If you are eligible for a government supported place, the government pays most of the cost of your course and you will also contribute towards some of your fees.
The amount you will pay if you have a government supported place varies according to eligibility, the qualification level of your course, you age at the time you commence your studies, and whether you are seeking skills recognition. Fees for government supported students also depend on the fee category for each course level.
Fees are determined by the commencement date and the amount of hours of your course. There are three fee rates for government subsided fees:
- New Enrolments – for students who commence study after 1 January 2012, and Apprenticeships that began on or after 1 July 2009;
- Continuing students – for students who commenced study on or after 1 July 2009 and prior to 1 January 2012; and
- Fee Maintenance – for students that commenced study before 1 July 2009.
Each of the three rates is explained below:
 1. New Enrolments |
|
| Course category |
Course level |
Hourly rate |
Concession fee |
Maximum fee |
| Foundation |
Foundation level & Pre-accredited courses |
$1.08 |
Up to $50.00 |
$500.00 ($50.00 for students under 25) |
| Skills Creation |
Certificate I & II |
$1.62 |
Up to $105.00 |
$875.00 ($105.00 for students under 25) |
| Skills Building |
Certificate III & IV |
$2.17 |
Up to $187.00 |
$1,450.00 |
| Skills Deepening |
Diploma and Advanced Diploma |
$4.33 |
Up to $100.00 (for student under 25) |
$3,250.00 ($325.00 for Indigenous students) |
| Traineeships |
Various |
As per course category – maximum $2.17 |
Up to $187.00 |
$1,625.00 |
| Apprenticeships |
Various |
$2.17 |
Up to $187.00 |
As per course category |
| RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) |
All levels |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$99.00 per application |
|
| 2. Continuing students |
|
| Course category |
Course level |
Hourly rate |
Concession fee |
Maximum fee |
| Foundation |
Foundation level & Pre-accredited courses |
$1.08 |
Up to $50.00 |
$500.00 ($50.00 for students under 25) |
| Skills Creation |
Certificate I & II |
$1.62 |
Up to $105.00 |
$875.00 ($105.00 for students under 25) |
| Skills Building |
Certificate III & IV |
$2.17 |
Up to $187.00 |
$1,250.00 |
| Skills Deepening |
Diploma and Advanced Diploma |
$4.33 |
Up to $100.00 (for student under 25 only) |
$2,500.00 $325 (for Indigenous students) |
| Traineeships |
Various |
$2.17 |
Up to $187.00 |
$1,250.00 |
| Apprenticeships |
Various |
$2.17 |
Up to $187.00 |
As per course category |
| RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) |
All levels |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
$99 per application |
|
| 3. Fee Maintenance |
|
| Course category |
Course level |
Hourly rate |
Minimum / Concession |
Maximum fee |
| All Categories |
All levels |
$1.47 |
$59.00 |
$939.00 |
|
| How to calculate your fees |
|
The tuition fees for government supported places are calculated based on the hours of your enrolment. To calculate your tuition fees, multiply the total hours for your course by the fees per hour for the qualification level listed in the table above.
| Example 1: Tuition fee per hour for one program |
Example 2: Tuition fee per hour for multiple programs |
You wish to enrol in a Skills Building category course with 400 hours.
The tuition fee per hour for the Skills Building qualification is $2.17.
Your tuition fee will be: 400 x $2.17 = $868 |
You wish to enrol in a Foundation Skills category course with 200 hours and a Skills Creation course with 300 hours.
The tuition fee per hour for Foundation Studies is $1.08 and the fee per hour for Skills Creation is $1.62.
Your tuition fee will be: 200 x $1.08 = $216 (Foundation Skills) 300 x $1.62 = $486 (Skills Creation) Total fees: $216 + $486 = $702 |
The number of hours that you enrol in varies from unit to unit within your course. Please check your course details for specific information about the hours you will be studying. Your tuition fees will ‘cap’ at the maximum rate of the qualification level of your course enrolment.
|
| Fee concessions |
|
If you hold one of the following concession cards or meet certain other requirements, concessions are available on tuition fees for Government subsidised places in courses below diploma level or in a diploma or advanced diploma as part of an apprenticeship or traineeship:
- Commonwealth Health Care Card
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Veteran’s Gold Card.
These concessions also apply to dependent spouses and children of a card holder.
The concession rate for each program level is equivalent to the minimum fee rate for that level (except for courses in the Skills Deepening category).
If applying for a fees concession you will be required to bring proof of your eligibility either at enrolment or students by showing a ‘Date of Grant’ or ‘Card Start Date’ within 10 working days of enrolment and no more than 30 working days from the ‘Date of Grant’ or ‘Card Start Date’.
If you enrol in, and commence, more than one course in different levels in a calendar year, the tuition fees for each enrolment shall be calculated independently. If you enrol in, and commence, a second course in the same category in a calendar year, tuition fees already paid in that year shall be taken into account in calculating fees. |
| VET FEE HELP |
|
Diploma and advanced diploma students may also be to access the VET Fee-HELP loan scheme to defer fees through the tax system. This is a Commonwealth Government student loan scheme available to eligible TAFE students to help pay all or part of their tuition fees.
Speak with a Student Adviser about VET FEE-HELP options. |
More information
Victorian Training Guarantee website
Australian Government - VET-fee Help
Australian Government - Going to uni
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