TAFE fees for government subsidised places

TAFE Securing Jobs for Your Future: Skills for Victoria

The Victorian Government has announced major changes to TAFE education under the Securing Jobs for Your Future: Skills for Victoria reforms which took effect on 1 July 2009.

New tuition fees - students commencing programs from 1 July 2009

For students who commence programs after 1 July 2009, tuition fees depend on the program level or qualification level which have been categorized as follows: Foundation Skills, Skills Creation, Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Skills Building and Skills Deepening.

For study undertaken between 1 July 2009 and 31 December 2009, the following tuition fees will apply:

Level name

Program level

Fee per Nominal Hour

Student fee

Minimum fee (concession rate)

Student fees

Maximum fee (6 months)

Foundation Skills

Foundation level and pre-accredited programs

$1.08

$50

$250*

Skills Creation

Certificate I

Certificate II

$1.37

$105

$438*

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

varies

$1.37

$57

$452*

Skills Building

Certificate III

Certificate IV

$1.41

$120

$500*

Skills Deepening

Diploma

Advanced Diploma

$2.71

$225**

$750*

*Note: These fees apply for a half-year period only, ie the yearly fee maximum applies on a pro rata basis. For example, the intended yearly maximum of $500 for Foundation Skills has been amended to $250 for Semester 2, 2009.

**Concession fees are no longer available at the Skills Deepening level, however indigenous students will only be charged the minimum fee of $225.

Calculating the TAFE student contribution for a program or course

TAFE fees for government subsidised places are calculated based on the nominal hours of your enrolment. To calculate your tuition fees, multiply the total nominal hours for your course or program by the fees per nominal hour for the appropriate qualification level listed in the table above.

Maximum fee: your tuition fees will "cap" at the maximum rate of the qualification level of the program enrolment.

Example 1: Tuition fee per nominal hour for one program

A student is enrolled in a Skills Building program with 300 nominal hours. The tuition fee per nominal hour for the Skills Building qualification is $1.41.

Therefore, the tuition fee will be 300 x $1.41 = $423

Example 2: Tuition fee per nominal hour for multiple programs

A student is enrolled in a Foundation Skills program with 100 nominal hours and a Skills Creation program with 80 nominal hours. The fees per nominal hour for Foundation studies is $1.08 and the fees per nominal hour for Skills Creation is $1.37.

Therefore, the tuition fee will be

100 x $1.08 = $108 (Foundation Skills)

80 x $1.37 = $109.60 (Skills Creation)

Total fees: $108 + $109.60 = $217.60

Example 3: Tuition fee per nominal hour with maximum fee for qualification level

During the course of 2009, a student enrols in a Skills Creation program with 500 nominal hours. The fees per nominal hour for Skills Creation is $1.37 with a maximum fee of $438. Although 500 times $1.37 is $685, the tuition fee will be capped at the maximum fee of $438. Therefore the tuition fee will be: $438.

Overall annual maximum fee

As well as the maximum amounts at each qualification level there is also an overall annual maximum fee. At RMIT, the overall annual maximum fee regardless of how many TAFE programs you enrol in and at what qualification level the maximum you will be charged in 2009 is $877.

Example: A student's fees are capped at the 2009 overall annual maximum fee

Between 1 July 2009 and 31 December 2009 the student undertakes 300 hours of a Skills Building program ($1.41 per nominal hour) and 260 hours of a Skills Deepening program ($2.71 per nominal hour).

Based on their enrolled hours, the student is charged $423 for their Skills Building enrolments and $704.60 for their Skills Deepening enrolments. With the overall annual maximum fee, the total tuition fee amount charged for the student’s 2009 enrolments will be capped at $877.

Fee exemptions and concessions for students in government-subsidised places

Some students in government-subsidised places may be entitled to an exemption or concession on their tuition fees. This includes students with a Health Care Card or who receive government benefits through Centrelink. The concession rate for each program level is equivalent to the minimum fee rate for that level (except for the Skills Deepening level).

Applicants who believe they are eligible must submit an Application for Exemption/Concession form and provide supporting evidence of eligibility before an exemption or concession can be provided. Forms are available from and can be submitted to any campus Hub.

For more information, please go to RMIT's TAFE Fee Concessions website.

Skills Deepening (Diploma and Advanced Diploma) students

From 1 July, Skills Deepening (Diploma and Advanced Diploma students) will no longer be eligible for TAFE fee concessions. However, Diploma and Advanced Diploma students may be eligible for the new VET FEE-HELP loan scheme to defer fees through the tax system.

Tuition fees for Indigenous Students

The Indigenous Completions Initiative announced in 2004 has been extended to cover tuition fees for all enrolments of Indigenous students in 2009 including under the Skills Reform after 1 July 2009. Indigenous students who commence after 1 July 2009 are entitled to the minimum tuition fee amount at all program levels including the Skills Deepening level where no concession is available..

Fees for TAFE Australian full-fee places

RMIT also offers some TAFE places on a full-fee basis for students who are not eligible for government-subsidised places.

More information