Financial support

We understand that sometimes life presents unforeseen challenges that can have a serious impact on your finances. Through a combination of the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and UWA’s wider cost of living initiatives, we provide a range of support options to assist students experiencing financial hardship and help to reduce the impact of unexpected financial pressures.

  • SOS Emergency Grant

    If you need financial help for an emergency to cover expenses related to your education, we may be able to provide you with financial assistance through UWA’s SOS Emergency Grant. 

    Money provided through these grants can be used for unexpected expenses, it cannot be used to pay tuition fees and does not have to be paid back.  

    The SOS Emergency Grants are open to all students who meet the eligibility criteria below. 

    To be eligible to apply for one of our emergency grants you must be: 

    • currently enrolled onshore at the University of Western Australia
    • at risk of discontinuing your studies
    • able to demonstrate financial hardship due to exceptional and unforeseen circumstances (evidenced through the submission of supporting documentation like bank statements) 
    • able to show you have exhausted all other avenues of financial assistance (Centrelink, UWA Student Guild, savings, etc.)

    Apply for financial assistance through the Online Referral Form. 

    If you have any questions about your eligibility, contact [email protected]. 

  • SOS IT Equipment Scheme

    UWA's SOS IT Equipment Scheme provides help to students who are unable to purchase a laptop due to financial hardship or unexpected misadventure.  

    Loan laptops are granted for the duration of a teaching semester and come with a standard suite of software installed. 

    Students should be able to demonstrate financial hardship due to exceptional and unforeseen circumstances (evidenced through the submission of supporting documentation like bank statements).  

     Students in their first semester are normally not eligible however will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

    Apply for a loan laptop through the Online Referral Form.

    If you have questions about your eligibility, contact [email protected]

  • UWA Workplace Qualification Reimbursement Program

    The UWA Workplace Qualification Reimbursement Program supports domestic students with the costs (up to $150) associated with completing qualifications often required for casual or part-time work during their studies at UWA.

    This includes:

    • Responsible Service of Alcohol
    • First Aid Certificate
    • Barista Training

    This initiative is intended to help domestic students* obtain employment and is supported by the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Priority will be given to students facing financial hardship.

    • Pre-approval applications open 16 February 2026.
    • Applications will be assessed within two weeks and students will be notified of the outcome.
    • Once approved, students can book, pay for and attend their training.
    • Pre-approved students must provide a tax invoice and certificate of completion to UWA within 30 days, otherwise their funds will be reallocated to a student on the waiting list.

    Apply for this program

    * International students are encouraged to access highly subsidised training through Study Perth in partnership with Tourism WA, through their regular Job Connect Workshops, including:

    • Hotel Operations Job Connect (includes RSA)
    • Hospitality Jumpstart Job Connect (includes RSA)
    • Barista Job Connect
    • Bartending Job Connect (includes RSA)
    • Kitchen Hand Basics Job Connect
    • Tour Guide Workshop

    International students can register their interest here.

  • Food and essentials on campus

    UWA provides access to free or low-cost food and essentials on campus throughout semester. This is funded through the SSAF and includes:

    • Free fruit and snacks in Barry J Marshall Library and the International Student Lounge throughout semester
    • Free fruit and snacks available in Barry J Marshall and Reid Library during study break and exams
    • Discounted ($3.99) breakfasts at Guild Cafes during study break and exams
    • Pop-ups and free food giveaways throughout semester, including for Mental Health Week, study break and exams
    • Free period products in the libraries
  • Scholarships

    Explore a range of scholarships available to UWA students. They’re designed to recognise achievement, support those in need, and help you make the most of your university experience.

    Find out more

  • Commonwealth Prac Payments

    From 1 July 2025, the Australian Government introduced the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to assist eligible students with costs related to mandatory placements in higher education courses for teaching, nursing, and social work.

    Find out more

  • UWA Student Guild initiatives

    The Guild offers a range of financial support, including interest-free loans, meal vouchers, a food pantry and resources for budgeting.

    Visit Guild Student Assist for more information.

Tuition fee payment extensions for international students

If you have recently experienced significant, unexpected circumstances beyond your control that have impacted on your ability to make on-time payment of your fees for the coming semester, we would like to hear about it. There may be grounds to award you a short extension of time to pay this semester’s fees. Submitting an application does not guarantee it will be approved. It is a condition of your UWA Acceptance Contract and Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) that all fees are paid in full on time; fee extensions will not be approved on an ongoing basis.

  • Applications

    Applications

    Complete an application form [DOCX, 88KB] and submit to the Fees team via askUWA. Log in with your UniID, as we will communicate with you via your UWA student email address.

    Note:

    • Before submitting your application, ensure all fees for previous semesters have already been paid; extensions will only be considered for tuition fees due in the upcoming semester. If an extension is granted, all fees must be paid by the last date of the teaching period for the coming semester, which is before the exam period.
    • In gathering your supporting documentation, it’s important to remember to include details of your income and expenses to help you determine whether your proposal to pay all fees before the end of semester is realistic.
    • The current financial difficulties you are experiencing should be a temporary circumstance; you will need to be able to show that the financial difficulties will have been resolved before next semester to ensure you don’t need a further extension.

    Due date: Tuition fees are due to be paid in the first week of semester. As such, completed applications should ideally be received before the start of the semester.

  • Advice

    If, after reading through this information and the application form, you would like to speak with someone about your circumstances and your options, make an appointment to see the International Student Support team via askUWA. They can also provide you with advice about completing a Fee Extension application and the sorts of documents you need to submit as evidence to support your case.

  • Outcome

    Submitting an application does not guarantee it will be approved. We will send you a confirmation email within 10 working days to let you know we have received your application or if we need further information.

    Completed applications will be considered within 20 working days of receipt, and an outcome notification will be sent to your UWA student email account.

    If your application is approved, you will need to complete the Acceptance Form within 10 working days to confirm you wish to accept the offer of a payment extension, and to confirm you understand any conditions attached to that extension. Extensions will not be granted beyond the end of the teaching period of the semester for which the extension is granted.

    If your application is not approved, you have 20 working days from receipt of the outcome notification to pay your fees to avoid cancellation of your enrolment and, if applicable, your CoE.

  • Appeal process

    If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your application and believe you have grounds, you may submit an appeal within 20 working days of receiving the outcome notification. Details of the appeal process will be included in the outcome notification.

    Grounds for appeal

    You may have grounds to appeal if you can demonstrate:

    • the application or assessment process was procedurally irregular or unfair
    • new information is available that could not reasonably have been provided at the time of the application process and that, in all likelihood, would have affected the application outcome, or
    • the application outcome was not fair or reasonable.

    Outcome of appeal

    You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your appeal within 10 working days of submitting it. You will receive an appeal outcome within 30 working days of receipt of appeal or, where this requirement is not met, a progress update in writing every 10 working days thereafter.

  • Encumbrance and late fee

    An encumbrance will be added to your account while you have any outstanding balance of fees, even if you are granted a payment extension. This will prevent you from graduating, re-enrolling and/or receiving a CoE extension, academic documents, unit results, admission to a new course or release request. This may affect your ability to apply for future visas. The encumbrance will not be removed under any circumstances.

    If you are granted a payment extension, you will not receive a late fee unless you do not make full payment by the extension date. There will not be any extensions of the extension date. If full fees are not received by the extension date, this may also result in your enrolment and, if applicable, CoE being cancelled, which may have implications on your visa.

Other support services

Other helpful financial resources

If you’re looking for extra financial or budgeting guidance beyond UWA, you might find these external services and resources helpful.

You may be interested in

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