Paying your fees as a local student
Learn how to pay your fees, when to pay your fees and what help is available to you as a vocational education, undergraduate or postgraduate student.
Want to know about paying your tuition fees? This pages covers key information you need to know about paying your tuition fees and is here for you if you're:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen, humanitarian visa holder or an Australian permanent resident; and
- enrolled in a vocational education (VE, formerly TAFE) course (diploma, double diploma, advanced diploma or Certificate I, II, III or IV); or
- enrolled in an undergraduate degree, double degree or UniLink diploma; or
- enrolled in a course at postgraduate level (graduate certificate, master’s degree, PhD or graduate diploma).
If you're an Open Universities Australia (OUA) student enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported place (CSP), please refer to the Ask George help page regarding information on Student Services Amenities Fees and SA HELP. Completing the Commonwealth Supported place (CSP) HECS-HELP form does not defer your Student Services Amenities Fees. Refer to the OUA website for information on fees.
If you’re an international student, learn more about paying your fees as an international student.
Already know what you need to pay? See our payment methods.
Vocational education
What are the fees you need to pay?
Tuition fees
Your tuition fees cover the basic cost of delivering your nationally recognised Swinburne vocational education (VE, formerly TAFE) course.
From 1 January 2019, the Victorian Government's Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative covers tuition fees for priority courses for students who are eligible for government-subsidised training. Find out which courses are included and information about eligibility.
Miscellaneous fees
You may also need to pay some other miscellaneous fees from time to time.
How much are your fees?
The amount of your fees varies, depending on the course you’re studying and whether you’re eligible for any concessions. You can get an estimate of your total course cost by checking the indicative course fees.
View your Statement of Account
To find out the exact amount you need to pay, log in to My Finances and view your Statement of Account. This always shows the current calculation based on your enrolment.
Note: The cost of your tuition fees as shown on your Statement of Account may not match the cost outlined on your letter of offer. This is because your Statement of Account always shows the most current information and won’t reflect any loans, concessions or discounts, or changes to your enrolment until you have formally applied for them.
Check your eligibility for fee concessions
Be sure to check your eligibility for any fee concessions related to your VE course — such as those available under Skills First and Free TAFE Priority Courses — and ensure you apply when you enrol.
How to pay your fees
You can pay your tuition fees for each teaching period up-front, partially, or defer the whole amount.
Pay up-front
If you wish, you can pay the full amount of your tuition fees up-front in each teaching period.
Pay via a VET Student Loan from the government
If you’re studying for a diploma, advanced diploma or vocational graduate certificate, you can usually receive a VET Student Loan to pay your tuition fees.
If you’re eligible for a VET Student Loan, you start paying back the loan to the government once your income reaches the minimum repayment threshold. This threshold is adjusted each year by the government.
With a VET Student Loan, you have the option to make payments anytime before the census date and have the balance deferred to:
- reduce the amount you will defer and repay later to the government, or
- cover the amount of fees that will be above your course cap.
When to pay your fees
You pay your fees progressively as you complete your course. Your Statement of Account and Tax Invoice provide you with details of when your payments are due.
To help you manage your payments, you only pay for the units you’re enrolled in during each teaching period, not the whole course all at once. This is similar to a payment plan. You can view your Statement of Accounts and Tax Invoice at any time by going into My Finances.
To avoid penalties, you need to pay your fees by the due date on your Statement of Account and Tax Invoice, which is before the census date.
Penalties for non-payment of fees include restricted access to your results and possible enrolment cancellation. If you have fees owing, you will not be allowed to graduate or receive any academic transcripts.
How to withdraw from a unit(s) or your whole course
If you need to withdraw from your unit(s) or course, make sure you do it before the census date:
- Withdraw from your whole course.
- Withdraw from an individual unit(s).
What to do if you receive an 'overdue fees' notice
It’s important to pay all fees on time, including tuition fees and any other miscellaneous fees.
If you received an overdue fees notice but believe you have paid, do the following:
- Log in to My Finances and check.
- If you haven’t paid the fees, make payment as soon as possible to avoid penalties.
- If you have paid your fees, forward your Statement of Account and proof of payment to fees@swinburne.edu.au.
Note: If you do not pay your overdue fees it may be referred to a debt collection agency.
Undergraduate
What are the fees you need to pay?
Tuition fees
Your tuition fees cover the basic cost of delivering your nationally recognised Swinburne course.
If you are a local student offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), your tuition fees are made up of two parts: a portion subsidised by the Australian Government (you don’t need to pay this back), and your own student contribution (most students use a HECS-HELP loan to pay this).
Students not offered a CSP can still enrol on an upfront fee-paying basis.
SSAF fee
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which funds campus services and amenities of a non‐academic nature, including:
- sport and recreation
- employment and career advice
- health and financial services
- welfare, advocacy and equity services.
The SSAF is compulsory for all online and on-campus enrolled undergraduate, postgraduate and UniLink students whether you use these services or not. The Student Services and Amenities Fee is calculated based on your unit load, up to a maximum of A$326 per year in 2023. See how the SSAF is calculated.
Miscellaneous fees
You may need to pay other miscellaneous fees from time to time.
Loan limit changes: Combined HELP loan limit
The combined HELP loan limit is a cap on what you can borrow from the Australian Government to cover the costs of your tuition fees. The HELP loan limit will replace the current FEE-HELP limit from 1 January 2020.
The HELP loan limit will include HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Students Loans.
Existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loan debts will be carried over and count towards your HELP loan limit.
Any previous HECS-HELP debts will not be included in the HELP loan limit.
From 1 January 2020 onwards, new HECS-HELP borrowing will count towards the limit.
On 1 January 2020, your FEE-HELP balance will become your HELP balance.
On 1 January 2020, the FEE-HELP loan limits will become the HELP loan limits.
How much are your fees?
The amount of your fees varies, depending on which units you are studying. You may be eligible to defer payment of your fees under HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.
To find out the exact amount you need to pay, log in to My Finances and view your Statement of Account and Tax Invoice. This always shows the current calculation based on your enrolment, and any loans and discounts you’ve successfully applied for.
View unit costs and indicative course fees.
Note: The cost of your tuition fees as shown on your Statement of Account may not match the cost outlined on your letter of offer. This is because your Statement of Account always reflects the most current information, with any additional fees or loans and discounts applied, as well as changes to your enrolment.
How to pay your fees
You can pay your tuition fees and your SSAF for each teaching period up-front, partially, or defer the whole amount.
These are your payment options:
Pay up-front
If you are not eligible for a HELP loan you must pay your fees up-front. If you are eligible for a HELP loan you may elect to pay your fees upfront to the university to avoid a HELP debt.
Note: All upfront payments must be received by the census date.
HECS-HELP (or FEE-HELP) loan from the government (and SA-HELP for the SSAF)
If you’re eligible for a HECS-HELP or SA-HELP loan and choose to defer repayment, you will only need to pay back these loans once your income rises above the minimum repayment threshold. HECS-HELP loans do not cover your SA-HELP loan, hence you need to submit a SA-HELP form if you wish to defer your fees.
Partial payment
You can choose to pay a portion of your fees in a teaching period, in which case the balance for that teaching period accrues to your HECS-HELP or SA-HELP loan debt.
When to pay your fees
Payment dates are spread throughout your course. You only pay for the units you’re enrolled in for each teaching period, not the whole course all at once.
To avoid penalties, you need to pay your fees by the due date on your Statement of Account.
What to do if you receive an 'overdue fees' notice
It’s important to pay all fees on time, including tuition fees, the SSAF and any other miscellaneous fees.
Failure to pay fees by the due date can affect your enrolment, ability to view results, and stop you graduating. You can also incur more financial penalties.
If you’ve received an overdue fees notice but believe you have paid, do the following:
- Log in to My Finances and check.
- If you haven’t paid the fees, make payment as soon as possible to avoid penalties.
- If you have paid your fees, forward your Statement of Account and proof of payment to fees@swinburne.edu.au (undergraduates, postgraduates and UniLink students).
If you’ve incurred a late-payment penalty fee for being overdue, but can show you did pay your fees on time, apply online to have the late payment fee waived or seek financial help and support from Swinburne.
Note: If you do not pay your overdue fees it may be referred to a debt collection agency.
Postgraduate
What are the fees you need to pay?
Tuition fees
Your tuition fees cover the basic cost of delivering your nationally recognised Swinburne postgraduate course.
There may be a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) available for some postgraduate courses.
SSAF fee
The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) funds campus services and amenities of a non‐academic nature, including:
- sport and recreation
- employment and career advice
- health and financial services
- welfare, advocacy and equity services.
The SSAF is compulsory for all online and on-campus enrolled undergraduate, postgraduate and UniLink students, whether you use these services or not. The Student Services and Amenities Fee is calculated based on your unit load, up to a maximum of A$326 per year in 2023. See how the SSAF is calculated.
Miscellaneous fees
You may also need to pay some other miscellaneous fees from time to time.
How much are your fees?
The amount of your fees varies depending on:
- which units you are studying
- whether or not you are being sponsored for some or all of your tuition fees.
You may be eligible to defer payment of your fees under HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.
To find out the exact amount you need to pay, log in to My Finances and view your Statement of Account and Tax Invoice. This will show the current calculation based on your enrolment, and any loans and discounts you've successfully applied for.
View unit costs and indicative course fees.
How to pay your fees
You can pay your tuition fees and your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) for each teaching period either in full up-front, partially, or defer the whole amount.
These are your payment options:
Pay up-front
You can choose to pay the full amount of your fees up-front in each teaching period.
Via a FEE-HELP loan from the government (and SA-HELP for the SSAF)
A FEE-HELP loan allows postgraduate students to defer payment of tuition fees until after you complete your studies. Repayments are made through the tax system once you earn above the minimum repayment threshold. FEE-HELP loans do not cover your SSAF. SA-HELP loans are available to assist eligible students to pay the SSAF.
Sponsorship agreements
If your postgraduate studies are being partially or fully funded by your employer or another third party, all parties must complete a Sponsorship Agreement [PDF 67KB] lodged with Swinburne by the census date so all parties are billed correctly.
In each case:
- make sure all documentation has been submitted, particularly your Sponsorship Agreement if one has been made
- log in to My Finances
- check your Statement of Account for the amount owing
- pay using your preferred payment method.
When to pay your fees
You pay your fees progressively as you complete your course. Your Statement of Account and Tax Invoice provide you with details of when your payments are due.
To help you manage your payments, you only pay for the units you’re enrolled in during each teaching period, not the whole course all at once. This is similar to a payment plan. You can view your Statement of Accounts and Tax Invoice at any time by going into My Finances.
To avoid penalties, you need to pay your fees by the due date on your Statement of Account and Tax Invoice, which is before the census date.
Penalties for non-payment of fees include restricted access to your results and possible enrolment cancellation. If you have fees owing, you will not be allowed to graduate or receive any academic transcripts.
How to withdraw from a unit(s) or your whole course
If you need to withdraw from your unit(s) or course, make sure you do it before the census date:
- Withdraw from your whole course.
- Withdraw from an individual unit(s).
What to do if you receive an 'overdue fees' notice
It’s important to pay all fees on time, including tuition fees and any other miscellaneous fees.
If you received an overdue fees notice but believe you have paid, do the following:
- Log in to My Finances and check.
- If you haven’t paid the fees, make payment as soon as possible to avoid penalties.
- If you have paid your fees forward your Statement of Account and proof of payment to fees@swinburne.edu.au.
If you’ve incurred a late-payment penalty fee for being overdue but can prove you did pay your fees on time, apply online to have the late payment fee waived or seek financial help and support from Swinburne.
Note: If you do not pay your overdue fees it may be referred to a debt collection agency.
Fee payment methods
There are several ways to pay your fees:
- Online via the Swinburne website/portal (My Finances)
- Online via BPay (Biller Code 334193) — register with your bank or financial institution.
- Online via Post Billpay (Billpay code 2299) — use the website or smartphone app, phone 13 18 16, or pay in person at any post office. Your reference number is on your Statement of Account.
- Pay in person at an Australia Post outlet with your Statement of Account (your invoice)
Note: If your account is overdrawn, you will be charged a $100 dishonour fee each time. For more information about paying your fees, watch our fees and payments help guide video.
Receipts
If you have paid online through My Finances, you’ll receive a receipt of payment, which will be emailed to your nominated email account. However, all receipts of payment will be reflected on your Statement of Account.
For all other payment methods you will receive a receipt when you pay, except for payments made via BPAY, which can be viewed on your bank statement.
For all payments made directly to Swinburne before April 2014, you will need to submit a request for a copy of a receipt (tuition fees only).
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Loans and discounts for local students
From the Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative to a variety of HELP loans, the Australian and Victorian governments provide a number of ways to help you pay your fees as a local student.
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Fee sponsorship
Fee sponsorship is when your employer or other organisation pays a percentage of your tuition fees and is open to all students including undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as apprentices.
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Indicative course fees
Your fees vary depending on which units you study in your course. Visit the indicative course fees and unit costs page to estimate the cost of your course as well as find out your unit delivery schedule.
Need help and advice regarding your fees?
Whether it's understanding what your fees cover, learning if you qualify for loans and scholarships, or dealing with an overdue fees notice, help is available.