Student Contributions
Commonwealth supported students contribute towards the cost of their education by paying a Student Contribution. The Student Contribution is calculated for each term of enrolment based on the individual units enrolled in, not the course of study.
CQUniversity's approved Student Contribution amounts per annum:
The Student Contribution amount applicable to each course is published in the Cost per Course table.
New students
If you are a new student and you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, you MUST complete a Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form before the census date of your first term or your enrolment will be cancelled for that term.
The Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP Loan form can be accessed online from the MyCQU Student Portal. From the Today view, the MyCQU Checklist will guide you through the process to complete this request. If you are unsure about being a Commonwealth supported student, please check your Offer Letter or contact the Student Advice Team on 13 27 86.
Additional information about Commonwealth Support, HECS-HELP and Student Contributions is available at http://studyassist.gov.au/sites/StudyAssist
Do you need help working out your Student Contribution? If so, please check your Fee Notice in MyCQU or the Cost per Unit table, or contact the Student Advice team.
Payment Options
Your Student Contribution will be calculated each term on the basis of your enrolment. Fee Notices detail the student contribution calculated for your enrolment and can be accessed online from MyCQU. Sign in with your Student ID and password, visit your Profile in the top corner and then select the Finances tab. The due date for payment is detailed on the Fee Notice. Paper copies of the Fee Notice are not issued by the University.
The options available to pay your Student Contribution will depend on your citizenship and residency status. Eligible students who have supplied their Tax File Number on their Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form can choose each term which payment option they wish to use in that term.
Defer payment of all or some of the student contribution amount each term
Australian citizens, permanent humanitarian visa holders and certain New Zealand Citizens are eligible to access HECS-HELP assistance to pay all or part of their student contributions. In order to access HECS-HELP, students must supply their Tax File Number (TFN) on the Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form. Full information about HECS-HELP is published in the HECS-HELP Commonwealth supported places information booklet and on the Study Assist web site.
For eligible students who have provided their TFN, any student contribution amount not paid by census date will be automatically deferred as a HELP debt to be reported to the Commonwealth for repayment through the Australian Taxation Office.
Some New Zealand citizens who hold a Special Category visa and meet the long-term eligibility criteria may be eligible for HECS-HELP. More information is available at Study Assist and on the New Zealand citizens – eligibility for HELP page.
Upfront payments
Students required or choosing to pay their student contribution upfront must make payment no later than the census date. Failure to pay in full by census date will result in your enrolment being cancelled for that term.
Students must pay upfront by census date each term if they:
- are permanent residents of Australia, including New Zealand citizens who are also permanent residents of Australia;
- are New Zealand citizens who are not the holder of a Special Category visa, or who have not supplied evidence of their Special Category visa status by census date;
- are Australian citizens who have not supplied their Tax File Number on their Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form by census date.
PLEASE NOTE: From 1 January 2017, the Australian Government has removed the upfront HECS-HELP discount of 10 per cent for eligible students that pay their student contributions upfront and the voluntary HELP repayment bonus of 5 per cent.
From 1 January 2020 the Australian Government introduced a combined HELP loan limit which caps the amount you can borrow. This loan limit includes any HECS-HELP debt incurred from 2020 onwards plus any existing and new FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans.
Learn more about the HELP loan limit and how it affects you.