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Payment options explained
At TAFE Queensland, we have a range of payment options, concessions, loans and scholarships you may be eligible for to assist you with the cost of your study. You may also be eligible for a TAFE Queensland payment plan to help you pay your course fees over the course of your studies.
A new qualification opens up a world of opportunities. One of the questions you’ve likely been asking yourself is if you can actually afford to study. There are a number of options that could make your study at TAFE Queensland more affordable than you may think.
What it costs
Firstly, it’s crucial to understand the different costs included in your overall tuition. There are two types of TAFE Queensland student fees: tuition and service.
Tuition fees are for your education and training. The tuition fee for your TAFE Queensland course depends on a range of factors including the length of course and whether you decided to study full time, part time, or online.
Service fees are for additional goods and services provided to you. Service fees and any additional materials you purchase are often not covered by any loans or funding you may be able to access. A service fee could be a requests for an official record of results (academic history) or a replacement student ID card.
You may also be required to purchase additional materials including clothing, tools or textbooks. These are specific to your course and are listed in the relevant course page on our website.
How you can pay
There are three main ways to pay your course fees with TAFE Queensland:
- you can pay your fees upfront at the time of enrolment
- you may be able to defer your fees with a student loan from the Australian Government (this may incur additional costs)
- you may be eligible for a TAFE Queensland payment plan to pay your fees gradually over the course of your studies.
Bonus: If you are eligible for a student loan from the Australian Government, but your course costs more than the loan cap amount, you may also be able to access a TAFE Queensland payment plan to help you pay the remaining gap.
What financial assistance is available
As a TAFE Queensland student there are a range of concessions, subsidised training options, and scholarships you may be eligible for to assist you with the cost of your study.
Concessions
Fee concessions may apply to government funded courses or subjects for eligible students. To be eligible for the concession fee, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- hold a valid Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card issued by either Centrelink or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs
- be a partner or dependent of someone holding a valid Concession Card
- be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
Subsidised training
Eligible students may be able to access a range of independent and government funding to help subsidise the cost of training. Use our funding eligibility calculator to find out what subsidies you might be eligible for.
Fee-Free TAFE | VET qualifications
The career of your dreams is within reach thanks to Fee-Free TAFE funding. Follow your passion with over 90 industry-recognised courses to choose from. Make a great decision for your future with in-demand skills in high-priority areas including business and IT, creative industries, education and community, environment and animal services, health and science, and service industries.
Certificate 3 Guarantee | VET qualifications
The Certificate 3 Guarantee is a state government subsidy designed to help working-age Queenslanders get their first post-school certificate III qualification. TAFE Queensland is a Skills Assure supplier, approved by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training to deliver Certificate 3 Guarantee subsidised courses to eligible Queenslanders.
Higher Level Skills subsidy | VET qualifications
Higher Level Skills provides a government subsidy to support eligible students to access subsidised training in priority skill sets and selected certificate IV or higher qualifications (some restrictions may apply). Visit the Department of Education and Training website to see which qualifications and skill sets are subsidised under this program.
Construction Skills Queensland | Building and construction training
If you're an apprentice or trainee working in the building and construction industry (including civil construction) you may be eligible to access Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) funding to help reduce the cost of your training. CSQ funding is available for selected short courses, skills assessments and gap training, higher level qualifications, and for a select range of programs specific to small businesses.
Free apprenticeships for under 25s | Apprenticeships and traineeships
The Queensland government is supporting young Queenslanders up to the age of 25 by providing access to fully subsidised training across a range of priority apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications. If you are an apprentice or trainee studying a priority qualification, the training fees associated with your study will be covered by the Queensland Government.
Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training | Apprenticeships and traineeships
The Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training (TSAGT) program gives eligible Queenslanders with substantial industry experience the opportunity to complete a priority trade qualification. The funding covers trade skills assessments and the gap training required to gain an eligible qualification.
User Choice funding | Apprenticeships and traineeships
The User Choice 2017-20 program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees. The program aims to provide funding aligned to the skills needs of industry and respond to changing government priorities.
Commonwealth supported place | Degrees
If you’re studying one of our degree programs you may be eligible for a government subsidy known as a Commonwealth supported place (CSP). The amount the government subsidises for you is not a loan, and you will not have to pay it back.
Scholarships
You may also be eligible for apply for a $5,000 TAFE Queensland Scholarship.
There are two types of scholarships available:
- Merit scholarships are awarded to students who can demonstrate that they will do well in the industry in which they apply for the scholarship.
- Access and equity scholarships provide equitable access to study at TAFE Queensland. They are awarded to students who can demonstrate a genuine interest in and commitment to their chosen career, and on the basis of specific equity criteria.
The easiest and fastest way to find out if you're eligible for a range of different government and independent funding is to use our funding eligibility calculator.