Fees

Course fees

The Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood is a postgraduate award. The tuition figures below are indicative and will be confirmed before each intake.

All fees are in Australian dollars (AUD).

How Fairmont protects tuition fees is set out in our Statement of Tuition Assurance (PDF, 222 KB).

Tuition covers your teaching, learning materials and access to the online learning environment. Some costs are yours to arrange (such as travel for professional experience) and aren’t included. A volunteer Working with Children Check for placement is free in Victoria. A National Police Check has a fee, set by Victoria Police (current fee). See Entry Requirements.

What is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is the Australian Government’s “study now, pay later” loan scheme. It lets eligible domestic students defer some or all of their tuition fees and repay them later through the tax system, once they earn above the compulsory repayment threshold.

• It can cover part or all of your tuition, up to your available HELP balance.
• There is no interest, but the amount you owe is adjusted each year by price growth or wage growth, whichever is lower.
• You don’t repay anything until your income passes the compulsory repayment threshold.

Am I eligible?

Most permanent residents cannot get FEE-HELP. Australian citizens can, and so can permanent humanitarian visa holders, Pacific Engagement visa holders and some New Zealand citizens who meet the residency requirements.

To receive FEE-HELP, you generally need to:

• be an Australian citizen who will undertake at least part of the course in Australia; or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, or hold a Pacific Engagement visa and live in Australia while you study, or be an eligible New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the residency requirements;
• be enrolled in an eligible course, at a provider that offers FEE-HELP, by the census date (explained below);
• have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and a tax file number (TFN);
• have not used up your HELP balance; and
• submit an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) on or before the census date.

Eligibility is set by the Australian Government. For the current detail and thresholds, see the government’s StudyAssist website.

Unique Student Identifier (USI)

A USI is a reference number that creates a single record of your nationally recognised training and higher education. You need one to receive FEE-HELP and to be awarded your qualification.

Creating a USI is free and takes a few minutes at the government’s USI website. If you’ve studied or trained in Australia recently, you may already have one. We’ll remind you about it during enrolment.

Census dates & withdrawing

Each study period has a census date: the last day you can withdraw from a unit without paying for it. It’s also the date your enrolment is locked for government reporting.

• Withdraw on or before the census date: no tuition fee for that unit.
• Withdraw after the census date: the fee stands, unless special circumstances apply.

The census date for each unit is confirmed before the unit starts.

Repaying a FEE-HELP loan

You repay FEE-HELP through the tax system once your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold. Repayments are worked out on the part of your income above the threshold, and they’re handled automatically through your tax return, so there are no fixed monthly bills.

You can also make voluntary repayments at any time. The current thresholds and rates are set each year by the Australian Government and published on the StudyAssist website.

Paying up front

You can pay your fees up front. Once you’re enrolled, fee notices and payment options are managed through your student portal.