caz60

Could anyone help me ? We have a son who hopes to come out with us to Australia when we emigrate in Sept. He has places in universities in the U.K subject to him getting the necessary grades in the summer. My question is I understand that in Australia we will get no help with the fees until we become citizens even though we have got permanant residence, and the fees are in the region of $ 25,000 ? and they have to be paid up-front is this right or can some one help in answering this question .

saraliz

Hi Caz,

No, he won't get any help with fees until he gets citizenship. As a PR he is entitled to domestic fees though (rather than international fees). It's slightly confusing, because while he won't be eligible for HECS or FEE-HELP (government loans), he can be Commonwealth supported* which makes the course a bit cheaper than if he was a full fee-paying student.

Payment is up front, a semester at a time.

$25,000 sounds very steep, unless you're looking at the cost of a whole course? It varies depending on what you study, but generally fees are around $5,000 - $6,000 per year.

Check out http://www.goingtouni.gov.au for loads more info.

-Sara.

*Commonweath supported means the Government pays part of the fees, and the student pays the balance. Each course has a limited number of "Commonwealth supported" places, so if the student isn't accepted into one of them they have the option of joining the course as a full fee paying student.

Sue from Manchester

Saraliz is quite right. You will only pay the Australian domestic fees but you will have to pay them up front. After 2 years he can become a citizen and then presumably will have the same rights to student loans etc as anyone else. We are doing the same. No. 1 son just about to sit his A levels and hopes to do electronic engineering at University of Queensland or Melbourne.