Commencements before 1 July 2009
This information applies to students undertaking training courses. For information on university course fees, visit the Going to Uni website.
Fee maintenance
If you started your course before 1 July 2009, you will go on paying the same fees, with minor adjustments for indexation, until you complete the course or withdraw from your enrolment up until 31 December 2012. This is called 'fee maintenance'.
Concessions will be continue to be available to you if you hold a relevant concession card.
Only for continuous training
Fee maintenance is only available while you keep studying continuously. This means re-enrolling in the same course, leading to the same qualification, and undertaking the next scheduled classes. If you take a break from your course without organising it first with the provider, and then come back to finish off your course, the provider may charge you the new fee rates. If you change providers in the middle of the course, you will need to talk to the new provider about whether they will keep you on fee maintenance or charge the new fees - it’s their choice.
Only for tuition fees
Fee maintenance doesn’t extend to non-tuition fees, such as a student services and amenities fee, or fees for materials and equipment. Nor does it apply for any new courses you might enrol in - these will be charged at the new rates. However, to ensure that you don’t get caught out by changing fees, if you pick up a new course in the same calendar year as your existing course, you will be able to discount the fees you have already paid in that year against the cost of the new course.
There is an expiry date
The expiry date for fee maintenance is 31 December 2012. After that date, you will be charged at the new fee rates, even if you haven’t finished your course.
You can opt out
In most cases, staying on fee maintenance will help keep your fees at the current level. But in some cases, particularly for Foundation Skills courses, the fee schedule introduced from 1 July 2009 may have been cheaper. If your course is in this category, your provider is able to charge you at the lower rate.