Higher Education Support Act 2003
Act No. 149 of 2003 as amended
This compilation was prepared on
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 157 of 2004
The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may
be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and
Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department,
Contents
Chapter 1—Introduction 1
Division 1—Preliminary 1
1‑1......... Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1
1‑5......... Commencement.................................................................................. 1
1‑10....... Identifying defined terms.................................................................... 2
1‑15....... Application of Chapter 6
etc.............................................................. 3
Division 2—Objects 4
2‑1......... Objects of this Act............................................................................. 4
Division 3—Overview of
this Act 5
3‑1......... General................................................................................................ 5
3‑5......... Grants for higher education
assistance (Chapter 2)............................ 5
3‑10....... Assistance to students
(Chapter 3).................................................... 5
3‑15....... Repayment of loans
(Chapter 4)........................................................ 5
3‑20....... Administration (Chapter 5)................................................................ 6
3‑25....... Provision of higher education in
the external Territories (Chapter 6) 6
Chapter 2—Grants for
higher education assistance 7
Division 8—Introduction 7
8‑1......... What this Chapter is about................................................................. 7
Part 2‑1—Higher
education providers 9
Division 13—Introduction 9
13‑1....... What this Part is about....................................................................... 9
13‑5....... The Higher Education Provider
Guidelines........................................ 9
Division 16—What is a
higher education provider? 10
Subdivision 16‑A—General 10
16‑1....... Meaning of higher education
provider............................................. 10
16‑5....... When a body becomes or ceases to
be a higher education provider. 10
Subdivision 16‑B—Which
bodies are listed providers? 10
16‑10..... Listed providers................................................................................ 10
16‑15..... Table A providers............................................................................. 10
16‑20..... Table B providers............................................................................. 12
Subdivision 16‑C—How
are bodies approved as higher education providers? 12
16‑25..... Approval by the Minister................................................................ 12
16‑30..... The tuition assurance requirements.................................................. 14
16‑35..... Additional requirements for non
self‑accrediting providers............. 14
16‑40..... Application....................................................................................... 15
16‑45..... Minister may seek further information............................................ 15
16‑50..... Minister to decide application.......................................................... 15
16‑55..... Disallowance of approval................................................................. 16
Division 19—What are the
quality and accountability requirements? 17
Subdivision 19‑A—General 17
19‑1....... The quality and accountability
requirements................................... 17
Subdivision 19‑B—The
financial viability requirements 17
19‑5....... Basic requirement............................................................................. 17
19‑10..... Financial information must be
provided........................................... 17
19‑12..... Minister to have regard to
financial information.............................. 18
Subdivision 19‑C—The
quality requirements 18
19‑15..... Provider must maintain quality........................................................ 18
19‑20..... Provider (other than Table A
provider) to comply with National Protocols etc. 19
19‑25..... Quality assurance—provider (other
than Table A provider)........... 19
19‑27..... Quality assurance—Table A provider.............................................. 19
Subdivision 19‑D—The
fairness requirements 20
19‑30..... Basic requirement............................................................................. 20
19‑35..... Benefits and opportunities must be
available equally to all students 20
19‑40..... Compliance with the tuition
assurance requirements....................... 21
19‑45..... Student grievance and review
procedures......................................... 21
19‑50..... Higher education providers to
appoint review officers.................... 23
19‑55..... Review officers not to review own
decisions................................... 23
19‑60..... Procedures relating to personal
information..................................... 23
Subdivision 19‑E—The
compliance requirements 24
19‑65..... Basic requirements............................................................................ 24
19‑70..... Provider to provide statement of
general information...................... 24
19‑75..... Notice of events that affect
provider’s ability to comply with conditions of Commonwealth assistance 25
Subdivision 19‑F—What
are the contribution and fee requirements? 25
19‑85..... Basic requirement............................................................................. 25
19‑87..... Determining student contribution
amounts for all places in units.... 25
19‑88..... Determining student contribution
amounts for places in units for student cohorts 26
19‑90..... Determining tuition fees for all
students.......................................... 26
19‑91..... Determining tuition fees for
students in student cohorts................. 27
19‑95..... Schedules of student contribution
amounts for places and tuition fees.. 27
19‑97..... Information on student contribution
amounts for places and tuition fees for student cohorts 28
19‑100... Limits on fees for courses of study.................................................. 28
19‑101... Meaning of student cohort................................................................ 29
19‑102... Meaning of fee.................................................................................. 29
19‑105... Meaning of tuition fee....................................................................... 30
Division 22—When does a
body cease to be a higher education provider? 31
Subdivision 22‑A—General 31
22‑1....... Cessation of approval as a
provider................................................. 31
Subdivision 22‑B—Revocation
for cause 31
22‑5....... Revocation of approval if
application for approval as a provider is false or misleading 31
22‑7....... Revocation of approval if
providing education and/or conducting research ceases to be the body’s
principal purpose.......................................................................................................... 31
22‑10..... Revocation of approval as a
provider if body ceases to be a university etc. 32
22‑15..... Revocation of approval as a
provider for a breach of conditions or the quality and accountability
requirements 33
Subdivision 22‑C—Process
for decisions on revocation under Subdivision 22‑B 33
22‑20..... Process for revoking approval as a
provider for loss of status or a breach 33
22‑25..... Determination retaining approval as
a provider in respect of existing students 34
22‑30..... Suspension of approval as a
provider.............................................. 35
22‑35..... Disallowance of revocation............................................................... 36
Subdivision 22‑D—Revocation
of approval on application 36
22‑40..... Revocation of approval as a
provider on application....................... 36
Part 2‑2—Commonwealth
Grant Scheme 37
Division 27—Introduction 37
27‑1....... What this Part is about..................................................................... 37
27‑5....... Guidelines......................................................................................... 37
Division 30—Which higher
education providers are eligible for a grant? 38
Subdivision 30‑A—Basic
rules 38
30‑1....... Eligibility for grants.......................................................................... 38
30‑5....... Maximum grants............................................................................... 38
Subdivision 30‑B—Allocation
of places 39
30‑10..... Allocation of places.......................................................................... 39
30‑15..... Funding clusters................................................................................ 40
30‑20..... National priorities............................................................................. 40
Subdivision 30‑C—Funding
agreements 41
30‑25..... Funding agreements.......................................................................... 41
Division 33—How are grant
amounts worked out? 43
Subdivision 33‑A—Basic
rule 43
33‑1....... How grant amount is worked out..................................................... 43
Subdivision 33‑B—Basic
grant amounts 43
33‑5....... Basic grant amounts.......................................................................... 43
33‑10..... Commonwealth contribution amounts............................................. 44
33‑15..... Increases in assistance for higher
education providers meeting certain requirements 45
Subdivision 33‑C—Adjustments 45
33‑20..... Adjustments in accordance with
guidelines...................................... 45
33‑25..... Adjustments that apply in the
absence of guidelines....................... 46
33‑30..... Working out the number of
Commonwealth supported places provided 49
33‑35..... Funding clusters in which units of
study are included..................... 50
Subdivision 33‑D—Special
purpose advances 50
33‑40..... Advances for certain purposes......................................................... 50
Division 36—What are the
conditions of receiving a grant? 51
Subdivision 36‑A—General 51
36‑1....... Condition of grant to comply with
this Division............................. 51
Subdivision 36‑B—Conditions
relating to Commonwealth supported students 51
36‑5....... Meaning of Commonwealth
supported student................................ 51
36‑10..... Advice on whether a person is a
Commonwealth supported student 52
36‑15..... Persons not to be advised they are
Commonwealth supported....... 54
36‑20..... Providers to repay amounts if
Student Learning Entitlement is re‑credited 55
36‑22..... Providers to repay amounts etc. for
units wholly consisting of work experience in industry in special circumstances.......................................................................................................... 56
Subdivision 36‑C—Conditions
relating to enrolment 58
36‑25..... Continued support for Commonwealth
supported students........... 58
36‑30..... Providers to fill Commonwealth
supported places before accepting other enrolments 59
36‑35..... Percentage of Commonwealth
supported places to be provided by Table A providers 61
36‑40..... Providers to cancel enrolments in
certain circumstances.................. 61
Subdivision 36‑D—Conditions
relating to student contribution amounts 62
36‑45..... Limits on student contribution
amounts.......................................... 62
36‑50..... Provider must not accept up‑front
payments of more than 80% of student contribution amounts 63
Subdivision 36‑E—Conditions
relating to tuition fees 63
36‑55..... Tuition fees for non‑Commonwealth
supported students............... 63
Subdivision 36‑F—Other
conditions 64
36‑60..... Providers to meet the quality and
accountability requirements....... 64
36‑65..... Providers to comply with funding
agreement................................... 64
36‑70..... Providers to comply with the
Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines 64
Part 2‑3—Other
grants 66
Division 41—Other grants 66
41‑1....... What this Part is about..................................................................... 66
41‑5....... The Other Grants Guidelines........................................................... 66
41‑10..... Eligibility for grants under this
Part................................................. 66
41‑15..... Grants may be paid under programs................................................ 68
41‑20..... Approval of grants........................................................................... 68
41‑25..... Conditions on grants......................................................................... 69
41‑30..... Amount of a grant............................................................................. 69
41‑35..... Amounts payable under this Part..................................................... 69
41‑40..... Rollover of grant amounts................................................................ 70
41‑45..... Maximum payments for other grants
under this Part...................... 70
41‑50..... Grant amounts is disallowable
instrument....................................... 71
Part 2‑4—Grants for
Commonwealth scholarships 72
Division 46—Grants for
Commonwealth scholarships 72
46‑1....... What this Part is about..................................................................... 72
46‑5....... The Commonwealth Scholarships
Guidelines.................................. 72
46‑10..... Classes of Commonwealth
scholarships.......................................... 72
46‑15..... Who is eligible to receive a grant
from the Commonwealth for Commonwealth scholarships? 72
46‑20..... Other matters relating to
Commonwealth scholarships................... 73
46‑25..... Condition of grants........................................................................... 74
46‑30..... Amounts payable under this Part..................................................... 74
46‑35..... Rollover of grant amounts................................................................ 74
46‑40..... Maximum payments for Commonwealth
scholarships.................... 74
Part 2‑5—Reduction
and repayment of grants 76
Division 51—Introduction 76
51‑1....... What this Part is about..................................................................... 76
51‑5....... The Reduction and Repayment
Guidelines...................................... 76
Division 54—In what
circumstances may a grant be reduced or required to be repaid? 77
54‑1....... Decision as to reduction or
repayment of a grant............................. 77
54‑5....... Appropriateness of requiring
reduction or repayment of grant....... 77
Division 57—What is the
amount of a reduction or repayment? 78
57‑1....... Reduction in amount of grants.......................................................... 78
57‑5....... Amount of the repayment................................................................ 78
Division 60—How are
decisions reducing a grant or requiring repayment of a grant made? 79
60‑1....... Procedure prior to decision............................................................... 79
60‑5....... Notification of decision.................................................................... 79
60‑10..... When a decision takes effect............................................................. 80
Chapter 3—Assistance to
students 81
Division 65—Introduction 81
65‑1....... What this Chapter is about............................................................... 81
Part 3‑1—Student
Learning Entitlement 83
Division 70—Introduction 83
70‑1....... What this Part is about..................................................................... 83
70‑5....... The Student Learning Entitlement
Guidelines.................................. 83
Division 73—What is a
person’s Student Learning Entitlement? 84
73‑1....... A person’s Student Learning
Entitlement........................................ 84
73‑5....... Ordinary SLE.................................................................................... 84
73‑10..... Meaning of EFTSL........................................................................... 85
73‑15..... Meaning of EFTSL value.................................................................. 85
73‑20..... Additional SLE................................................................................. 85
73‑22..... Life long SLE.................................................................................... 86
73‑25..... SLE not transferable......................................................................... 86
73‑30..... Ceasing to be an eligible person........................................................ 86
Division 76—When is a
person’s Student Learning Entitlement reduced? 87
76‑1....... Reducing a person’s SLE.................................................................. 87
76‑5....... Reducing a person’s additional
SLE................................................. 87
76‑10..... Reducing a person’s life long SLE.................................................... 88
Division 79—In what
circumstances can a person’s Student Learning Entitlement be re‑credited? 90
79‑1....... Re‑crediting a person’s SLE............................................................. 90
79‑5....... Special circumstances....................................................................... 91
79‑10..... Application period........................................................................... 91
79‑15..... Dealing with applications................................................................. 92
Division 82—When is a unit
of study covered by a person’s Student Learning Entitlement? 93
82‑1....... General rule....................................................................................... 93
82‑5....... Availability of a person’s SLE......................................................... 93
82‑10..... Additional SLE................................................................................. 94
82‑15..... Simultaneous enrolments that exceed
a person’s SLE...................... 94
Part 3‑2—HECS‑HELP
assistance 96
Division 87—Introduction 96
87‑1....... What this Part is about..................................................................... 96
87‑5....... The HECS‑HELP Guidelines........................................................... 96
Division 90—Who is
entitled to HECS‑HELP assistance? 97
90‑1....... Entitlement to HECS‑HELP
assistance............................................ 97
90‑5....... Citizenship or residency
requirements............................................. 98
Division 93—How are
amounts of HECS‑HELP assistance worked out? 99
93‑1....... The amount of HECS‑HELP
assistance for a unit of study............. 99
93‑5....... Student contribution amounts.......................................................... 99
93‑10..... Maximum student contribution
amounts for places....................... 100
93‑15..... Up‑front payments........................................................................ 101
Division 96—How are
amounts of HECS‑HELP assistance paid? 102
96‑1....... Payments to higher education
providers—no up‑front payment of student contribution amount 102
96‑5....... Payments to higher education
providers—partial up‑front payment of student contribution amount 102
96‑10..... Payments to higher education
providers—full up‑front payment of student contribution amount 104
Part 3‑3—FEE‑HELP
assistance 105
Division 101—Introduction 105
101‑1..... What this Part is about................................................................... 105
101‑5..... The FEE‑HELP Guidelines............................................................ 105
Division 104—Who is
entitled to FEE‑HELP assistance? 106
Subdivision 104‑A—Basic
rules 106
104‑1..... Entitlement to FEE‑HELP
assistance............................................. 106
104‑2..... Failure by a student to complete
previous units accessed through Open Learning Australia 107
104‑3..... Failure by Open Learning Australia
to comply with FEE‑HELP Guidelines 107
104‑4..... Failure by Open Learning Australia
to set tuition fees and census date 108
104‑5..... Citizenship or residency
requirements........................................... 109
104‑10... Course requirements....................................................................... 110
Subdivision 104‑B—FEE‑HELP
balances 111
104‑15... A person’s FEE‑HELP balance...................................................... 111
104‑20... The FEE‑HELP limit...................................................................... 111
104‑25... Re‑crediting a person’s FEE‑HELP
balance................................... 111
104‑30... Special circumstances..................................................................... 112
104‑35... Application period......................................................................... 113
104‑40... Dealing with applications............................................................... 114
Subdivision 104‑C—Bridging
courses for overseas‑trained professionals 115
104‑45... Meaning of bridging course for
overseas‑trained professionals... 115
104‑50... Assessment statements.................................................................. 116
104‑55... Meaning of assessing body............................................................. 117
104‑60... Meaning of listed professional
occupations.................................... 118
104‑65... Occupation includes part of an
occupation.................................... 118
104‑70... Requirements for entry to an
occupation....................................... 118
104‑75... Meanings of student load and maximum
BOTP student load......... 119
Division 107—How are
amounts of FEE‑HELP assistance worked out? 120
107‑1..... The amount of FEE‑HELP
assistance for a unit of study.............. 120
107‑5..... Up‑front payments........................................................................ 120
107‑10... Amounts of FEE‑HELP assistance
must not exceed the FEE‑HELP balance 120
Division 110—How are
amounts of FEE‑HELP assistance paid? 122
110‑1..... Payments........................................................................................ 122
110‑5..... Effect of FEE‑HELP balance
being re‑credited............................... 122
Part 3‑4—OS‑HELP
assistance 124
Division 115—Introduction 124
115‑1..... What this Part is about................................................................... 124
115‑5..... The OS‑HELP Guidelines.............................................................. 124
Division 118—Who is
entitled to OS‑HELP assistance? 125
118‑1..... Entitlement to OS‑HELP
assistance............................................... 125
118‑5..... Citizenship or residency
requirements........................................... 126
118‑7..... Prior study requirements................................................................ 126
118‑10... Overseas study requirements......................................................... 126
118‑15... Selection of students for receipt of
OS‑HELP assistance.............. 127
Division 121—How are
amounts of OS‑HELP assistance worked out? 128
121‑1..... The amount of OS‑HELP
assistance for a period.......................... 128
121‑5..... Maximum OS‑HELP amount......................................................... 128
121‑10... Minimum OS‑HELP amounts........................................................ 128
Division 124—How are
amounts of OS‑HELP assistance paid? 129
124‑1..... Amounts of OS‑HELP assistance
are lent to students................... 129
Chapter 4—Repayment of
loans 130
Division 129—Introduction 130
129‑1..... What this Chapter is about............................................................. 130
Part 4‑1—Indebtedness 131
Division 134—Introduction 131
134‑1..... What this Part is about................................................................... 131
Division 137—How do HELP
debts arise? 132
137‑1..... HELP debts.................................................................................... 132
137‑5..... HECS‑HELP debts......................................................................... 132
137‑10... FEE‑HELP debts............................................................................ 133
137‑15... OS‑HELP debts.............................................................................. 134
137‑20... HELP debt discharged by death..................................................... 134
Division 140—How are
accumulated HELP debts worked out? 135
Subdivision 140‑A—Outline
of this Division 135
140‑1..... Outline of this Division.................................................................. 135
Subdivision 140‑B—Former
accumulated HELP debts 136
140‑5..... Working out a former accumulated
HELP debt.............................. 136
140‑10... HELP debt indexation factor.......................................................... 138
140‑15... Index numbers................................................................................. 139
140‑20... Publishing HELP debt indexation factors....................................... 139