The University of Western Australia
University Policy on: Fees: Payment and refund of tuition fees for domestic postgraduate students
Purpose of the policy and summary of issues it addresses:
This policy sets out the principles applying to the payment and refund of tuition fees in the case of domestic postgraduate students who are liable for such fees.
Definitions:
In this policy and any associated procedures,
the University means The University of Western Australia
census date is the date when a student becomes financially liable for a unit in which they are enrolled
designated course is a course, other than a bachelor’s degree course, in which Commonwealth-supported places are available
EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) is a measure of study load.  One EFTSL represents a standard full-time load of study and is equivalent to 48 points for a year
FEE-HELP means the financial assistance available (from the Federal Government) to students for units of study for which they are not Commonwealth-supported students
initial fee means the fee applying to a student in the calendar year in which the student first enrols in the course
ongoing fee means the fee applying to a student in any period of enrolment in the course other than the year in which the student is liable for the initial fee
Research Training Scheme (RTS) means a Commonwealth performance-based funding scheme which provides Commonwealth-funded higher degree by research candidates with an entitlement to a student contribution and tuition fee exemption in relation to an accredited higher degree by research course
tuition fees are payable by a student to the University and are directly related to the teaching and assessment for a course in which the student is enrolled

Policy statement:

1	General Principles
1.1	As provided for under Government policy, the University levies tuition fees on domestic students enrolled in postgraduate courses of the University unless the student -
(a) has a Commonwealth-supported place in a designated course; or
(b) has a Research Training Scheme place. 

2	Tuition fees payable by students

2.1	Tuition fees are determined per course.

2.2	Tuition fees are charged proportionately on a per EFTSL basis.

2.3	Tuition fees are levied for each semester or trimester, as applicable.

2.4	Upon first enrolment, students are charged the initial fee applicable to the calendar year in which they first enrol in the course. 

2.5	In subsequent years continuing students are charged an ongoing fee which is usually adjusted in line with Consumer Price Index (CPI) movements unless the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) approves otherwise.

2.6	The ongoing fee for students who were liable to pay their initial fee in 2006 to 2014 inclusive under Clause 2.4, 2.7 or 2.8 must not be increased by more than CPI increases.  

2.7	Students who enrol in a course in any year, withdraw before completing a unit in that year, and re-enrol in the course in a subsequent year are liable for the initial fee applying to new course entrants in the year in which they re-enrol.

2.8	Students who have been classified as having discontinued their course under the University Policy on Approved Leave must re-apply for admission and are liable for the initial fee applying to new course entrants in the year of their readmission to the course.

2.9	The tuition fee payable by a student and potential adjustments are agreed to by the student on acceptance of their offer. 

2.10	Unless other arrangements are formally negotiated by the parties concerned -

2.10.1	if a student from another institution is permitted to enrol  in a unit of this University under the relevant University policy on Cross-institutional enrolment, the student is liable for tuition fees for the unit on the basis of the arrangements applying to the course to which the unit primarily belongs.

2.10.2	if a student of this University is permitted to enrol under the relevant University policy on Cross-institutional enrolment at another institution (the host institution) in a unit for credit towards the student’s course at this University, fees for the unit in which the student is enrolled cross-institutionally are determined by and paid to the host institution.

2.11	Students who exit from an RTS-funded course and apply for the award of a qualification for which they would have been required to pay tuition fees, must, if the RTS funding received for the student is less than the applicable tuition fees, normally pay the difference between those amounts.

2.12	If Clause 2.11 applies, the amount is payable before the qualification can be awarded.

3	Penalties for non-payment of tuition fees

3.1	Students who do not pay tuition fees by the due date (as outlined on the Statement of Account) are subject to a late payment fee.

3.2	Students who have not deferred payment via FEE-HELP have their enrolment cancelled if fees remain unpaid past the relevant census date for the unit (as outlined on the Statement of Account).

4	Availability of FEE-HELP

4.1	Domestic students may be eligible to apply for FEE-HELP to defer all or part of the tuition fees for their course.

5	Refund of tuition fees

5.1	Students withdrawing on or before the census date from a unit to which tuition fees apply are given a full refund of their fees.  

5.2	No refunds or remission of FEE-HELP debt are approved after the census date unless the student has been granted approval for withdrawal without academic penalty under the University Policy on Special Consideration, or otherwise, in recognition of significant mitigating circumstances. 

Related forms: (Link)
Policy No:
UP07/122
	Approving body or position:
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)
	
Date original policy approved:
2004
	Date this version of policy approved:
January 2014

Date policy to be reviewed:
2017
Date this version of procedures approved:

TRIM File No:
F56995
	Contact position:
Associate Director, Student Administration

Related Policies or legislation:
University Policy on Approved Leave
University Policy on Cross-institutional enrolment for students undertaking an award course at another institution in Australia
University Policy on Cross-Institutional enrolment for students undertaking an award course at The University of Western Australia
University Policy on Special Consideration
University Policy on Withdrawal from a unit
University Policy on Fees: Setting, amending and monitoring tuition fees for domestic postgraduate students