Fees and Charges

Payment of fees
Pre-2005 students
FEE-HELP
Full fee-paying students
Refunds

• student contribution amount; or
• tuition fees - domestic full-fee; or
• tuition fees - international full-fee.

Fees and charges are payable as set out in the schedule of fees and charges, available on the student finance web page (http://www.cqu.edu.au/studinfo/admin/studfinance/index.htm) or are available from Student Administration, phone +61 7 4923 2243.

The Registrar and Chief Compliance Officer shall specify dates by which an applicant or a student must complete elements of the admission or enrolment process. Fees listed in the schedule will be payable by an applicant or students where elements of the admission or enrolment process occur after the specified dates.

Student debtors and negative service indicators

A student debtor is defined as one who:

1. fails to pay any fine, fee, charge or debt due to Central Queensland University, including the library;
2. fails to repay to the University a student loan in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement.

A Negative Service Indicator (NSI) restricts a student's access to various entitlements to which they would normally have access. The NSI becomes increasingly restrictive the longer the student's account balance remains overdue.

A schedule of NSIs, which the University will apply to student debtors until the student's account is returned to normal credit terms, is published in the collections policy located at http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy.

In any case in which by reason of special circumstances the charge to be paid, the time when a charge is payable, or any other matter necessary to be determined in order to enable the application of this rule to that case, is not specifically provided for in this rule, the Registrar and Chief Compliance Officer shall have the power and authority to decide any question necessary to be decided in order to determine the matter.

Payment of fees

Commonwealth supported students and HECS-HELP

You are eligible to be Commonwealth supported if you are:

• an Australian citizen; or
• a New Zealand citizen who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of your unit; or
• the holder of a permanent visa who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of your unit.

Commonwealth supported students are required to contribute to the cost of their higher education through a student contribution. The Commonwealth Government contributes additional funds, direct to the University, for each Commonwealth supported student in a Commonwealth supported place.

Your letter of offer will advise if you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place.

If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, you must complete and return to CQU the Request for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP Assistance form enclosed with your letter of offer and other enrolment information. Failure to submit a valid form by the census date of the term in which it is to take effect means your enrolment will be cancelled. You should read the Information for Commonwealth Supported Students booklet before completing the form.

Your student contribution will be calculated each term on the basis of your enrolment. Invoices are issued in Week 1 of each term. Student contributions are paid either up-front or are deferred and paid later through the tax system. The options available for paying your student contribution will depend on your citizenship or residency status. If you are eligible, HECS-HELP assistance helps you pay your student contribution amount. Full information about how to pay your student contribution, including information about HECS-HELP, is contained in the Information for Commonwealth Supported Students booklet.

Pre-2005 students

Generally, you will be considered to be a pre-2005 HECS student if you:

• commenced your program of study as a HECS student before 1 January 2004;
• have not discontinued your enrolment without formal approval from your higher education provider; and
• have not completed the requirements of your program or the requirements of another program you have transferred into at the same level.

New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent visas who are considered to be pre-2005 HECS students may have their eligibility for HECS-HELP determined under the old HECS rules.

From the end of 2008, pre-2005 HECS students will study under the new arrangements, regardless of whether they have completed their programs of study.

If you are a pre-2005 student, you must read the Information for Commonwealth supported students booklet sent in your offer or re-registration package. You must also complete and return to CQU your Request for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP Pre-2005 HECS form. Failure to submit a valid form by the census date of the term in which it is to take effect means your enrolment will be cancelled.

Important: please read the Information For Commonwealth Supported Students booklet for full information on Commonwealth Support.

Students requiring further information about HECS-HELP should contact the Student Finance section of Student Administration on +61 7 4923 2244, +61 7 4923 2243, or +61 7 4930 9395, or email http://content.cqu.edu.au/HandbookAdmin/student_finance@cqu.edu.au, or contact the Student Service Line on 1300 550 900 or email http://content.cqu.edu.au/HandbookAdmin/prerolment@cqu.edu.au. The web address for Student Finance is http://www.cqu.edu.au/studinfo/admin/studfinance/index.htm.

FEE-HELP

Important: please read the Fee-Help Information booklet for full information on FEE-HELP

From 01 January 2005 FEE-HELP will replace the

• PELS (Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme); and
• BOTPLS (Bridging for Overseas-Trained Professional Loan Scheme).

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible students to pay their tuition fees. FEE-HELP can cover all or part of a student's tuition fees, up to a lifetime limit of $50,000. The $50,000 limit is indexed each year. A 20% loan fee applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate study. The $50,000 FEE-HELP limit does not include the loan fee.

You are entitled to FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study if you:

• are undertaking a unit of study at an eligible higher education provider;
• meet the citizenship or residency requirements;
• are enrolled in an eligible unit of study on the census date;
• are not Commonwealth supported in relation to that unit;
• meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements;
• have completed, signed and submitted, on or before the census date,
• a valid Request for FEE-HELP assistance form for the unit of study or the program of study of which the unit forms a part; and
• have not exceeded the FEE-HELP limit.

To be entitled to FEE-HELP, you must be:

• an Australian citizen; or
• the holder or a permanent humanitarian visa who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of the unit; or
• the holder of a permanent visa who is undertaking a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals and a resident in Australia for the duration of the unit.

Students should read the FEE-HELP assistance booklet before completing the form.

Domestic full fee-paying students

CQU offers places in undergraduate and postgraduate award programs to domestic students for a fee payable direct to the University.

The majority of students commencing postgraduate award programs in the 2004 academic year are required to pay full fees direct to the University. Only students commencing the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery are exempt from this requirement and will be offered a Commonwealth supported place.

Continuing postgraduate students who are currently enrolled on a Commonwealth supported basis will retain their Commonwealth supported place as long as they maintain their enrolment in that program. An articulated program will be at the new full-fee levels (not Commonwealth supported).

All students enrolled at Central Queensland University will receive an invoice advising the balance of their student account during each term. Failure to pay the tuition component of these fees may result in the cancellation of enrolment and/or the imposition of negative service indicators. Refer to CQU Collections Policy. Note: the outstanding fees will remain a debt on the student's account. Enrolled students can check the balance of their account on e.rolment approximately four weeks prior to the commencement of each term.

Transfer from full fee-paying to Commonwealth supported place

Undergraduate Australian students who have been offered a full-fee-paying place must apply to the Admissions Office, CQU Rockhampton should they wish to apply for a Commonwealth supported place.

International full fee-paying students

CQU offers places in undergraduate and postgraduate award programs to international students on a full fee-paying basis only, with fees payable directly to the University.

All students enrolled at Central Queensland University will receive an invoice advising the balance of their student account during each term. Failure to pay tuition fees each term may result in the cancellation of enrolment and the imposition of late fees and negative service indicators.

Cancellation of enrolment due to the non-payment of tuition fees will be reported to DIAC and may result in the cancellation of your student visa.

Students requiring further information regarding course fees for full-fee-paying programs should contact the International Student Finance Officer at the relevant campus. Students whose enrolment has been cancelled or who drop courses outside the dates advised to drop without financial penalty may still have outstanding financial obligations to Central Queensland University (refer to CQU Collections Policy ( http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy/).

Student Association Membership

An essential part of protecting your rights as a student comes from being a member of the CQU Student Association (CQUSA).  Membership to the CQUSA is now voluntary and free.  Students are no longer charged a compulsory services fee since the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation on the 1st of July 2006.

The Student Association at CQU is the representative body of the student community and exists to promote the interests and welfare of all students, irrespective of campus location or mode of study.

The Association also plays a vital part in student life when representing students at all levels.  Providing advise and information, guidance, welfare, support and mediation between student members and CQU.

The nationally respected Academic, Advocacy and Support Staff offers student members confidential advice on a wide range of issues, including representation for academic appeals and assistance with program problems.

Students are considered members of the CQU Student Association once they have submitted a membership form and enrolment advice to the CQU Student Association.

The more members that CQUSA have, the more effectively they can represent students.  Become a member and empower your Student Association to help you and your fellow students in your current and future academic goals.

For more information, contact the CQU Student Association on + 61 7 4930 9212, email: association-enquiries@cqu.edu.au, or visit the CQUSA Campus Services Office at your campus or the CQUSA Website: http://www.association.cqu.edu.au/.

Payment plans

Failure to meet the obligations of a payment plan may result in the cancellation of enrolment and the imposition of late fees and fees and negative service indicators.

Payment plans may only be offered in certain limited and restricted situations. Refer to http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy/ for policy details.

Third party contracts

Failure to meet the obligations of a third party contract may result in the cancellation of enrolment, the cancellation of the third party contract and the imposition of negative service indicators.

Student financial accounts via e.rolment

Student financial account balance information is available via e.rolment to enrolled students for checking approximately four weeks prior to the commencement of each term. Students should use the "view my student account" functionality of e.rolment to check account balances when enrolment changes are made.

Refunds

International students at the Australian International Campuses seeking to apply for refunds should contact their respective campus. All other students including domestic full fee-paying should contact Student Finance, Student Administration Office, or refer to the policy portal (http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy/).

Collections policy

Refer to http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy/ for policy details.