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Commonwealth supported places

A Commonwealth supported place is a higher education place for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are only required to contribute to part of the cost of their course. The Australian Government allocates a number of Commonwealth supported places to the University each year.

To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen; or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit(s) of study.

All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full-time study in a Commonwealth supported place.

All units are charged at the maximum student contribution rates, which are reviewed annually.

Student contributions

Under current government legislation, Commonwealth supported students are required to contribute to the cost of their university education by paying a proportion of the cost of their course. The balance of the cost is funded by the Commonwealth Government.

Students who commenced on or after 1 January 2005

From 2005, the Higher Education Support Act 2003 allowed universities to determine their own student contribution amounts within limits set by the Commonwealth Government. This only affects students who commenced their course on or after 1 January 2005.


2009 Undergraduate and Postgraduate student contribution costs

Area of study (discipline)

Annual cost for full-time study (EFTSL*) $

Rate per credit
point $
Law
8,677
1,084
Accounting, Economics,Commerce,Administration
8,677
1,084
Public Relations
8,677
1,084
Humanities
5,201
650
Mathematics and Statistics
4,162
520
Computing
7,412
926
Built Environment
7,412
926
Other Health
7,412
926
Social Studies
5,201
650
Behavioural Sciences excl. Clinical Psychology
5,201
650
Education
4,162
520
Clinical Psychology
5,201
650
Foreign Languages,Visual and Performing Arts
5,201
650
Allied Health
7,412
926
Nursing
4,162
520
Engineering, Surveying
7,412
926
Science
4,162
520
Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science
8,677
1,084
Agriculture
7,412
926

*EFTSL - Equivalent full time student load