Fees & Charges
TAFEWA fees and charges are set by the WA Department of Education and Training. They are highly subsidised. Should you be successful in obtaining a place in a qualification you are required to pay either a standard rate or concession rate each semester.
PLEASE NOTE: Fees are current at the time of publication and are subject to change. Textbooks and equipment required are not included in the fees. A list of textbooks and equipment will be provided to you on enrolment or during orientation.
Commercial and International students may have a different fee structure to that described. Please speak to one of our enrolling officers for further information.
Your total fees payable at Swan TAFE will be combination of
- a course fee;
- a resource fee; and
- a discrectionary fee
Course Fees
A course fee is the sum of fees for all units that a student enrols in. Students pay one of four fees per unit (Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, or Band 4) based on the number of hours assigned to each unit, as set out in the course outline defined in the State Training and Recognition System (STARS).
Course fees are charged according to the same fee structure regardless of mode of delivery, including:
- local face to face class;
- remote live electronic conferencing;
- self paced – scheduled and unscheduled;
- external studies;
- workplace learning;
- video / television based learning;
- online learning; and
- recognition of prior learning.
Students enrolling in access and bridging courses
- pay a flat fee course fee of $25.00 semester; and
- may pay a resource fee.
A concession rate is available on this fee. (see concession eligibility)
Resource Fees
In many units you will need access to specific consumable goods and materials in class. To help cover the cost of these items, most units have a specific material charge attached to them. The amount will vary for each unit.
Any equipment that will be retained by the student as his or her own personal property must be purchased separately by the student.
Discretionary/Other Fee
In addition to the fees outlined above, TAFE colleges may levy other fees to recover the cost of other items and services provided (for example, parking and security passes). At Swan TAFE this fee is $10 per semester and is charged to all students who attend classes on site.
Concession Eligibility
The following students are entitled to the concession rate on course fees:
a) Persons and dependants of persons holding:
- A Pensioner Concession Card.
- A Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
- A Health Care Card.
b) Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY.
c) Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of the Youth Allowance.
d) Persons who are inmates of a custodial institution.
e) Persons who have reached the age of 15 but who have not reached 18 years of age, and who are not due to reach 18 years of age in the calendar year for which they enrol (that is, for study in 2008, year of birth must be 1991, 1992 or 1993).
Proof of eligibility for concession must be shown at the time of enrolment.
When am I required to pay?
Students are required to pay their qualification fees and charges at the time of enrolment.
If making a full payment of the fees will involve actual financial difficulties, it is possible to pay a deposit at the time of enrolment.
The preferred deposit is $100.00. You will be mailed an invoice for the remaining amount after paying the deposit, and you will need to pay the remainder within 30 days of starting class.
If you are unable to pay your fees in full within the 30 days it is essential that you make an appointment with a Client Services Officer at the Customer Service Centre of your campus to make alternative arrangements.
Payments can be made by cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card (at most sites). To receive the concession rate you will need to produce proof of eligibility at enrolment.
Contact Swan TAFE for further advice if you are uncertain or unable to make payment.
What happens if I don’t pay?
In addition to debt recovery procedures, there are penalties for breaching the fee paying processes to which you have agreed. Details are outlined in the information given at the time of enrolment.
Non-payment can result in:
- exclusion from class until fees are paid or other payment arrangements are finalised
- withholding of results until all fees have been paid in full
- refusal of enrolment if previous semester fees and charges have not been paid
If at any stage you feel that you are unable to pay your fees (or initial deposit), please talk to someone in your Business Unit or contact a Client Services Officer for help in resolving the difficulty.
Withdrawals
To withdraw from one or several subjects or the whole qualification you must complete and lodge an enrolment adjustment form. Students who fail to notify the college of their decision to cease studies may be liable for any outstanding fees.
Refunds
Students who withdraw from a qualification or unit of competency are entitled to a full refund of fees and charges where a qualification or unit of competency is cancelled or re-scheduled to a time unsuitable to the student, or where the student is not given a place due to maximum number of places being reached.
Students who withdraw from a qualification for other reasons and who lodge a withdrawal form prior to or within four weeks of commencing the first unit of competency of a program of study or on the completion of 25% of the first unit of competency (whichever is sooner) will be eligible for a full refund of their tuition fee.
Students who meet the above conditions will also be refunded 50% of the materials/resource fee paid. The College Service/Enrolment fee is not refundable.
A pro rata refund of fees and charges may be approved for qualifications and units of competency at any time during the semester if students can establish, with documentary evidence, satisfactory grounds for withdrawing from the qualification, (e.g. serious illness or disability, transfer of employment, or other circumstances beyond their control).
General Information
Persons holding a temporary visa of sub-class 309, 310, 785, 820 or 826 are to be treated as Australian residents for fee charging purposes and are also eligible for fee waivers and concessions.
Apprentices and trainees are to be treated the same as other students and are legally liable to pay fees.
Some TAFE courses (e.g. Commercial and International) have a different fee structure to that described above. If you fall into that specific category, you need to speak to one of our enrolling officers for further enrolment instructions.
TAFE students do not pay HECS fees.