Student Services and Amenities Fee

In 2025, the University has allocated approximately $4.2 million in SSAF to fund the following projects, services, and activities for students:

Medical and Counselling – projects and services focusing on early identification and implementation of supports to enhance student health and wellbeing.

Student Wellbeing and International Support Program – fostering connection, belonging and wellbeing for all UC students by delivering targeted, relevant and informed student support initiatives, including orientation and transition support for all students, with a specific focus on international students in line with the ESOS Act 2000.

Food Pantry – provides students with access to free food supplies and hygiene products to help them better succeed in their studies. Open three days per week at various times to be accessible to as many students as possible, the Food Pantry also aims to improve food literacy and sustainability by holding cooking classes, free breakfasts, and the repair café.

Respect Now Always – funding for the UC Crisis Line (immediate and 24/7 access to support UC students in crisis), prevention and response training for students, and student part-timers to design and deliver preventative initiatives like campaigns, events, resources and merchandise.

Student Representative Council – student services including Student Advocacy, Curieux Magazine (UC’s student magazine), Equity Services (Queer Space & Women's Room), International Student Collective, Representative Services ad Engagement Services.

Legal Aid – a dedicated on-campus legal advice service for students.

Studiosity – online writing feedback and online tutoring support 24/7 for general study skills as well as subject-specific support for foundation level English, mathematics, and science. Available to undergraduate and postgraduate students including online students and those studying part-time. 

Maths and Stats Help (MASH) Centre - supports students across the university with mathematical, statistical and IT concepts.

Aspire UC on-campus school holiday program – intensive support to UC student parents/carers from equity backgrounds through the provision of a free, on-site holiday program for children aged 5-12 years.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Student Support Program for out of area placements – supports students who are not eligible for the ACT Health Placement Grants, HEPPP grants or the new Commonwealth Prac Payment. This includes international students, post graduate students, and students who do not meet equity criteria.

Clubs and Societies – support for student academic, cultural, sport and social clubs and societies. Clubs and societies contribute significantly to the UC community through events, professional development, networking opportunities, peer support, and social engagement.

Student events – provides a schedule of vibrant events on campus for students to take part in. These range from small activations and pop-ups to weeklong events and campaigns, but all have the goal of enhancing the student experience.

Orientation Week Social Activities – for semester one and two. Supplies a schedule of social activities, events, and live music to engage students, welcome them to UC and help entry into university life.

Stonefest Music Festival – discounted tickets for UC students.

Discounted Meals Program Pilot – an initiative designed to support UC Students by providing affordable and nutritious meals at discounted prices. Approximately 500 discounted meals will be made available per week to students.

Esports Lounge – Canberra’s only dedicated Esports space for students to meet and engage in Esports. Seeks to enhance the student experience by offering discounts, maintaining the latest games, and organising engaging events. Also supports various Esports Teams to train and compete for UC in University competitions and public competitions.

Sport Delivery – supports participation and performance, maximising the engagement of students in both the participation and social facets of sport as well as the ability to represent the University at all levels of competition, from intervarsity tournaments, UniSport Championships, and National Leagues.

UCFitx Student Subsidy – ensures that a gym membership is made affordable to UC students so they can look after their physical health and wellbeing while studying. UCFitx is able to offer pricing to students that is up to one third of the price of the next nearest gym.

In addition to the above projects, services and activities, 2025 SSAF funds have also been allocated to student support services for UC students based at our partner campuses TAFE NSW and TAFE QLD. 

In 2024, the University distributed approximately $3.7 million in SSAF and funded the following projects, services, and activities for students:

Medical and Counselling – projects and services focused on early identification and implementation of supports to enhance student health and wellbeing.

UC Crisis Line – immediate and 24/7 access to support UC students in crisis.

Student Wellbeing and Support Program – supported students to succeed at every stage of study including Student Mentor Program; transition and orientation support; respect, safety and wellbeing initiatives; connection to place initiatives and building cultural capacity.

Food Pantry - provided students with access to free supplies multiple days a week, including fresh produce and personal consumables, including reusable period products.

Respect Now Always – funded a project officer to drive projects and activities to achieve priorities in relation to the prevention of sexual assault and harassment.

Student Representative Council – supported student representation, advocacy, welfare, and engagement with campus life.

Legal Aid – dedicated on-campus legal advice service for students.

Studiosity - online tutor support 24/7, available to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Included general study skills and subject-specific support in foundation level mathematics, business, economics, science, and statistics.

Maths and Stats Help (MASH) Centre – support for students across the university with mathematical and statistical concepts.

Let's get local about jobs - a program designed to identify and promote on campus and local part time job opportunities for international students.

Technology to improve student resumes - Use of AI platform, Ab Intergro to assess resumes online and give feedback and improve students job applications.

Home and away – a project to prepare students for placement including professional behaviour and employer expectations and managing practicalities of out-of-area placements such as sourcing accommodation. Aided student in making community and social connections to support and enrich their placement experience. Financial support for travel and accommodation costs associated with placement.

Library learning equipment – bought whiteboards and hybrid TVs to support students’ study skills and encourage student collaboration both on and off campus. 

Clubs and societies – supported student academic, cultural, sport and social clubs and societies. Supplied opportunities for community involvement, social engagement, and support.

Student events – provided a vibrant events schedule on campus to encourage student participation and enhance the student experience.

Orientation week – social activities, events, and live music to engage students, welcome them to UC and help entry into university life in semesters one and two.

Stonefest Music Festival – discounted tickets for UC students.

eSport lounge – student discount and access to play social e-sports or in competitive tournaments.

Sport & fitness – inclusive and accessible opportunities for UC students to take part in social sport as well as representative levels of competition. Subsidised student gym membership and contributed to the maintenance and improvement indoor, outdoor recreational, health and fitness facilities across campus. 

The University's five key priorities for allocation of the SSAF are:

• Capital / strategic works to improve student facilities
• Student medical, counselling and welfare services
• Student life, clubs and societies, sports and culture
• Student representation and advocacy services
• Student study and careers support services

The University’s SSAF Allocation Panel assessed SSAF applications against the following principles:

• Complies with allowable SSAF services as defined by Commonwealth legislation
• Visible impact and lasting benefits to the UC student experience, services or amenities
• Aligns with UC Strategic Plan and student experience priorities
• Informed by UC student engagement and feedback
• Measurable outcomes and evidence of return on investment

Across 2023, the University allocated $4.2 million in funding generated from SSAF to the following projects, services or activities for students:

2023 project / service / activity	Total
Capital / strategic works to improve student facilities Library refurbishment to continue staged Library improvements – converting existing staff workroom space to student collaborative study spaces: $890,000 Student facilities – All-weather outdoor recreation area near student accommodation and eateries: $75,000	$965,000
Student study and careers support services Home and Away – preparing students for placements, including travel grants, and connecting them with community resources: $190,000 Study skills for neurodiverse students - Targeted programs for students with disabilities (neurodiverse and autism spectrum) to improve study skills and wellbeing: $65,000 Maths and Stats Help (MASH) Centre supporting students across the university with mathematical and statistical concepts, from across UC: $58,000 Technology to improve student resumes: Use of Ab Intergro to assess resumes online and provide feedback: $45,000 The skills that I bring – assisting international students to source part-time work aligned with their skills: $45,000	$671,000
Student life, clubs and societies, sports and culture UCX clubs and societies - Academic, cultural, sporting and social clubs and societies support. Contributes to the UC community through events, opportunities, support and social engagement: $350,000 UCX Student events to provide a schedule of vibrant events on campus for students to take part in, and enhance the student experience: $300,000 UC Sport student engagement supporting student participation in interstate, local and social sports, and sporting club development: $300,000 UCX Orientation social activities in Semesters 1 and 2 including events, live music, and facilitation to engage students in University life: $125,000 UC Sport and fitness subsidised student gym memberships: $125,000 UC Live – Stonefest Music Festival, a legacy UC event with subsidised student tickets: $80,000 UC hoodies subsidised for new and existing students to promote student belonging to the UC community: $45,000 UCX eSport lounge for all-student discounted accessto play socially or compete in eSport tournaments: $30,000	$1,355,000
Student medical, counselling and welfare services Medical and Counselling ‘The Supported Student’ – projects and services focusing on early identification and implementation of supports to enhance student health and wellbeing: $396,000 Student Wellbeing and Support Program – supporting students to succeed at every stage of study including Student Mentor Program, Targeted Transition, Wellbeing initiatives, and cultural awareness: $350,000 UCX Food Pantry providing students with access to free food supplies multiple days a week, including fresh produce: $135,000	$881,000
Student representation and advocacy services Student Representative Council support in its work in student representation, advocacy, welfare and engagement with campus life: $300,000 Respect. Now. Always. To implement activities and projects to achieve priorities in relation to sexual assault and harassment, including student services (Crisis line): $50,000 Legal Aid service for students: $35,000	$385,000
TOTAL (January 2023)	$4,257,000

In the first half of the 2025 academic year, all students will be charged $273.75. Students who are part-time over the entire 2025 academic calendar will only pay this one-off annual fee.

Students who are full-time over the entire 2025 academic calendar will pay a supplementary fee of $91.25. This will total the annual fee of $365.00.

In 2025 the maximum fee for a full-time student will be $365.00 and $273.75 for a part-time student, that is:

Student type	Annual fee (maximum)
Full-time student (enrolled in 18 credit points or above in a calendar year)	$365.00
Part-time student (enrolled in less than 18 credit points in a calendar year)	$273.75

How is the SSAF charged?

Examples

• John enrols in four units (12 credit points) in Semester 1 and four units (12 credit points) in Semester 2. John is deemed to be a full-time student across the calendar year.
  John will be charged $273.75 for the SSAF in Semester 1, and $91.25 for the SSAF in Semester 2, so that the total SSAF amount charged is $365.00
• Michael enrols in three units (9 credit points) in Semester 1, two units (6 credit points) in Winter Term and does not enrol in Semester 2. Michael is deemed to be a part-time student across the calendar year.
  Michael will be charged $273.75 for the SSAF in Semester 1. Michael will not be charged for the SSAF in Winter Term as he is deemed to be a part-time student and has paid the part-time amount in Semester 1.
• Louise enrols in two units (6 credit points) in Semester 1, two units (6 credit points) in Winter Term and four units (12 credit points) in Semester 2. Louise is deemed to be a full-time student across the calendar year.
  Louise will be charged $273.75 for the SSAF in Semester 1. Louise will not be charged for the SSAF in Winter Term as she is considered a part-time student for the calendar year at this stage. Louise will be charged $91.25 for the SSAF in Semester 2, as she is then deemed to be a full-time student. The total SSAF amount charged is therefore $365.00
• Mary enrols for the first time in four units (12 credit points) in Semester 2. Mary is deemed to be a part-time student across the calendar year.
  Mary will be is charged $273.75 for the SSAF in Semester 2 only.

Students will be charged SSAF for each teaching period in which they are enrolled. SSAF will be payable on or before the Census date of each teaching period. Details on Census dates can be found on the Census Dates page.

The SSAF will be charged to:

• Domestic and International onshore coursework students (diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate);
• Domestic and International onshore research students; Online Domestic and International students in Australia;
• Non-Award and Cross-institutional students;
• UC-START, UC-CONNECT, UC-PREP and UCAN Reach students; and
• Ngunnawal Foundation Program students.

The SSAF is not charged to students studying:

• at one of our overseas partner campuses
• microcredential courses
• through approved Study Abroad and Exchange arrangements
• a course exclusively offered through online delivery, where the student is located outside of Australia
• in areas that do not form part of a higher education program or pathway program, including:
  • ELICOS and other UC College English language programs
  • UC College Chemistry or Biology Preparation
  • UC Accelerate Program

I'm not sure if I need to pay the SSAF

If you are unsure as to whether you will be required to pay SSAF please contact the Student Centre on 1300 301 727 or student.centre@canberra.edu.au.

How to pay

• Download your statement – Log on to MyUC and select ‘Fees’ from the tabs across the top and then select ‘Statement of Account’ from the menu.
  
• If you are unable to download your statement of account, please email student.centre@canberra.edu.au from your student email account to request a copy of your statement. Please note: Statements will only be sent to your student email account.
  
• Pay the amount due before the census date of that teaching period online or at any Australia Post Office. Please refer to the payment details on your statement.
  
• Eligible students may complete the SA-HELP form to defer the payment for future teaching periods.

Eligible students are able to defer their SSAF through a HELP loan scheme similar to FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP called SA-HELP. To be eligible for SA-HELP you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder resident in Australia;
• Be enrolled in a course that leads to a higher education award, enabling course or  bridging course for overseas-trained professionals; and
• Meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements.

Students in non-award courses are not eligible for SA-HELP unless they are enrolled in an enabling program. Enabling programs at the University are UC-CONNECT, UC-PREP, UCan Reach and the Ngunnawal Foundation Program.

Eligible students can access the SA-HELP form online – log on to MyUC and go to the Enrolments and Timetable tab. Select Self Enrolment, your course and then the SA-HELP Form step. You will need your TFN to complete the online form. The form must be completed on or before the Census date of the first teaching period you are enrolled in. You only need to apply for SA-HELP once during your course of study.

If you are not able to access the form online, you can request a hard copy of the form which must be completed and returned to the University on or before the Census date of the first teaching period you are enrolled in. You will need your TFN to complete the form. Students only need to apply for SA-HELP once during their course of study.

You can complete the SA-HELP form now for all future teaching periods in your current course. Please note this form needs to be submitted before the CENSUS DATE of the next teaching period.

For Further information please contact the Student Centre E: student.centre@canberra.edu.au P: 1300 301 727

Online on shore students are required to pay the SSAF as the welfare, advocacy and online support services are available to all online students.

As a student of the University of Canberra, our aim is to ensure that online students have access to the same level of support and resources as our on-campus students. For example, funding has been allocated to assist online students through an online tutorial service.

• Students with unpaid SSAF will not be able to access their results.
• If you have any questions, please contact the Student Centre on 1300 301 727 or send an email to student.centre@canberra.edu.au.