Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF)
Curious about the Student Services & Amenities Fee? Here's how much it is, what it goes towards and why it's crucial for providing a great university experience.

The Student Services & Amenities Fee at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ
The Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a compulsory contribution that ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç students make each year. It supports a wide range of services that enhance student life at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ. It contributes to essential support, development and campus life services for all students.
Current SSAF Fees
The Department of Education has advised the maximum annual charge is $351 for 2024.ÌýThe maximum Student Services and Amenities Fee for 2025 is $365.
Find your SSAF contribution amount below:
-
2024
Students studying under the 3+ Academic Calendar:
- The full-time fee is $117.00 per term
- The part-time fee is $87.75 per term
Students studying under non-standard programs:
Graduate Diploma of Psychology and Graduate Certificate in Child Development
- The fee is $58.50 per term
2025
Students studying under the 3+ Academic Calendar:
- The full-time fee is $121.50 per term
- The part-time fee is $91.25 per term
Students studying under non-standard programs:
ÌýGraduate Diploma of Psychology andÌýÌýGraduate Certificate in Child Development
- The fee is $60.00 per term
-
2024
- The full-time fee is $175.50 per semester
- The part-time fee is $131.50 per semester
2025
- The full-time fee is $182.50 per semester
- The part-time fee is $136.00 per semester
-
2024
- The full-time fee is $87.75 per term
- The part-time fee is $65.75 per term
2025
- The full-time fee is $91.25 per term
- The part-time fee is $68.00 per term
The above charges include students studying online or via distance mode.Ìý
Please note: ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç reserves the right to vary student fees at any time during enrolment in line with relevant legislation.
Incurral dates
The incurral date is the date in which the debt is incurred. There is no capacity under HESA 2003 to remit a SA-HELP debt incurred. ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç will not refund this amount after the incurral date, even in cases where a student has met remission requirements for special circumstances.
ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç has determined the following dates where the SSAF is payable and/or where the SSAF debt is incurred:
-
Ìý
Teaching period Incurral date Summer Term 14 January Term 1 10 March Term 2 23 June Term 3 6 October Semester 1 24 March Semester 2 11 August Hexamester 1 25 January Hexamester 2 21 March Hexamester 3 16 May Hexamester 4 11 July Hexamester 5 5 September Hexamester 6 31 October -
Ìý
Teaching period Incurral date Summer Term 23 January Term 1 13 March Term 2 26 June Term 3 9 October Semester 1 20 March Semester 2 7 August Hexamester 1 23 January Hexamester 2 20 March Hexamester 3 15 May Hexamester 4 10 July Hexamester 5 4 September Hexamester 6 30 October
-
Yes, your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is not covered by HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP. You can pay your SSAF upfront or, if eligible, apply for SA-HELP to defer the fee each term before the incurral date (the deadline to pay or defer your SSAF).Ìý
-
The incurral date is the last day to pay your SSAF or apply for SA-HELP. After this date, applications for SA-HELP are not accepted and unpaid SSAF becomes overdue.
ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç sets an earlier administrative payment due date to remind students of the upcoming incurral date. We encourage you to pay your SSAF or apply for SA-HELP by the payment due date to avoid issues after the incurral date.
-
First, check your eligibility. If eligible, apply for SA-HELP on .
Go to My Student Profile tab > My Student Services > Financials > Commonwealth Govt. Forms.
Apply before the incurral date of the relevant teaching period.
-
No, it's too late to apply for this teaching period if the incurral date has passed. You will need to pay your outstanding SSAF amount upfront. To defer SSAF for future terms, ensure you apply for SA-HELP before the next incurral date.
-
Yes. If you have successfully applied for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP to defer your tuition, you can pay just your SSAF upfront. On :
Go to My Student Profile tab > My Student Services > Financials > Fee Statement & Payment Options.
Select Pay Now, then overwrite the total amount with the exact SSAF amount due.
Follow Payment Options for further instructions.
-
No, as long as you remain in the same degree program, you do not need to reapply. Your SSAF will be deferred to your SA-HELP loan after the incurral date each term for the duration of your program.Ìý
-
Yes. If you change your degree program (including switching between a double and single degree), you must reapply for all relevant HELP loans, including SA-HELP, regardless of how you changed your program.
-
The SSAF amount depends on your study load. If you changed from part-time to full-time, or vice versa, the SSAF amount will adjust to reflect that change.
-
Yes, SSAF supports many services at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ, including online learning and student support services.Ìý
-
- The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) fee was established through the Student Services and Amenities Bill 2011. The Bill amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
- ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç has determined that it will charge the fee to all students, with the following exceptions:
- Students enrolled in cross-institutional, PLuS Alliance, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Online programs or exchange programs studying with ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç (where ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç is not the 'home' institution). Students on exchange or cross-institutional study at another institution where their primary degree is with ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç (the 'home' institution) will still be subject to the SSAF charges.
- All Defence-funded and non-Commonwealth supported students enrolled in a coursework program at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Canberra/ADFA.
Table 1 (below) provides more detail on liability. - The fee is levied on eligible students by the University as a contribution towards services and amenities for the whole student population. Unless explicitly exempted, all students are expected to contribute towards amenities and services. There is no provision to exempt students on the grounds of study or attendance mode (e.g. online or distance delivery; teaching hospital attendance), or that they might not personally use the services and amenities provided.
- The SSAF maximum rate is published annually by The Department of Education & Training. Institutions can choose to charge up to that rate. The guidelines state that a student defined as part-time cannot be charged more than 75% of the maximum fee.
- The fee is charged and payable on a term or semester basis, depending on the student’s primary campus of study, study period model, career and study load (EFTSL). To view the charges that may apply to you for a semester or term, please refer to the Current SSAF Fees section above.
- The incurral dates are set for each semester or term. All students are liable for the SSAF calculated based on their enrolment as at the incurral date for the semester or term. Incurral dates can be found on your Fee Statement each semester or term, or on this SA-HELP loan page.
- Eligible students can elect to pay part of the full SSAF upfront to ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ, or apply for a SA-HELP loan for the remainder or full value of the fee. If you choose to defer part or all of your fee, you are required to apply for a SA-HELP loan prior to the Incurral Date.
- If you have elected to defer your SSAF you are still eligible to pay part or all of the liability up to the Incurral Date. After the Incurral Date has passed you can no longer make a SSAF payment to the University for that Semester or Term and must arrange payment to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) directly.
- If you successfully apply for fee remission after the SSAF Incurral Date, you cannot have your SSAF refunded or remitted.
Table 1 - SSAF Liability
Program/Career Fee/Funding type SSAF Liable? Comments Undergraduate Commonwealth Supported Yes Includes undergraduate Commonwealth supported students at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Canberra. Postgraduate Commonwealth Supported Yes N/A Research Research Training Scheme Yes N/A Research International Yes N/A Undergraduate Enabling Programs (including UPP) Yes N/A Non-Award Excluding Cross-Institutional No Cross-Institutional students where ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç is not the home institution areÌýnotÌýexempt. Undergraduate International Fee-paying Yes N/A Postgraduate International Fee-paying Yes N/A Postgraduate Postgraduate Domestic Fee-paying Yes N/A Undergraduate Undergraduate Domestic Fee-paying Yes N/A
See also
Have a question?
Contact us for advice on all things ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ, including faculty-specific questions, essential services, and even support and development. We’re here to help.