Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

What is the Student Services and Amenities Fee?

 How much will I be charged for the SSAF in 2012?

How do I apply for SA-HELP assistance?

To whom does the Student Services and Amenities Fee apply?

Consultation and Feedback

Further Information

Introduction

In October 2011, the Australian Parliament passed legislation to allow Universities and other higher education providers, to charge a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) from 1 January 2012 (see the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Act 2011).

The Student Services and Amenities Fee is intended to provide a significant increase in the level of funding available to student services and amenities at tertiary institutions. In practice, this will mean an increase in the quality and quantity of the services available to students at this University.

Under the legislation, the fee may only be used to fund the following services:

• providing food or drink to students on a campus of the University
• supporting a sporting or other recreational activity by students
• supporting the administration of a club most of whose members are students
• caring for children of students
• providing legal services to students
• promoting the health or welfare of students
• helping students secure accommodation
• helping students obtain employment or advice on careers
• helping students with their financial affairs
• helping students obtain insurance against personal accidents
• supporting debating by students
• providing libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for students
• supporting an artistic activity by students
• supporting the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided by students
• helping students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking courses of study in which they are enrolled
• advising on matters arising under the University's rules (however described)
• advocating students' interests in matters arising under the University's rules (however described)
• giving students information to help them in their orientation, and
• helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare accommodation and employment.

Universities can either deliver the services and amenities themselves or contract a third party to deliver the services and amenities on their behalf.

Student Services and Amenities Fee - 2012

Students enrolled in an Academic Program on a full-time or part-time basis will be charged a Student Services and Amenities Fee.

Students enrolled full-time will be charged an annual fee of $263. Full-time enrolment is defined as enrolment in at least 75% (18 units or more) of a normal full-time study load in an Academic Year.

Students enrolled part-time will be charged an annual fee of $197. Part-time enrolment is defined as enrolment in less than 75% (less than 18 units) of a normal full-time study load in an Academic Year.

The normal full-time study load for an Academic Year at The University of Adelaide is 24 units of study.

The due dates for the Student Services and Amenities Fee in 2012 are:

The due date is the date the Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable.  It is also the last day to submit the Request for SA-HELP assistance form.  If the Request for SA-HELP assistance form is not completed on or before the due date a student will not be eligible for SA-HELP assistance to defer the Student Services and Amenities Fee and payment of the fee must be made in full to the University. 

The first due date for 2012 is 31 August 2012. The study load for enrolled courses Trimester 1 2012 through to Semester 2 2012 will be accumulated to determine whether a student will be charged a full-time Student Services and Amenities Fee or a part-time Student Services and Amenities Fee.  If the study load is 75% (18 units) or more the full-time fee of $263 will be payable. If the study load is less than 75% (17 units or less) the part-time fee of $197 will be payable.

For example;
Wendy is enrolled in 12 units in Semester 1 2012 and 12 units in Semester 2 2012. Wendy has a study load of 24 units and will be charged a full-time fee of $263.

Frank is enrolled in 6 units in Semester 1 2012, 3 units in Winter School 2012 and 6 units in Semester 2 2012.  Frank has a study load of 15 units and will be charged a part-time fee of $197.

The second due date for 2012 is 21 September 2012. If a student is enrolled in Trimester 3 2012 and has already been charged a full-time fee of $263 as at 31 August 2012 there will be no further charge in 2012. If a student has been charged a part-time fee of $197 as at 31 August 2012 and has further enrolment in trimester 3 2012 that increases their study load to 75% (18 units) or more there will be a further charge of $66. In effect, the Student Services and Amenities fee is topped up to a total of $263 as the student now has a full-time study load.

For example;
Frank was charged a part-time fee of $197 as at 31 August 2012 for his accumulated study load of 15 units.  Frank is enrolled in 3 units in Trimester 3 2012 therefore his accumulated study load has increased to 75% (18 units).  Frank will receive a further charge of $66. Frank has now been charged a full-time Student Services and Amenities Fee of $263 for 2012 as he now has an accumulated study load of 75% (18 units).

Wendy decided to enrol in a further 3 units in Trimester 3 2012. Wendy has already been charged a full-time fee of $263 for her study load of 24 units as at 31 August 2012.  Wendy will not be charged a further fee in 2012.

Jill is enrolled in 6 units in Trimester 3 2012.  This is Jill's first enrolment for 2012.  Jill will be charged a part-time fee of $197.

Students will be contacted via their student email account in the coming months with details of when the Student Services and Amenities Fee will be charged and the options for eligible students to defer the fee to SA-HELP.

The Student Services and Amenities Fee is indexed annually.

Key Notes:

1. The above due dates, time periods and amounts apply to 2012 only.
2. If you are due to complete your program mid-year you may not be charged the Student Services and Amenites Fee for 2012. 

SA-HELP

Australian citizens and permanent humanitarian visa holders will be eligible to defer their Student Services and Amenities Fee to a SA-HELP loan through the Australian Government. The SA-HELP loan will be recorded as a HELP debt with the Australian Taxation Office. If a student has an existing HELP debt (HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP) with the Australian Taxation Office the SA-HELP loan will be added to the existing HELP debt.

Eligible students will be required to complete a Request for SA-HELP form. The form will be available online in ACCESS ADELAIDE for completion in the coming months.  Students will be notified by their student email account when the form is available.

An eligible student who has applied for SA-HELP will be able to pay all or part of the Student Services and Amenities Fee to the University by the due date and any balance will be deferred to SA-HELP.

Permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are not eligible for SA-HELP and are required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee in full by the due date.

To whom does the Student Services and Amenities Fee apply?

Students enrolled in an Academic Program on a full-time or part-time basis will be charged a Student Services and Amenities Fee.

The following students will not be charged a Student Services and Amenities Fee in 2012;

• International Students
• Higher Degree Research students
• Non-award students
• Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training (VET) Programs
• Students studying cross-institutionally at The University of Adelaide
• Students enrolled in an offshore program
• Students enrolled in an online or distance education program
• International Students undertaking an Exchange program at The University of Adelaide 

Consultation and Feedback

As required under the legislation, the University undertook consultation with democratically elected student representatives in late in 2011. The University conducted further consultation in March 2012, when all students were invited to provide feedback through a survey. The results of this consultation with students will help the University determine how best to use the Student Services & Amenities Fee.

 Further Information

Further information on the Student Services and Amenities Fee and SA-HELP will be posted to this site as it becomes available.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) have further information on SA-HELP available at www.studyassist.gov.au.