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TAFE fees for government subsidised places

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2012 TAFE tuition fees

Important information about fees for programs commencing on or after 1 January 2012

In October 2011, Skills Victoria informed Victorian TAFE institutes of proposed changes to funding and the removal of minimum and maximum fee caps. This means that from 1 January 2012, TAFE institutes are entitled to charge commencing students (and continuing apprentices) for the full amount of the training delivered to them. However, RMIT has made the decision to continue applying maximum tuition fees to all students in 2012.

The changes in funding also included the reduction of the industry weighting for business programs (reducing the government contribution for these programs by 12.5%), and the reduction of the government contribution for Certificate I – Certificate IV programs.

Set out below are the fees for government subsidised places in a TAFE program in 2012.

TAFE tuition fees depend on the program level or qualification level which have been categorised as follows: Foundation Skills, Skills Creation, Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Skills Building and Skills Deepening.

For study undertaken in 2012 the following tuition fees will apply:

Level name

Program level

Fee per Contact Hour

Student fees

Concession fee per year1

Student fees

Maximum tuition fee per year2

(Pre-2012)

Student fees

Maximum tuition fee per year3

(2012 +)

Foundation Skills

Foundation level and pre-accredited programs

$1.08

$50

$500

$500

Skills Creation

Certificate I

Certificate II

(includes VCE C2084 & C2085)

$1.62

$105

$875

$875

Apprenticeships

Various

$2.17

$188

$923

$923

Traineeships

Various

$2.17

$188

$1,250

$1,250

Skills Building

Certificate III

Certificate IV

$2.17

$188

$1,250

$1,250

Skills Deepening

Diploma

Advanced Diploma

$4.33

$100**

$2,500

$2,500

  1. Fees will be calculated for the student’s enrolled load, up to the concession fee amount for the calendar year.
  2. The maximum fee for the calendar year for students who commenced their program on or after 1 July 2009 and before 1 January 2012.
  3. The maximum fee for the calendar year for students who commenced their program on or after 1 January 2012.

**Eligible students under the age of 25 at 1 January 2012 will be charged a concession fee of $100 for enrolments at the Skills Deepening level. For students aged 25 years and over at 1 January 2012, no concession is available at the Skills Deepening level,however indigenous students will only be charged the concession fee of $100.

Overall annual maximum fee (2012)

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 you will be charged in 2012 is $2,500, regardless of how many TAFE programs you enrol in and at what qualification level.

Example: student's fees charged up to the 2012 overall annual maximum fee

During the course of 2012, the student undertakes 720 hours of a Skills Building program ($2.17 per contact hour) and 400 hours of a Skills Deepening program ($4.33 per contact hour).

Based on their enrolled hours, the student is charged $1,250 (up to the maximum tuition fee) for their Skills Building enrolments and $1250 for their Skills Deepening enrolments. With the overall annual maximum fee, the total tuition fee amount charged for the student’s 2012 enrolments will not exceed $2,500.

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 specified in the table above.

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.

Skills Deepening (Diploma and Advanced Diploma) students

In 2011 the Victorian government reintroduced tuition fee concessions for people under the age of 25 enrolled at the Skills Deepening level.

Eligible students under the age of 25 at 1 January 2012 are charged a concession fee of $100 for enrolments at the Skills Deepening level undertaken in 2012. For students aged 25 and over at 1 January 2012, no concession is available at the Skills Deepening level, however indigenous students will only be charged the concession fee of $100.

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 2012. Indigenous students who enrol in TAFE programs in 2012 are entitled to the concession tuition fee amount at all program levels including the Skills Deepening level.

How to calculate your fees

Calculating the TAFE student contribution for a program

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

Maximum fee: your tuition fees will be charged up to the maximum tuition fee of the qualification level of the program enrolment

Example 1: Tuition fee per contact hour for one program

A student is enrolled in a Skills Building program with 400 contact hours. The tuition fee per contact hour for the Skills Building qualification is $2.17.

Therefore, the tuition fee will be 400 x $2.17 = $868

Example 2: Tuition fee per contact hour for multiple programs

A student is enrolled in a Foundation Skills program with 200 contact hours and a Skills Creation program with 300 contact hours. The fee per contact hour for Foundation studies is $1.08 and the fee per contact hour for Skills Creation is $1.62.

Therefore, the tuition fee will be

200 x $1.08 = $216 (Foundation Skills)

300 x $1.62 = $486 (Skills Creation)

Total fees: $216 + $486 = $702

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

During the year 2012, a student enrols in a Skills Creation program with 720 contact hours. The fees per contact hour for Skills Creation is $1.62 with a maximum fee of $875. Although 720 times $1.62 is $1,166, the tuition fee will not exceed the maximum fee of $875. Therefore the tuition fee will be: $875.

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Calculating the TAFE student contribution for individual courses or units in Skills Deepening programs

RMIT will apply the appropriate tuition fee mode for each course you enrol in, in compliance with the Victorian Ministerial Directions for Fees and Charges. Concession fees are only available at the Skills Deepening level for indigenous students, and students under the age of 25.

How to calculate tuition fees for individual VET courses

Tuition fees for government subsidised Victorian students are calculated from the number of class hours and the hourly rate for each course or unit you enrol in.

Maximum tuition fee of $2500 less existing total fees

Once a unit of study takes your total fees for 2012 over the maximum tuition fee of $2500 you will pay a reduced amount for the last unit. Once your fees have reached $2500, you will pay $0 for each subsequent unit.

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VET FEE-HELP

Diploma and Advanced Diploma students may also be eligible for the VET FEE-HELP loan scheme to defer fees through the tax system.

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2011 TAFE tuition fees

TAFE tuition fees depend on the program level or qualification level which have been categorised as follows: Foundation Skills, Skills Creation, Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Skills Building and Skills Deepening.

For study undertaken in 2011 the following tuition fees will apply:

Level name

Program level

Fee per Contact Hour

Student fee

Minimum fee (concession rate)

Student fees

Maximum fee (12 months)

Foundation Skills

Foundation level and pre-accredited programs

$1.08

$50

$500

Skills Creation

Certificate I

Certificate II

$1.51

$105

$875

Apprenticeships

Various

$1.40

$58

$923

Traineeships

Various

$1.84

$188

$1,250

Skills Building

Certificate III

Certificate IV

$1.84

$188

$1,250

Skills Deepening

Diploma

Advanced Diploma

$3.79

$100* / $375

$2,000

*In 2011, eligible students under the age of 25 at 1 January 2011 will be charged a concession fee of $100 for enrolments at the Skills Deepening level. For students aged 25 years and over at 1 January 2011, no concession is available at the Skills Deepening level, however indigenous students will only be charged the minimum fee of $375.

Overall annual maximum fee (2011)

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 2011 is $2,000.

Example: student's fees capped at the 2011 overall annual maximum fee

During the course of 2011, the student undertakes 720 hours of a Skills Building program ($1.84 per contact hour) and 400 hours of a Skills Deepening program ($3.79 per contact hour).

Based on their enrolled hours, the student is charged $1,250 (capped at the maximum rate) for their Skills Building enrolments and $750 for their Skills Deepening enrolments. With the overall annual maximum fee, the total tuition fee amount charged for the student’s 2011 enrolments will be capped at $2,000.

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