TAFE NSW fees, exemptions, concessions and refunds

• Why do I need to pay the TAFE NSW fee when I enrol?
• How much is the TAFE NSW fee?
• How can I pay the fee?
• What if I have difficulty paying?
• Can I get a concession or exemption?
• What are Special Access courses and do they have fees?
• What is different about HSC, Tertiary Preparation Certificate and Children's Services Diploma course fees?
• Are there other costs to do a TAFE course?
• What if I want to withdraw or get a refund?

Why do I need to pay the TAFE NSW fee when I enrol?

When you enrol you will need to pay the TAFE NSW fee, unless you qualify for a fee exemption or fee concession. You will not be regarded as being enrolled without the payment of, or approved exemption from, either the TAFE NSW fee or the concession fee.

Until your enrolment is completed, you are not entitled to:

• attend class
• sit for examinations
• receive educational awards
• use amentitites and services (including travel concessions)
• receive an active TAFEcard (which provides access to library resources)
• receive Austudy.

If you are doing a course of one semester or less you will be charged half the annual fee (see table below) unless you receive a concession or exemption.
 
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How much is the TAFE NSW fee?

The fee structure for 2012 is listed below:

Course	2012 full year fee ($)*	2012 half-year fee for courses of one semester or less or commencing in Semester 2.*
Advanced Diploma	$1570	$785
Diploma	$1308	$654
Certificate lV	$984~	$492
Certificate lll	$724~	$362
Certificate l & ll	$462	$231
Statements and other short courses	$462~	$231**
Apprentices and Trainees	$436	$218
Other Groups:
Government Benefit recipients	$53	$53
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students	0	0
Students with a Disability (first course per year)^	0	0
Special Access courses	0	0

* Fees for some courses including TAFE PLUS commercial courses, TAFE Delivered HSC Vocational Education and Training (TVET), international students and temporary visa holders are different to the TAFE NSW fee. Contact your local campus for more information.
Additional course and enrolment-related charges may apply.

** The TAFE Fee for the Selected Study Program is capped at $231 per semester

*** All Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diploma qualifications are offered on a commercial basis. Contact the campus offering the course for details.

~ Students successfully completing a Higher School Certificate or Tertiary Preparation course may be eligible for a fee refund. See below for more information.

^ See Fee Exemptions for details.

Note: the 'time of enrolment' is generally taken to be the date the student and enrolling officer completes and signs the enrolment form or the online enrolment process. This means that if you choose to pay your TAFE NSW fee in two installments you will be expected to pay both installments, even if you may otherwise have been eligible for an exemption at the time the second installment is due.

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How can I pay the fee?

Payment methods

If you enrol at a campus, you can pay the TAFE NSW fee or any other enrolment-related charges by EFTPOS, Visa Card, MasterCard, cheque or money order payable to 'TAFE NSW'. TAFE NSW is committed to maintaining a safe environment for both students and staff, and has a policy of cashless enrolment at all times. You may also have the option of paying the TAFE NSW fee (and other enrolment-related charges) via the Internet.

Students who are re-enrolling are encouraged to make their payments via the internet or by one of the remote payment options offered.

Payment of the TAFE NSW fee in instalments

If your course runs for more than one semester you may be able to pay your TAFE NSW fee in two equal instalments unless you pay the concession fee. The first payment is made when you enrol. The second payment is required by 31 May of that year.

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What if I have difficulty paying?

If you feel you will have difficulty paying the TAFE fee or other costs associated with your course or you are suffering from financial hardship you can talk to a TAFE Councellor. TAFE Counsellors can assist students with financial matters as well as career planning, study skills, course articulation and credit transfer and personal issues such as managing stress.

Counselling sessions are confidential except where information is governed by Government legislation and professional requirements. To arrange an appointment with a TAFE Counsellor contact your nearest North Coast TAFE Campus.

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Can I get a concession or exemption?

Fee exemptions

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are exempt from paying the TAFE NSW fee.

Students in receipt of a Disability Support Pension, Veteran's Affairs Compensation Pension and students with a disability (who are clients of a Teacher/Consultant for students with a disability) receive a full fee exemption for one TAFE NSW course per year and are eligible for the concession fee for subsequent enrolments in that year.

Application for Exemption from the TAFE fee.
Exemption from the TAFE fee poster

Concessions

Students who receive a Commonwealth benefit or allowance (see list below) are eligible to pay the concession fee per course enrolment, rather than the full TAFE NSW fee.

• Age Pension
• Austudy including Veterans Children Education Scheme
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment
• Family Tax Benefit Part A (maximum rate)
• Farm Help Income Support
• Mature Age Allowance
• Newstart Allowance
• Parenting Payment (single)
• Sickness Allowance
• Special Benefit
• Veterans' Affairs Payments
• Widow Pension including Widow 'B' Pension
• Wife Pension
• Youth Allowance

Note: Students who are recognised as a dependant child/spouse/partner of a recipient of an eligible benefit or allowance may also be eligible for the concession fee.

To find out if you are eligible for a full-fee exemption or concession fee, contact your campus or ring 1300 628233 before enrolling. Your campus can also advise you about what documentation you will need to bring with you to enrol.

Application for a concession TAFE fee.
Concession TAFE fee poster.

If you are applying for a fee exemption or concession fee, you need to complete an Exemption or Concession Application form and return it with appropriate documentation to your campus of enrolment.

The TAFE NSW fee is applied differently for...

Apprentices and Trainees - apprentices pay a capped fee per year for their apprenticeship or traineeship course unless they are eligible for a concession fee or exemption. 

To be eligible for the capped fee you must provide proof of your Apprenticeship (contact your local campus or ring 1300 628233 for details).

Further information and frequently asked questions are available on the Australian Apprenticeships website.

Information on assistance available to apprentices in NSW can be found at State Training Services website.

New Entrant Trainees - in 2012, New Entrant Trainees pay a capped fee of $436.00 for their Traineeship course unless they are eligible for a concession fee or exemption. To be eligible for the capped fee you must provide proof of your Traineeship (contact your local campus for details).

School-based Trainees - school-based trainee courses are covered by another funding arrangement, so the TAFE NSW fee does not apply.

Existing Worker Trainees - are covered by other funding arrangements, so the TAFE NSW fee does not apply.

Commercial courses - There are no fee exemptions or concessions for these courses. Refund/transfers are only available if you notify us of your withdrawal at least seven (7) days prior to the commencement of the course.

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What are Special Access courses and do they have fees?

If you enrol in a Special Access Course you pay no TAFE NSW fee. These courses teach skills in:

• career opportunities
• community training
• employment skills
• literacy
• numeracy
• reading and writing
• school mentoring
• signed language
• volunteer tutoring and
• work readiness.

The following Special Access courses are exempt from the TAFE NSW Fee. A personal exemption application for these courses is not required.

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What is different about HSC, Tertiary Preparation Certificate and Children's Services Diploma course fees?

Higher School Certificate and Tertiary Preparation Certificate TAFE NSW fee refund

From 2008, TAFE NSW students who enrol in and complete 91146NSW Certificate III in HSC Studies, TAFE NSW course no. 6500 or 91178NSW Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (TPC), TAFE NSW course no.6502 at TAFE NSW will be eligible for a refund of the TAFE NSW fee.

If a student completes one or more of the following preparatory courses for the HSC or TPC first, the TAFE fee for these courses will also be refunded:

• Statement of Attainment in HSC Preliminary Studies , TAFE NSW course no: 6501
• 91179NSW Certificate III in Preparation for Vocational and Further Study, TAFE NSW course no. 6503
• Statement of Attainment in Preparation for Vocational and Further Study, TAFE NSW course no. 6504
• Statement of Attainment in HSC Studies, TAFE NSW course no. 6505
• Statement of Attainment in Preparatory Mathematics and Science, TAFE NSW course no. 6509

To be eligible, students must provide proof of course completion (either a TAFE NSW Testamur or a TAFE NSW Course Completion Notice) and apply for the refund at their campus of enrolment.

Note: This refund applies only to TAFE NSW students who enrol or re-enrol in 2009 in one of the courses specified above. It does not apply to school students or students in other educational institutions. Students must complete the HSC or TPC in TAFE after 1 January 2008 to be eligible. Other materials charges are excluded from this refund. Refunds for the additional HSC and TPC preparatory courses listed above will only apply upon course completion of either the HSC or TPC. The refund applies to all eligible students regardless of the date they commenced their study.

Diploma of Children's Services

Under arrangements with the Australian Government, TAFE NSW will waive the TAFE NSW enrolment fee for eligible students enrolled in a government-subsidised Diploma of Children’s Services qualification from 1 January 2009 until 30 June 2012. This fee waiver (for compulsory fees) will apply to new and continuing eligible students undertaking the qualification either by full-time or part-time study.

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Are there other costs to do a TAFE course?

Apart from the TAFE NSW fee, you may also need to pay:

• course-related charges
• Student Association membership
• licence fees.

Protective Clothing

Certain courses require you to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing. Clothing must be purchased by the student and entry to the class will be refused unless the specific protective clothing/uniform is worn. Information as to what you need will be given at the time of enrolment.

Materials Charge

Some courses will require the payment of a materials charge. Details of this charge will be provided at enrolment time.

Replacement Transcript and Testamur Costs

You can request a copy of course transcripts at any time. There is no cost for copies of transcripts. If you require a replacement Testamur, you will need to pay the replacement Testamur fee of $75.00 per course. Contact your local campus for more information or ring 1300 NCTAFE (1300 628233)

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What if I want to withdraw or get a refund?

If you are withdrawing from your course or applying for a refund you need to complete a Withdrawal/Refund Application form and post it or return it to your campus of enrolment.

A refund of all or part of the TAFE NSW fee may be given in the following exceptional circumstances:

• You have overpaid the TAFE NSW fee.
• You enrolled in a course that has been cancelled by the campus or Institute
• You have paid the full TAFE fee but now receive Youth Allowance or Austudy commencing within two weeks of the date of enrolment or the date of first attendance at class (you will be eligible for the concession fee).
• You are offered and accept a place in a course at university or at the same/another TAFE NSW Campus within the first three teaching weeks.
• You enrol in a course only to repeat a failed unit/module but are then granted a pass in that unit/module by an Assessment Review Committee.
• You formally advise the campus before classes commence and with no attendance, that you are withdrawing from the course.
• You make full-year payment and withdrew with no attendance in Semester Two. You may be eligible for a refund of the Semester Two TAFE NSW fee.
• The campus delegate is of the opinion that you would be unreasonably disadvantaged if you were not granted a refund, for example, if you meet with a serious misadventure and you were unable to continue your enrolment.

Other appropriate circumstances, such as:

• Extended hospitalisation or illness (two weeks minimum) supported by a medical certificate and resulting in extended absence from classes. In this case a refund of the fee for the second semester may be given;
• Pregnancy/child birth (other than in cases of medical complication covered by the above). In this case a refund of the fee for second semester may be given.

Refund/transfers for commercial courses are only available if you notify us of your withdrawal at least seven (7) days prior to the commencement of the course.

Refunds are made to the student, organisation or third party who originally paid the TAFE NSW fee.

Circumstances not usually regarded as grounds for a refund include:

• Job change
• Change in work hours
• Inconvenience of travel to campus
• Moving Interstate
• Redundancy/Retrenchment

2012 Refund Application form

If you enrol in an approved Apprenticeship or Traineeship course without evidence of being an Apprentice or Trainee, you will be asked to pay the full fee. If you subsequently provide evidence that you are an Apprentice or Trainee you will be refunded the difference between the course fee and the capped Apprenticship or Traineeship fee.

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