Domestic pre-2005 HECS students

Changes to student contribution rates and citizenship rules to apply from Summer Semester 2008

The following changes will apply to student contribution rates for pre-2005 Commonwealth Supported (formerly HECS) students. These changes are in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act (2003) and will apply for enrolments from Summer semester 2008.

• Your current student contribution rate will change to the same indexed rate as students who commenced on or after 1 January 2005

  For example, a standard full-time year of study of 16 units in Engineering (contribution band 2) for a pre-2005 student would change from the current $5,807 to $7,412. See the table below for your new contribution

• Your student contribution will be charged as a ‘pre-2008’ student rather than a pre-2005 student
  
  
• Pre-1997 students, who in semester 1 & 2 were 2008 charged a fixed rate of $3,061 for 16 units for a standard full-time year, will be charged per the table below
  
  
• Only Australian citizens or holders of a Permanent Resident Humanitarian visa will be eligible to defer their HECS-HELP student contribution through the tax system
  
  
• Commonwealth Supported students who are New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents without a Humanitarian visa will be required to pay the full HECS-HELP student contribution upfront without any discount.

This table shows the student contributions payable by ‘pre-2008’ students enrolling from semester 1, 2009 for a standard full-time year of 16 units. Student contributions vary depending upon the courses (subjects) studied.

* Maths, Statistics and Science courses have been moved to the National Priorities contribution band for the following Commonwealth Supported students –

• all students who commence in or after 2009, regardless of their program
• continuing students who were enrolled in a NON-Natural or Physical Sciences program and, after 1 January 2009, transfer to a Natural or Physical Sciences program.

Pre-2009 students (with the limited exception above) will continue to be charged at contribution band 2 for Maths, Statistics and Science courses.

Change of citizenship
If you have changed citizenship and have not yet notified the University, you should immediately supply an original or certified copy of either your Citizenship Approval letter, Citizenship Certificate or Passport to the Student Centre on your campus. Note that Citizenship Approval letters cannot be used to update your citizenship status after 31 December 2008.

More information
If you have any queries regarding this matter, please telephone Student Fees on (07) 3365 2328 or email fees@uq.edu.au . If you need advice regarding whether you can complete your degree requirements this year, please contact your Faculty.