The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a compulsory fee.

Find out who pays the SSAF, how much it costs, and when your payments are due.

How the fee is calculated

Your SSAF is a pro-rata fee calculated based on your course load (number of credit points that you’re enrolled in). The individual SSAF amount per unit of study will appear on your statement of account. 

Fees are based:

  • per course type
  • whether you are a full-time or part-time student (enrolled in <75 per cent of a full-time load for the year)
  • what mode of study you are undertaking (such as on-campus, online etc).

In 2024, SSAF will be calculated up to a maximum of $351 per year and the charge per 12 credit points (1 Unit of study equivalent to 0.125 EFTSL) for Higher Education students is $43.87.

 

Paying SSAF

Most enrolled students need to pay SSAF, either as a separate fee or as part of their tuition fees.

If you need help to pay the SSAF, you can apply for an SA-HELP loan.

Separate SSAF fee

You pay SSAF as a separate fee if you are:

  • a Commonwealth-supported student
  • enrolled in a VET/TAFE course as a government-subsidised student.

SSAF combined with tuition fees

You pay SSAF as part of your tuition fees if you are:

  • an international student
  • a full-fee student or a fee-for-service student.

SSAF exemptions

You don't pay SSAF if you are:

  • a TAFE student studying fewer than 60 hours per year
  • a TAFE student enrolled in the Learning and Numeracy Support course (code LNSUPPORT)
  • a TAFE student enrolled as non-government funded
  • completing your course through VU Online
  • receiving advanced standing for your entire course
  • an asylum seeker eligible for government subsidies
  • a VU employee on contract for a period of at least 12 months or ongoing on a time fraction of 0.5 or more (see the Staff status declaration).

SA-HELP loans

If you're an HE student you may be eligible to defer your SSAF payment with a SA-HELP loan. You're eligible if you:

  • are an Australian citizen, permanent humanitarian visa holder or a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the long-term residency requirements
  • are enrolled in an eligible course of study with a higher education provider
  • meet the tax file number (TFN) requirements.

If you'd like to apply for a SA-HELP loan, please visit MyVU and complete the relevant online form by the census date.

Read more about SA-HELP loans on the Australian Government's StudyAssist website.

SSAF fees & dates

Government-funded students will need to pay the following SSAF amounts. If you are required to pay it, your SSAF will be itemised on your Statement of Account, and is payable by the due date.

The SSAF is charged each academic semester for HE students and annually for TAFE students.

Higher education (HE) students

Study mode and 2024 fee (per semester):

  • Full-time study: $175.50 (maximum $351 for the year)
  • Part-time study: $87.75 (maximum $175.50 for the year).

TAFE students

Study mode and 2024 fee (per year):

  • Full time and part time (government-funded students with no concession, studying more than 60 hours per year): $175.50
  • Concession: $105.30
  • Studying off campus, via Industry training, or at Geelong and Werribee East locations: $52.65

Only VET Diploma and above students who are eligible for concessions under Government Indigenous Completions or Job Trainer initiatives, can obtain the concession rate for SSAF.

Payment due dates

2024 Higher Education SSAF due dates:

  • 29 March 2024 for the first semester
  • 22 November 2024 for the second semester.

VET/TAFE course SSAF due dates:

  • 28 days after the course study period start date for new students
  • the first unit start date of the year for continuing students.