or any part of this package starting in 2026, the schedule needs to be maintained to retain the 2026 fees. If progress is delayed, the fees will change to align with the current year’s costings.  

If a student does not continue study and enrol in the master's course in 2026 as per their offer letter, the packaged offer will expire, and they will need to be re-issued an offer for entry in a future year. This new offer will be assessed under the fee structure applicable to the year of commencement; 2026 CSPs and fee reductions cannot be guaranteed beyond 2026. 

You are not eligible to hold a CSP and receive a USF reduction. CSP and USF places cannot be stacked with any UOW scholarships.

No. If you are issued with a new offer, it will be assessed under the fee structure applicable to the year of commencement, and any 2026 CSPs and USFs cannot be guaranteed beyond 2026. 

Student loans

The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a loan to defer the cost of study until you earn above a certain income. HECS-HELP is the loan scheme for Commonwealth supported degrees, while FEE-HELP is for fee-paying students including those receiving UOW subsidised fees (USF) reductions.

Yes, as long as you meet the government eligibility requirements for a HELP loan.  

Domestic Fee-Paying (DFP) students may be eligible to receive a FEE-HELP loan. To be eligible to access FEE-HELP you must meet the citizenship and residency requirements, have an available HELP balance* and submit a request for Commonwealth assistance before the census date.  

HECS-HELP is only available to students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP). The 20% FEE-HELP loan fee does not apply to postgraduate study. 

*Your HELP balance is your remaining borrowing capacity under the HELP scheme. The combined HELP loan limit is what you are eligible to borrow from the Australian Government to cover the costs of your fees. 

Domestic students eligible for CSPs or full-fee loans must either pay upfront on, before the census date, or defer their tuition to a HELP loan. Instalment plans are only available to students who are not eligible to access Commonwealth assistance.

Yes.

Yes.