Commonwealth supported places and students
Benefits of being Commonwealth supported
Which providers are able to offer Commonwealth supported places?
What is a national priority place?
Commonwealth supported places and students
A Commonwealth supported place is a higher education place for which the Commonwealth makes a contribution towards the cost of a student’s education.
You are a Commonwealth supported student if you:
- meet the eligibility requirements, and
- are enrolled in a unit of study that is Commonwealth supported.
If you are enrolled in a unit of study as a Commonwealth supported student, you will generally be required to contribute to the cost of your education through a student contribution. It is considered reasonable that students who directly benefit from higher education should pay part of the cost of their studies, while the Australian Government pays the majority of the costs involved. Your higher education provider sets the student contribution amount that you are required to pay.
Advantages of being Commonwealth supported
The five main advantages of being a Commonwealth supported student are:
- the Australian Government contributes to the cost of your education
- the Australian Government limits the amount your provider can charge as a student contribution
- you may be eligible for HECS-HELP assistance to pay your student contribution
- if you are also Indigenous, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Scholarship
- you may be eligible for OS-HELP assistance.
See also:
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Which providers are able to offer Commonwealth supported places?
All Australian public universities are allocated a number of Commonwealth supported places. The Commonwealth will contribute to the cost of these places.
Some approved additional providers may be allocated a number of Commonwealth supported places. These places are specifically for national priority areas.
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What is a national priority place?
A national priority place is a Commonwealth supported place in a national priority area. Currently, teaching and nursing are key national priority areas.
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