Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF)

The Department of Education has advised the maximum annual charge for 2019 is $303.00

SSAF per Term/Semester, based on study load as at the incurral date:

2019

Coursework programs, UNSW Sydney (Terms 1, 2 and 3)

• Full-time $101.00
• Part-time $75.75

Research programs (Terms 1, 2, 3 and Summer)

• Full-time $75.75
• Part-time $56.80

Coursework programs, UNSW Canberra (Semesters 1 and 2)

• Full-time $151.50
• Part-time $113.60

2018

• Full-time $149
• Part-time $111.75

Students who are Australian citizens, permanent humanitarian visa holders resident in Australia or New Zealand citizens special category visa holders resident in Australia are eligible for SA-HELP. Eligible UNSW students can apply through myUNSW before the incurral date for the relevant semester.

Here is detailed information on eligibility and applying for SA-HELP

1. The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) fee was established through the Student Services and Amenities Bill 2011. The Bill amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

2. UNSW has determined that it will charge the Fee to all students with the following exceptions:

• • Students enrolled in cross-institutional, PLuS Alliance or exchange programs studying with UNSW (where UNSW is not the ‘home’ institution). Students on exchange or cross-institutional at another institution where their primary degree is with UNSW (the ‘home’ institution), will still be subject to the SSAF charges.
  • All Defence-funded and non-Commonwealth supported students enrolled in a program at UNSW Canberra/ADFA

Table 1 (below) provides more detail on liability.

4. The fee is levied on eligible students by the University as a contribution towards services and amenities for the whole student population. Unless explicitly exempted, all students are expected to contribute towards amenities and services. There is no provision to exempt students on the grounds of study or attendance mode (e.g. online or distance delivery; teaching hospital attendance), or that they might not personally use the services and amenities provided.

5. The SSAF maximum rate is published annually by The Department of Education & Training. Institutions can choose to charge up to that rate. The guidelines state that a student defined as part-time cannot be charged more than 75% of the maximum fee.

6.

The fee is charged and payable on a term or semester basis, dependent on the student’s primary campus of study, career and study load (EFTSL).

UNSW Canberra students are levied twice per year for each Semester.

Higher Degree Research candidates are levied four times per year, for Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Summer.

All other students are levied three times a year for each of the standard three terms.

To view the charges that may apply to you for a semester or term please refer to What You Pay (above).

7. The fee will be calculated at the same time as other fees and charges and will be included on fee invoices.

8. All students who submit a request to defer the SSAF via SA-HELP (see Rule 10.) will receive a Commonwealth Assistance Notice in line with legislative requirements within 28 days of the Incurral Date.

9. The incurral dates are are set for each semester or term. All students are liable for the SSAF calculated based on their enrolment as at the incurral date for the semester or term. Incurral dates can be found on your Fee Statement each semester or term, or they can be viewed here: https://student.unsw.edu.au/sa-help .

10. If you are a Domestic student, in a Commonwealth-supported programs or Research Training Scheme program, you can elect to pay part of the full Student Services & Amenities Fees (SSAF) upfront to the University, or apply for a Commonwealth loan (SA-HELP) for the remainder or full value of the fee – i.e. to defer your liability. If you choose to defer part or all of your fee, you are required to apply for a SA-HELP loan prior to the Incurral Date.

11. If you have elected to defer your SSAF you are still eligible to pay part or all of the liability up to the Incurral Date. After the Incurral Date has passed you can no longer make a SSAF payment to the University for that Semester or Term and must arrange payment to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) directly.

12. If you successfully apply for fee remission after the SSAF Incurral Date, you cannot have your SSAF refunded or remitted.

Table 1 - Students' SSAF liability

In 2017 UNSW contributed $16.5 million of expenditure towards the provision of student services captured by the SSAF legislation. A significant portion of that spend went directly to UNSW student organisation (ARC), totalling $4.864 million. At the time of notification (9 February 2018), the University received $12.4 million in SSAF income.

Below is a summary of expenditure, identified against the SSAF allowable categories of expenditure.

*In 2017, UNSW contributed approximately $20 million to the refurbishment of the Roundhouse building which is the main heart of student life on campus.