Information on the Student Contribution Amount
Commonwealth supported students receive a fee subsidy from the Australian Government. However, they are required to pay the remainder of their fees, known as the Student Contribution Amount.
Here you can find information on whether you're eligible for a Commonwealth supported place, as well as student contribution rates.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place, you need to:
- be either an Australian citizen who will undertake at least one unit of your course of study in Australia, or a New Zealand citizen, a permanent visa holder, a permanent humanitarian visa holder (or eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder), or a pacific engagement visa holder, who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of your unit(s) of study
- have met the University's entry requirements for your chosen program
- have read the Commonwealth supported places and HECS-HELP information booklet
- complete a Request for a Commonwealth Supported Place and a HECS-HELP form by the census date.
Eligible Commonwealth Supported students may defer payment of their Student Contribution Amount to a HECS-HELP loan. You will repay this loan via the taxation system when your income reaches a certain level.
Student contribution bands
The Australian Government’s Job-ready Graduates reform package was passed on the 19 October 2020. The package includes changes to the student contribution for new students, who study in a Commonwealth supported place, from the 1 January 2021.
The Government has introduced Grandfathering arrangements for those students who commenced their program before 1 January 2021.
‘Grandfathered’ students will not be disadvantaged by the student contribution changes. If you are studying courses where the student contribution has decreased, you will be charged the decreased rates. If you are studying courses where the student contribution has increased, you will be charged the lower grandfathered rates.
Students who are not grandfathered, will be charged the new student contribution rates.
Equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL)
Equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) is the measure used to determine a student's study load. One EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
At Griffith an annual total of 80 credit points is equivalent to a standard year of full-time study (one EFTSL).
EFTSL is sometimes required by external organisations or government departments such as Centrelink as it provides a universal measurement of study load and is typically used to determine eligibility for payments and allowances.
The EFTSL of each course is displayed on your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN).
Calculating your EFTSL
Your EFTSL calculation will be based on the number of courses you are enrolled in.
| Enrolled courses | EFTSL calculation |
|---|---|
| One course worth 10 credit points | (1 x 10) / 80 = 0.125 EFTSL |
| Four courses each worth 10 credit points | (4 x 10) / 80 = 0.5 EFTSL |
| Eight courses each worth 10 credit points | (8 x 10) / 80 = 1 EFTSL |