If the thought of having to pay for uni is stressing you – don’t worry. You won’t have to find the money for all your fees upfront (unless you want to). HECS-HELP allows you to defer your fees, meaning you don't have to pay for your degree until you start earning a certain level of income. USQ also offers a number of ways to give you a helping hand when you need it most. We want to support you through every step of your journey.

Tuition fees

The main cost of university is tuition fees. Each course (subject) has a fee, which varies depending on what you are studying. So each semester, you will only be charged for the courses (subjects) which you have enrolled in. But don’t stress because you don’t have to pay straight away! USQ offers a number of payment options so you can still study now without the pressure or paying for your course. If you're an Australian citizen, there are three payment options available to you:

1. pay upfront each semester and receive a 10% discount on the fees
2. defer all of your semester's fees through HECS HELP, or
3. pay a portion of your semester's fees upfront and defer a portion through HECS HELP.

If you are an international student, USQ International will provide you with all of the details you need to know about how you can pay course (subject) fees.

Can I calculate the cost of my degree?

We can give you an indication of how much your uni degree will cost. This information is relevant for Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens, or holders of a relevant humanitarian visa. We call you 'commonwealth supported students'.

If you are an international student – have a look at USQ International to help you calculate your tuition fees.

Your student contribution amount and the amount you actually pay will vary depending on what courses (subjects) you take and their applicable Commonwealth fee band. The amounts shown in the table are estimates based on full-time study.

Band	Unit classification	2012 maximum student contribution amount (full-time year)
National Priorities	Mathematics &Statistics, Science	$4,520
1	Humanities, Behavioural Science,Social Studies, Education, Clinical Psychology, Foreign Languages, Visual and Performing Arts, Nursing	$5,648
2	Computing, Allied Health, Engineering, Surveying, Agriculture	$8,050
3	Accounting, Commerce, Administration, Economics and Law	$9,425

Other study costs

While tuition fees are the main costs associated with going to uni, there are some other costs to consider, for example:

Textbooks

You will need to consider purchasing textbooks and study materials for each subject. However, there are a number of things you can do to save on this cost, such as using the library, online resources, and purchasing textbooks second hand.

Student Amenities Fee

In accordance with new Australian Government legislation, it is envisaged that USQ will be charging you a Student Services and Amenities Fee during 2012. This fee will cover services such as employment and career advice, health services, financial advice and other support services. The Student Services and Amenities Fee will not exceed $263 per student in 2012. If you are an Australian citizen and eligible to access a HELP loan, you may choose to defer payment through the SA-HELP scheme.

The University will provide more information regarding the implementation of the fee as soon as details are finalised. In the meantime, you can go to the Australian Government DEEWR website for details of the legislation.

Is there any further financial assistanceI can get?

Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships at USQ to provide financial support. You may be eligible for a number of different scholarships, so make sure you apply!

USQ Student Loans

At USQ, we understand that sometimes you need a bit of extra help financially, and we are here to help. USQ offers Student Loans through our Student Services program, to help you when times are tough. Contact your Student Relationship Officer (SRO) to find out more about our Student Loans.

Centrelink

Centrelink assists with financial support including Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY and rent assistance. Centrelink manages the Commonwealth Government's Commonwealth Scholarships which range from $1,103 to $2,207 per semester for up to four years. These scholarships are specifically for students facing financial hardship, not necessarily those with a history of outstanding academic performance. The Centrelink website contains all of the information regarding any of their funding programs.