All Australian students at UWA are required to pay tuition fees for their programs of study.
However, the Federal Government subsidises tuition fees for the majority of Australian students.
Australian students and permanent humanitarian visa-holders can pay the rest of the fee, also known as the student contribution, by:
- deferring the whole payment through a HECS-HELP loan
- making a partial payment to UWA and deferring the balance through a HECS-HELP loan
- paying up front with a discount. From 1 January 2012, the HECS-HELP discount applied to up-front student contribution amounts of $500 or more will be reduced from 20% to 10%.
For New Zealand citizens and other permanent residents of Australia, the contribution must be paid in full, directly to the University. Direct payments do not attract a discount.
Student contribution
At UWA, courses comprise a number of units. A standard unit is worth six credit points. Full-time students usually study four six-credit-point units in a semester for a total of eight six-credit-point units in a year. Fees are billed on a semester basis.
The table below provides indicative costs for various discipline areas. The amount of an individual's student-contribution each semester depends on the mix of units in which they are enrolled. Full details of costs of units are available on the Unit Costs website.
2012 Student contribution rates for Commonwealth-supported students
| Unit discipline | Annual contribution for a standard full-time load (48 credit points) | Approximate student contribution for a 6-credit-point unit | Discounted amount for up-front payment for a 6-credit-point unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Priority: mathematics [1], statistics [1], science [1] (natural & physical) | $4520 | $565 | $508.50 |
| Humanities, behavioural science, foreign languages, social studies, visual and performing arts, education [1], nursing [1]. | $5648 | $706 | $635.40 |
| Agriculture, built environment, computing, engineering, health, surveying | $8050 | $1006 | $905.40 |
| Accounting, administration [1], commerce [1], dentistry, economics [1], law, medicine | $9425 | $1178 | $1060.20 |
[1] These rates are for new students commencing in 2012. Some rates differ for existing students.
