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Fees & assistance

Domestic postgraduate fees

Tuition fees for postgraduate study depend on a few factors:

  • the type and duration of the program (either coursework or higher degree research)
  • if places are Commonwealth Supported or full-fee paying
  • student eligibility for Commonwealth support, scholarships or additional support through an equity program.

Postgraduate coursework programs

UOW coursework programs are designed to develop practical and specialised skills driven by the needs of industry. Some coursework degrees also offer the option to complete a research project.

Under the Australian Government's postgraduate funding model, eligibility for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) offers depend on either the course or via applicant. As a result, some domestic postgraduate coursework places at UOW are CSPs and the remaining courses are full-fee paying places (FFPPs). UOW offers a limited number of CSPs across a number of fee-paying postgraduate coursework programs to students who meet certain equity criteria. Students who are allocated a CSP based on equity may be eligible for a HECS-HELP Loan.

Student contributions (for CSPs) and and tuition fees (for FFPPs) may be repaid via a deferred loan, depending on eligibility.

Aside from tuition fees, and to contribute to providing student services and amenities, undergraduate students also need to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), and, depending on the subject, additional non-tuition costs.

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs)

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are University places where, for eligible domestic students, tuition fees are made up of two parts:

  1. an Australian Government contribution (for some courses, up to three quarters of the tuition fee is funded by the Australian Government)
  2. a student contribution (which may be deferred and repaid later via a HECS-HELP loan).

Generally, the postgraduate coursework fields of study offering CSPs are: Arts, Humanities, Health, Mathematics, Medicine, Medical Radiation Physics, Social Sciences, and Science.

Future students can find out which UOW postgraduate courses courses offer CSPs here.

The Australian Government's Study Assist website has more information about CSPs.

The HECS-HELP system allows eligible CSP students to defer payment of their student contributions through a loan from the Australian Government. Deferred repayment of these loans means you only have to start repaying your HECS-HELP loan when your income reaches a minimum threshold.
In 2020, the Australian Government introduced a combined HELP loan limit, which is a cap on what you can borrow from the Australian Government to cover the costs of your tuition fees.

Eligibility

HECS-HELP loans are available to students enrolled in a CSP, who are either:

  • an Australian citizen.
  • a New Zealand citizen New Zealand Special Category Visa holder, who meets the long-term residency requirements and will be a resident in Australia for the duration of their unit.
  • a permanent humanitarian visa holder, who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of their unit.

To apply for a HECS-HELP loan you will need a tax file number (TFN) and, for new students from 2021, a unique student identifier (USI).

The Australian Government's Study Assist website has more information about HECS-HELP loans.

When your place is a CSP, your course costs and student contributions are at the subject (unit of study) level. Student contribution amounts vary depending on your subjects, and also on your year of enrolment and completion. See how tuition fees and student contributions are calculated.

Enrolled students can review subject costs in SOLS. Access your enrolment record and click on the subject code.

Future students can review student contribution amounts per subject:

  1. Go to the UOW Handbook 
  2. Click VIEW THE NEW HANDBOOK button
  3. Navigate to your course of interest on the UOW Handbook by Faculty or Study Area. Alternatively, search by subject code or course. Hint: if you search by subject go to straight to Step 6.
  4. Go to the Course Structure section on this page and click Expand all
  5. Click onto the subject code
  6. Go to the menu on the right hand side under “Student Contribution amount” click Student Fee to view for that subject.

Note: For a flexible or prescribed program, clickable subject codes are generally listed inside course structure. For courses with majors or minors, you may need to click through to a major or minor before finding a clickable subject code.

Full-fee paying place (FFPP)

In a full-fee paying place, the Australian Government does not contribute towards your cost of studies. Students are liable for the full fee amount to cover tuition for each subject in the FFPP course. However, eligible students may defer their tuition fee payment andrepay it later via a FEE-HELP loan.

The FEE-HELP system allows eligible FFPP students to defer payment of their student contributions through a loan from the Australian Government. Deferred repayment of these loans means you only have to start repaying your FEE-HELP loan when your income reaches a minimum threshold.

Eligibility

FEE-HELP loans are available to students enrolled in a FFPP who are:

  • an Australian citizen
  • a New Zealand citizen New Zealand Special Category Visa holder, who meets the long-term residency requirements and will be a resident in Australia for the duration of their unit
  • a permanent humanitarian visa holder, who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of their unit.

To apply for a FEE-HELP loan you will need a tax file number (TFN) and, for new students from 2021, a unique student identifier (USI).

The Australian Government's Study Assist website has more information about FEE-HELP loans.

When your place is FFPP, your course costs are determined according to your UOW offer of admission. FFPP tuition fees vary depending on your year of enrolment and commencement.

Enrolled students can review their tuition fees via their fee statement via SOLS, broken down according to units of study.

Future students can review the sessional fee and their estimated overall FFPP tuition fee in Course Finder:

  1. Navigate to your course of interest in Course Finder
  2. Scroll down to course information and click on the domestic students tab.

Higher degree research (HDR) programs

A postgraduate research degree allows you to play an active role in contributing to a body of knowledge, shaping our future and furthering our understanding of the world.

There is a wide range of research scholarships and awards available to eligible students. Most HDR places at UOW are covered by the Australian Government's Research Training Program (RTP), a pool of funding to support domestic HDR students undertaking research doctorate and research master's degrees. If you receive an offer with an RTP place, you don't need to pay the cost of tuition while you're studying as long as you complete your course within the set time limit for completion.

Aside from tuition fees, and to contribute to providing student services and amenities, undergraduate students also need to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), and, depending on the subject, additional non-tuition costs.

Payments, statements and refunds

CSP and FFPP students

Your student contribution payment type depends on when you're paying.

  • Pay later. If you are eligible for a HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan, you will be able to select this option during your enrolment. For more information, visit the the Australian Government's Study Assist website.
  • Pay now. Students paying fully or partially for tuition fees, must pay by the payment due date (displayed on your fee statement) via any of UOW's payment options. Check your fees statement in SOLS as each fee charge as a payment due date.

Higher degree research (HDR) students

HDR students (whose EFTSL load is within the required limit), need only to pay Student Services and Amenities Fee. This needs to be paid by the payment due date (the last date to pay your fee for the session) via any of UOW's payment options. Check your fees statement in SOLS as each session as a payment due date.

HDR students whose EFTSL load exceeds the required limit may also be subject to additional fee and course limits.

Late or non-payment will cause your enrolment to be cancelled.

Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF) may also be deferred under a different loan type (SA-HELP). Find out more about this deferment option.

Late or non-payment of tuition fees will result in your enrolment being cancelled. Find out more about cancellation for non-payment of tuition fees for domestic students.

Enrolled students can access their fee statement via SOLS.

Fee statements show a breakdown of all charges and payments involving your tuition fees (except for any fees which have been deferred to a HECS-HELP Loan).

To check your fees online (updated every 24 hours), log into SOLS and select 'fee statement'. SOLS will display any outstanding balances.

The Commonwealth Assistance Notice Statement (CAN) is a summary of payments and deferrals made by a student who is receiving any form of Commonwealth Assistance (such as a Commonwealth Supported Place).

  • Find your CAN. Enrolled students are able to access their CAN on SOLS 28 days after the census date for each study period.
  • Have a problem with your CAN? If you have any issues or errors with your CAN statement, or need help, contact the UOW Fees team in Student Central.

Visit the Australian Government's Study Assist website for more information about CAN.

Tuition fee refunds for domestic students are administered under the legislative guidelines of the Higher Education Support Act and the UOW Fees Policy.

You may be eligible for a refund, depending on when you withdraw from subjects and other circumstances. Find out more about refunds for domestic students.

Domestic student fees help