NATIONAL PRIORITY
Changes to Student Contribution Amounts in 2013
Mathematics, Science and Statistics
As part of the 2012-13 Budget, the Government announced that from 1 January 2013 the student contribution amount for all students enrolled in any mathematics, statistics and/or science subjects will increase from the National Priority rate to Band 2 (Please see table below).
The amount will apply to all students regardless of when they commenced their study.
Accounting, Administration, Economics and Commerce
The transitional arrangements relating to Pre-2008 students end on 31 December 2012. All students enrolled in accounting, administration, economics and/or commerce subjects will be charged the Band 3 student contribution amoutns from 1 January 2013 (please see the table below).
The amounts will apply to all students regardless of when they commenced their study.
Student Contribution Amounts for 2013
| Student contribution band | Student contribution amount (per EFTSL) |
|
3 |
$9,792 |
|
2 |
$8,363 |
|
1 |
$5,868 |
The table above shows the student tuition fee contribution amounts that apply to most Commonwealth Supported students, studying at the University of Newcastle, in 2013.
Student contribution band:
One of three bands of disciplinary areas into which a given unit of study will fall. Student contribution bands are used to determine the maximum student contributions for a place.
*Commenced in 2009 (Pre-2010) - Education and Nursing subjects
If you commenced your course of study before 01 January 2010 and were a Commonwealth supported student for a subject in that course, you continue to be eligible for the reduced student contribution amount of $4,696 (national priority rate) for Education and Nursing subjects.
You are considered to be Pre-2010 for a unit of study if:
- you commenced a course of study before 1 January 2010 and were Commonwealth supported in relation to that unit; and
- you did not complete the course before 31 December 2009, or if you did complete the course it was:
an enabling course; or
the related course for an honours course
of study you are now undertaking.
From 1 January 2010, the maximum annual student contribution amount for commencing Commonwealth supported students undertaking Education and Nursing units of study has been increased from the 'national priority' rate to the Band 1 rate.
The increased maximum annual student contribution amounts affect only students who commence their course of study at a higher education provider on or after 1 January 2010.
HECS-HELP Benefit
The HECS-HELP benefit provides an incentive for graduates of particular courses to take up related occupations or work in specified locations by reducing their compulsory HELP repayments. You may be eligible for the HECS HELP benefit if you have graduated in one of the following fields and fit the listed criteria.
Mathematics, statistics or science
- Graduated from an undergraduate 'natural and physical science' field of education course (mathematics, science or statistics) after 30 June 2008.
- Employed in a related occupation, including as a secondary school teacher of these subjects or as a primary school teacher.
Education, nursing or midwifery
- Graduated from an education, nursing or midwifery course required for initial entry to a teaching or nursing profession after 30 June 2009.
- Employed as a teacher or nurse/midwife.
- Graduated from an early childhood education teaching course.
- Employed as an early childhood teacher.
- Employed by a provider of pre-school education or childcare services in a regional or remote area, Indigenous community or area of high socio economic disadvantage, as specified in the HECS-HELP Benefit Guidelines.
Please note that you may be eligible for more than one type of benefit. For example, an early childhood education teacher working in a rural/remote area may be eligible for both the Early Childhood Education HECS-HELP Benefit as well as the Education HECS-HELP Benefit. Applicants need to lodge a separate application for each benefit.
More information about applying for a HECS-HELP Benefit is available on the ATO website
