Media Release
June 15, 2004
UniSA decides on fees and scholarships
The Council of the University of South Australia took four major decisions today.
They are:
- Not to enrol full fee paying local undergraduate students.
- To increase HECS charges by 25 per cent for all students commencing in 2005, except those enrolled in nursing and education courses.
- To offer more than 2000 scholarships to students from low socio economic backgrounds and from rural and remote areas.
- To offer scholarships to students commencing programs to prepare them to be science and maths teachers.
The Council decision follows an extensive consultation process in the University involving forums on each campus and at major university committees.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor Denise Bradley said a great deal of thought had gone into the decision.
"We have thought long and hard about our options and take the decision to raise HECS charges with reluctance, but without increases in the HECS rate at UniSA, our projections show that by the year 2009, our funding shortfall is $47.6 million," Professor Bradley said.
"However we welcome the opportunity to provide more scholarships. Many students face financial pressures and even financial hardship while studying and poorer students need financial assistance. Our UniSA Scholarship Fund will provide much needed help to many more students in 2005."
Backgrounder
More information about the new HECS arrangements under the Backing Australia's Future Reform Package is available at: http://www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au/fact_sheets/5.htm
Important points
- UniSA will be offering more scholarships to students than ever before - about 2000 scholarships providing $2000 a year for the duration of the regular four-year degree program.
- UniSA will be offering new scholarships for students in the double degree of Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education in order to foster secondary school science and maths teaching.
- The highest increase a student at UniSA will have to pay under the new fee structure is $1367 a year - there will be no increase for nursing and education courses.
- Students are not expected to pay HECS fees up front. Costs can be deferred until students are earning the new income threshold over $36,000 (raised from $25,348).
- All current students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents completing their degrees before 2008 will not be subject to the fee increases
- These changes will not apply to international students studying at UniSA.
Media contact
-
Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au