Overdue fees and penalties

Higher education students in a Commonwealth Supported Place

Your fees are paid in part by the Australian Government. The remaining amount shown on your invoice is your student contribution. 

It is a government condition of your enrolment into a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) that you pay your fees, or successfully apply for a HECS-HELP loan (if eligible) by the census date.

If you don't pay, or secure your loan by the census date. RMIT is required to cancel your enrolment until the next study period.

There is no extension to the due date for your fees in a CSP.

Students in a full-fee place

The full cost of your tuition fees is your responsibility. You must pay your fees by the due date on your invoice. If your fees are not paid by the due date, you may:

• Have your enrolment cancelled
• Become a University debtor 
• Be referred to an external debt collection agency 
• Become non-compliant with your student visa requirements 
• Lose your scholarship or international sponsorship 

Students in a Commonwealth Supported Place

If your student contribution (tuition fees) are not paid by the census date, your enrolment will be cancelled. This is a requirement under the Higher Education Support Act.

Late payments cannot be accepted. 

If your enrolment is cancelled for failing to pay your student contribution by the census date, you:

• Will not be financially liable for the classes that are cancelled
• Can re-enrol in your classes in the next study period (if available)
   

All other students

Debtor restrictions 

When fees are not paid by the due date, we apply certain restrictions to your student record. These restrictions will mean that you can't enrol, add classes, obtain a transcript of results or a Statement of Academic Completion, receive an award, or view your academic history (results) in Enrolment Online. 

Cancellation of enrolment and debt collection 

If you have more than $500 of unpaid tuition fees in your account after the due date, RMIT may cancel your enrolment in all of your current programs.

If your enrolment is cancelled you will:

• Be cancelled in all current programs even if you have paid (or have an approved HELP loan or VET Student Loan) for any other program/s that you're enrolled in
• Have to reapply to the University if you wish to continue your studies in the cancelled program/s
• Still have to pay the tuition fees for any course you've already received a grade for or that has already finished, as well as any materials or other fees e.g. library fines

 Any payments that you owe will be referred to a debt collection agency. These include:

• Tuition fees of $500 or more for a course for which you have already received a grade, or if the course has finished
• Tuition fees of $499.99 or less
• All materials and other fees e.g. Library fines

International student visas 

If you're an international student and your enrolment is cancelled, your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) will also be cancelled. If your eCoE is cancelled, you may be in breach of your visa conditions. 

You should contact the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) immediately to find out what action you need to take to ensure you remain legally in Australia. If you don't contact the DHA, your student visa may be cancelled. 
 

Scholarship and international sponsored students

It's your responsibility to ensure that the funds to cover your fees are paid into your student account before the due date for each charge. If they're not, your fees will become overdue and the penalties outlined above will apply.

HELP loans

Your HELP loan is only approved once you have been issued with a HELP loan approval letter in Enrolment Online. 

If you have an approved HELP loan (HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP), you will continue to receive invoices. This is to show your current charges that will be deferred and give you the opportunity to make a payment before the census date. Your remaining tuition fees will automatically be deferred after the census date.

It's your responsibility to keep track of your combined HELP loan limit. Once you reach your HELP loan limit, you need to pay your remaining tuition fees by the due date.

Administration and material fees are not covered by loans and need to be paid by the due date.

VET Student Loans

Your VET Student Loan is only approved once you have been issued with a VET Student Loan approval letter in Enrolment Online. 

If you have an approved VET Student Loan your tuition charges will be deferred when your loan is approved, up to the VET Student Loan program loan limit. The program loan limit is displayed on your invoice and on your electronic VET Student Loan application form.

If your VET Student Loan doesn't cover the total amount of tuition fees, you need to pay the difference by the due date. 

The tuition charges are still shown on your invoice, so you know the cost of your courses. 

Administration and material fees are not covered by loans and need to be paid by the due date.

Having trouble paying your fees?

If you're having difficulty paying your fees or think you might in the future, please Student Connect for advice.

Other ways to manage your fees might be to:

• Reduce your fees by changing your enrolment
• Apply for a leave of absence for a semester, or 
• If you cannot afford your tuition fees, you may need to cancel your enrolment

Remember to check your important dates for deadlines to change your enrolment. 

If you're an international student you must ensure any enrolment changes are not in breach of your visa conditions. 

Need help?

For questions about fees, contact Student Connect.