Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF)

2024

Students studying under the 3+ Academic Calendar:

• The full-time fee is $117.00 per term
• The part-time fee is $87.75 per term

Students studying under non-standard programs:

5331 Graduate Diploma of Psychology and 7419 Graduate Certificate in Child Development

• The fee is $58.50 per term

2025

Students studying under the 3+ Academic Calendar:

• The full-time fee is $121.50 per term
• The part-time fee is $91.25 per term

Students studying under non-standard programs:

5331 Graduate Diploma of Psychology and 7419 Graduate Certificate in Child Development

• The fee is $60.00 per term

2024

• The full-time fee is $175.50 per semester
• The part-time fee is $131.50 per semester

2025

• The full-time fee is $182.50 per semester
• The part-time fee is $136.00 per semester

2024

• The full-time fee is $87.75 per term
• The part-time fee is $65.75 per term

2025

• The full-time fee is $91.25 per term
• The part-time fee is $68.00 per term

Yes, your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is not covered by HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP. You can pay your SSAF upfront or, if eligible, apply for SA-HELP to defer the fee each term before the incurral date (the deadline to pay or defer your SSAF). 

The incurral date is the last day to pay your SSAF or apply for SA-HELP. After this date, applications for SA-HELP are not accepted, and unpaid SSAF becomes overdue. UNSW sets an earlier administrative payment due date to remind students of the upcoming incurral date. We encourage you to pay your SSAF or apply for SA-HELP by the payment due date to avoid issues after the incurral date.

First, check your eligibility here. If eligible, apply for SA-HELP via myUNSW:

Go to My Student Profile tab > My Student Services > Financials > Commonwealth Govt. Forms.

Apply before the incurral date of the relevant teaching period.

No, it's too late to apply for this teaching period if the incurral date has passed. You will need to pay your outstanding SSAF amount upfront. To defer SSAF for future terms, ensure you apply for SA-HELP before the next incurral date.

Yes. If you have successfully applied for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP to defer your tuition, you can pay just your SSAF upfront. On myUNSW:

Go to My Student Profile tab > My Student Services > Financials > Fee Statement & Payment Options.

Select Pay Now, then overwrite the total amount with the exact SSAF amount due.

Follow Payment Options for further instructions.

No, as long as you remain in the same degree program, you do not need to reapply. Your SSAF will be deferred to your SA-HELP loan after the incurral date each term for the duration of your program. 

Yes. If you change your degree program (including switching between a double and single degree), you must reapply for all relevant HELP loans, including SA-HELP, regardless of how you changed your program.

The SSAF amount depends on your study load. If you changed from part-time to full-time, or vice versa, the SSAF amount will adjust to reflect that change.

Yes, SSAF supports many services at UNSW, including online learning and student support services. For more details, see what your SSAF contributes to.

• The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) fee was established through the Student Services and Amenities Bill 2011. The Bill amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
• UNSW has determined that it will charge the fee to all students, with the following exceptions:
  - Students enrolled in cross-institutional, PLuS Alliance, UNSW Online programs or exchange programs studying with UNSW (where UNSW is not the 'home' institution). Students on exchange or cross-institutional study at another institution where their primary degree is with UNSW (the 'home' institution) will still be subject to the SSAF charges.
  - All Defence-funded and non-Commonwealth supported students enrolled in a coursework program at UNSW Canberra/ADFA.
  Table 1 (below) provides more detail on liability.
• The fee is levied on eligible students by the University as a contribution towards services and amenities for the whole student population. Unless explicitly exempted, all students are expected to contribute towards amenities and services. There is no provision to exempt students on the grounds of study or attendance mode (e.g. online or distance delivery; teaching hospital attendance), or that they might not personally use the services and amenities provided.
• The SSAF maximum rate is published annually by The Department of Education & Training. Institutions can choose to charge up to that rate. The guidelines state that a student defined as part-time cannot be charged more than 75% of the maximum fee.
• The fee is charged and payable on a term or semester basis, depending on the student’s primary campus of study, study period model, career and study load (EFTSL). To view the charges that may apply to you for a semester or term, please refer to the Current SSAF Fees section above.
• The incurral dates are set for each semester or term. All students are liable for the SSAF calculated based on their enrolment as at the incurral date for the semester or term. Incurral dates can be found on your Fee Statement each semester or term, or on this SA-HELP loan page.
• Eligible students can elect to pay part of the full SSAF upfront to UNSW, or apply for a SA-HELP loan for the remainder or full value of the fee. If you choose to defer part or all of your fee, you are required to apply for a SA-HELP loan prior to the Incurral Date.
• If you have elected to defer your SSAF you are still eligible to pay part or all of the liability up to the Incurral Date. After the Incurral Date has passed you can no longer make a SSAF payment to the University for that Semester or Term and must arrange payment to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) directly.
• If you successfully apply for fee remission after the SSAF Incurral Date, you cannot have your SSAF refunded or remitted.
  
  Table 1 - SSAF Liability