Paying your SSAF

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a compulsory fee.

Find out who pays the SSAF, how much it costs, and when your payments are due

How the fee is calculated

Your SSAF is a pro-rata fee calculated based on your course load (number of credit points that you’re enrolled in). The individual SSAF amount per unit of study will appear on your statement of account. 

Fees are based:

  • per course type
  • whether you are a full-time or part-time student (enrolled in <75 per cent of a full-time load for the year)
  • what mode of study you are undertaking (such as on-campus, online etc).

In 2024, SSAF will be calculated up to a maximum of $351 per year and the charge per 12 credit points (1 Unit of study equivalent to 0.125 EFTSL) for Higher Education students is $43.87.

 

Paying SSAF

Most enrolled students need to pay SSAF, either as a separate fee or as part of their tuition fees.

If you need help to pay the SSAF, you can apply for an SA-HELP loan.

Separate SSAF fee

You pay SSAF as a separate fee if you are:

  • a Commonwealth-supported student
  • enrolled in a VET/TAFE course as a government-subsidised student.

SSAF combined with tuition fees

You pay SSAF as part of your tuition fees if you are:

  • an international student
  • a full-fee student or a fee-for-service student.

SSAF exemptions

You don't pay SSAF if you are:

  • a TAFE student studying fewer than 60 hours per year
  • a TAFE student enrolled in the Learning and Numeracy Support course (code LNSUPPORT)
  • a TAFE student enrolled as non-government funded
  • completing your course through VU Online
  • receiving advanced standing for your entire course
  • an asylum seeker eligible for government subsidies
  • a VU employee on contract for a period of at least 12 months or ongoing on a time fraction of 0.5 or more (see the Staff status declaration).

SSAF fees & dates

Government-funded students will need to pay the following SSAF amounts. If you are required to pay it, your SSAF will be itemised on your Statement of Account, and is payable by the due date.

The SSAF is charged each academic semester for HE students and annually for TAFE students.