How the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is used

The student services and amenities funding helps to improve everyone’s student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

On this page:
 

To get the most out of university life, discover some of the services the SSAF contributes to including:

How much is the SSAF?

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) differs per student. Your SSAF is a pro-rata fee calculated based on a number of factors including your course load, and what mode of study you are undertaking. In 2025, the maximum charge for SSAF was A$365. The Department of Education has advised the maximum annual charge for SSAF in 2026 is A$373.

Your SSAF fee is due on the Census Date of each study period in which you are enrolled.

Calculating your SSAF  

Most students are required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). This includes all students who are enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and UniLink courses. From 1 January 2024, Vocational Education students studying at Diploma level or above contribute to the Student Services and Amenities fee. Vocational Education students studying at Certificate IV level or below are exempt from contributing to the Student Services and Amenities fee. Students studying on a part-time basis cannot be charged more than 75 per cent of the maximum amount that students studying on a full-time basis are charged in a calendar year. Therefore, the maximum SSAF a part-time student can be charged is $273.75 in 2025. Swinburne cannot round this amount up to $274.

Some students are exempt from paying the SSAF. This includes students enrolled in the following courses or programs:  

  • vocational education courses (Cert IV courses and below)
  • international students in Australia studying at Swinburne Sydney
  • international students living overseas
  • international students who commenced their qualification before 1 January 2024, or accepted an offer or received a full offer to commence at Swinburne in 2024 letter prior to 17 August 2023
  • Astronomy Online 
  • exchange (outbound and inbound) 
  • Study Abroad (outbound and inbound) 
  • cross-institutional (inbound) 
  • Open Universities Australia (OUA) — single subject enrolment in a non-award course 
  • online taught by Industry Partner 
  • off-campus taught by Industry Partner 
  • domestic PhD and Masters by Research 
  • Recognised Prior Learning (RPL)
  • humanitarian visa holders 
  • Swinburne Edge
  • UniReady Program.

How the fee is calculated

Your SSAF is a pro-rata fee calculated based on your course load (number of credit points that you’re enrolled in). Fees are based per course type, whether you are a full-time or part-time student (enrolled in <75 per cent of a full-time load for the year), what mode of study you are undertaking (such as online, Professional Placement, etc.).

In 2025, SSAF is calculated up to a maximum of A$365 per year.

In 2026, SSAF will be calculated up to a maximum of A$373 per year. For Vocational Education students, a breakdown of your SSAF calculation will be provided in your statement of account.

Fee calculations by course type

The following tables summarise the fees that apply for standard and non-standard scenarios. Fees are based per course type, whether you are a full-time or part-time student (enrolled in <75 per cent of a full-time load for the year) and what mode of study you are undertaking (such as online, Professional Placement, etc.). 

2024 standard higher education scenarios 
Table 1. 2024 standard higher education scenarios
Type of student Charge per credit point Maximum fee
Associate degree A$4.208
 A$351
Local undergraduate A$4.208
 A$351
Local postgraduate A$4.208
 A$351
National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) A$4.208
 A$351
Staff A$4.208
 A$351
Cross-institutional (outbound)A$4.368 A$4.208 A$351
Scholarship recipients
e.g. VC Scholarships, Dean Scholarships, external Scholarships, sponsored students (local)		 A$4.208
 A$351
Domestic Pathway (UniLink) A$4.208
 A$351
Open Universities Australia (OUA) – Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) A$4.208
 A$351
2025 standard higher education scenarios 
Table 2. 2025 standard higher education scenarios
Type of student Charge per credit point Maximum fee
Associate degree A$4.368
A$365
Local undergraduate A$4.368
 A$365
Local postgraduate A$4.368
 A$365
National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) A$4.368
 A$365
Staff A$4.368
 A$365
Cross-institutional (outbound)A$4.368 A$4.368 A$365
Scholarship recipients
e.g. VC Scholarships, Dean Scholarships, external Scholarships, sponsored students (local)		 A$4.368
 A$365
Domestic Pathway (UniLink) A$4.368
 A$365
Open Universities Australia (OUA) – Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) A$4.368
 A$365
2024 non-standard higher education scenarios
Table 3. 2024 non-standard higher education scenarios
Type of student Rule

Mix of on-campus and online study

Example: 2 x on-campus units and 5 x online units = 7 units
12.5 credit points x 7 units  = 87.5 credit points x A$4.208 = A$351 maximum fee

or

3 x on-campus units and 3 x online units
12.5 credit points x 6 units  = 75 credit points x A$4.208 = A$315.60

 SSAF charged per credit point up to A$351 maximum fee
Single course load is an overload i.e. > 1 FTE SSAF charge of A$351 maximum fee
Any combination of part-time and full-time load that exceeds > 1 FTE SSAF charged against full-time units only at A$351 maximum fee

Part-time study

Students studying fewer than 75 credit points in one year

SSAF charge capped at A$263 for part-time study

Students studying on a part-time basis cannot be charged more than 75 per cent of the maximum fee
2025 non-standard higher education scenarios
Table 4. 2025 non-standard higher education scenarios
Type of student Rule

Mix of on-campus and online study

Example: 2 x on-campus units and 5 x online units = 7 units
12.5 credit points x 7 units  = 87.5 credit points x A$4.368 = A$365 maximum fee

or

3 x on-campus units and 3 x online units
12.5 credit points x 6 units  = 75 credit points x A$4.368 = A$327.60

 SSAF charged per credit point up to A$365 maximum fee
Single course load is an overload i.e. > 1 FTE SSAF charge of A$365 maximum fee
Any combination of part-time and full-time load that exceeds > 1 FTE SSAF charged against full-time units only at A$365 maximum fee

Part-time study

Students studying fewer than 75 credit points in one year

SSAF charge capped at A$273 for part-time study

Students studying on a part-time basis cannot be charged more than 75 per cent of the maximum fee

International tuition fees are generally inclusive of the Student Services and Amenities charge, and are included within your annual tuition fee listed.

From 1 January 2024, all Diploma level and above courses will contribute to the Student Services and Amenities fee. The SSAF payable will vary slightly based on course type, whether you are a full-time or part-time student (enrolled in <75 per cent of a full-time load for the year) and what mode of study you are undertaking (such as online, on-campus etc.).

This fee will be calculated up to the maximum charge (in 2024 this was A$351 per year, in 2025 this will be A$365), and the breakdown of the calculation will be included on your Statement of Account.

Please note that the VET Student Loan and SA-HELP does not cover SSAF. You must pay your SSAF in full by the date on your Statement of Account.

How and when do I pay my SSAF fee?

Some students may be eligible to defer payment of the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) using a government SA-HELP loan. Learn more about SA-HELP loans.

You need to pay your SSAF fee by the census date of each study period in which you are enrolled. You can find the census for all study periods on our Academic calendar. For SSAF payment options for local students refer here. 

What can the SSAF be spent on? 

The federal government states that universities must only use the SSAF funds for specific services. Find out what services the SSAF expenditure may and may not be spent on.

An overview of services that the SSAF can be spent on includes:  

  • providing food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider;
  • 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 higher education provider's rules (however described);
  • advocating students' interests in matters arising under the higher education provider'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.
     

Swinburne may spend SSAF revenue to directly provide a service, to get someone else to provide a service or subsidise a service provided by someone else, or on infrastructure for the provision of a service.

What can't the SSAF funding be spent on? 

The fee cannot be used for the provision of academic services, nor can it be used to support political parties or the election of a person to a Commonwealth, State, Territory Parliament or Local Government body. 

SSAF Allocations

View past and present SSAF allocations.

Want to know more about the 2025 SSAF allocation process?

Read our 2025 Student Services and Amenities fee allocation process and review student consultations, expectations and priorities for expenditure in 2025.

Find out more