New students face an uncertain fees future

By Geoff Maslen. All Australian students are required to pay tuition fees when they enrol as undergraduates in public or private tertiary institutions, although the federal government currently subsidises the fees for the majority enrolled in public universities.
Students who are Australian citizens or holding permanent residency visas can defer the remainder of the fee not subsidised by the government, known as the student contribution, through a government loan. They need only repay the loan when they graduate and are earning more than a set amount which next year will be A$53,400 (US$47,000). Read more...