SAE Fee schedules
TUITION FEES
Tuition fees are processed after the census date of each trimester, based on the unit price listed in SAE’s current Fee Schedules.
2025 SAE Fee Schedule
2024 SAE Fee Schedule
The first trimester of tuition fees must be paid on initial registration. Our International Admissions team can help you with further information. All further tuition fees are paid in installments prior to the commencement of each subsequent trimester.
STUDENT SERVICES AND AMENITIES FEE (SSAF)
The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) supports a wide range of non-academic student services, facilities and student-focused initiatives.
This government-approved fee is levied on all eligible students to allow us to allocate specific funding for services and activities that support students’ physical, mental, social, career and cultural wellbeing. The Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) and the Student Services Amenities, Representation and Advocacy Guidelines (the Guidelines) outline how the funds are allocated, spent and reported.
SSAF-supported services will be available to all SAE students, regardless of how and where you study, and we encourage you to take full advantage of them to enrich your College experience.
Student Services and Amenities Fee & Payment Options
Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Proposed Spend
For more information on the SSAF in Australia, visit the Australian Government SSAF website.
If you are an Australian resident visit Domestic Fees & Payments
Pay via our online payment portal
SAE accepts various payment options through the SAE Payment Portal, powered by our official payment partner – Flywire.
This portal allows you to:
- Execute, track and confirm your payment online in a secure portal
- Use familiar payment options from your home country, in 140+ currencies
- Access a 24/7 multilingual customer support team for assistance
- Save on bank fees and ensure the best exchange rates with Flywire’s best price guarantee.
How to make a payment to SAE
- Go to SAE Payment Portal to begin your payment.
- Select the country from where you are paying and your preferred payment method.
- Enter your payment details and confirm your payment booking.
- Receive instructions on how to complete the payment process, depending on your payment method.
- Once payment is made you will have access to real-time payment tracking through email, in-app and text alerts
Watch these videos to find out more about Flywire
How to make a payment using Flywire
How to make an International Bank Transfer using Flywire
Having trouble with Flywire?
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +61 2 8311 4772
International Phone Numbers & FAQs: flywire.com/support
UPFRONT PAYMENT
SAE accepts full or partial upfront payment of your trimester tuition fees via our SAE Payment Portal. The amount payable will be included on your invoice each term and must be paid in full before the commencement of each trimester.
Failure to pay tuition fees by the due date will impact your ability to continue to study. Also, any unpaid tuition fees may affect international students’ confirmation of enrolment (CoE) and student visa status with the Department of Home Affairs.
Please note you will not be eligible to graduate until you have completed all required course components (see course structure information provided on the SAE website for your course) and have no outstanding debts with us.
In December 2015, the Australian Government passed legislation to allow certain NZ SCV holders access to HELP loans from 1 January 2016. To be eligible, NZ SCV holders are required to meet a range of long term residency requirements.
These requirements are:
- that the student arrived in Australia at least 10 years ago as a dependent child (i.e. aged under 18 years of age and did not have a spouse or de-facto partner); and the student has been ordinarily resident in Australia for the previous 10 years (that is, they have been here for the last 10 years – including resident for eight of the last 10 years, and 18 months of the last two years), and;
- the student is otherwise eligible for HELP.
To get the specific dates for your movements in and out of Australia, request your International Movement Records by completing this form (free of charge). Download the form here.
For more information on HELP loans for NZ SCV holders, including clarification on whether you hold a NZ SCV, click here.
SAE conforms to the requirements of the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) established by the Australian Government for overseas students which is part of the ESOS (Education Service for Overseas Students) Assurance Fund established under section 45 of the ESOS Act 2000.
For more information, visit the Tuition Protection Service for International Students on the Australian Government website.
You can apply for a refund of upfront tuition fees in exceptional circumstances if:
- You were unable to continue studying and withdrew from the unit(s) after the census date has passed, or
- You were unable to successfully complete the requirements of the unit(s) to a minimum of a Pass (P).
This application is only relevant to units that have not been successfully completed, and have either a Fail, or Withdrawn grade (WK, WF or F). You cannot apply for re-credit or refund under special circumstances if you have successfully completed the unit.
Applications will not be approved where no special circumstances exist.
It is expected if you are applying for special circumstances after withdrawing from a unit after census date that you have first explored all avenues prior to the decision to withdraw, such as applying for special consideration (that is, requesting deferred assessment, extensions etc.) or other support and assistance that SAE may be able to provide.
It is important to note that special circumstances may only be awarded where it was not possible to complete the unit(s) to a minimum of a pass level. Not completing your unit to your usual standards is not itself a reason for remission/refund.
What are Special Circumstances
Special circumstances are those that are considered to be unusual, uncommon, or abnormal.
To meet special circumstances, you need to demonstrate that your circumstances meet all of the eligibility criteria:
- were beyond your control; and
- did not make the full impact on you until on or after the census(s) of the unit; and
- made it impracticable for you to complete the unit(s) and continue with your studies.
Special circumstances were beyond your control:
A situation occurs which a reasonable person would consider is not due to the person’s action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which the person is not responsible. This situation must be unusual, uncommon or abnormal.
AND
Special circumstances did not make their full impact on you until on or after the census date:
To meet this criteria the following circumstances must have occurred:-
- before the census date, but worsened after that day, or
- before the census date, but the full effect or magnitude did not become apparent until after that date, or
- on or after the census date.
AND
Special circumstances made it impracticable for you to complete the requirements of the unit and continue with your studies:
To meet these criteria you will need to demonstrate it was impracticable for you to complete the requirements of the unit for the study period, because you were unable, for example:
- undertake the necessary private study required, or attend sufficient lectures or tutorials, or other compulsory attendance requirements in order to meet the compulsory unit requirements, or
- complete the required assessable work, or
- sit the required examinations, or complete any other course requirements.
NOTE:
Failure to meet any progressive course requirements of the unit(s) prior to the special circumstances developing will not necessarily mean your special circumstances made it impracticable for you to complete the unit(s) requirements. That is, if you needed to pass all assessment items prior to your special circumstances (e.g. medical) occurred, you could not have passed the unit even if you had not fallen ill, therefore your application is likely to be declined.
Not completing your unit to your usual standard is not in itself a reason for fee remission in special circumstances.
You must be able to demonstrate you were unable to complete your studies in that unit at a minimum of a pass level.
Examples of special circumstances
Please click here to review examples of special circumstances and what they do not include.
How to Apply for Special Circumstances
To apply, you will need to complete the relevant forms.
- Domestic special circumstances application form
- International special circumstances application form
On this form, you will need to provide a personal statement explaining your circumstances and how they meet the requirements of ‘special circumstances’ as detailed above. You will need to meet and address all three special circumstances detailed. This personal statement should include sufficient detail to allow us to make an informed decision about your application and circumstances.
You will also need to include relevant supporting documentation to support your application. Your application will be considered primarily on these supporting documents, so it is important your application includes these documents.
Depending on your reasons for applying you will need to provide varying independent supporting documentation. Please note: statements from family members are not considered independent and will not be accepted. Please read information on what types of documentation to include depending on your circumstance.
Please submit your completed application directly through to [email protected] or hand the completed documents to Student Services at your local campus.
Alternatively, you can post the completed application to:
c/o National Student Finance
SAE Creative Media Institute
373-391Ewingsdale Road
Byron Bay, NSW, 2481
How your application will be assessed
SAE Institute will assess your application in accordance with the requirements of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and associated guidelines. Your application will be considered on its merits and the supporting application must be of sufficient detail to the Student Fees Team to make an informed decision regarding your application.
We recognise that your application may include sensitive personal information. The information you provide is used only for the purpose of enabling a small central team of staff to make a decision about your application.
You will be notified of the outcome of your application within 28 days of the completed application being received by the Student Fees Team. The Fees Team may contact you to request additional supporting information if the application does not include sufficient information for the Fees Team to make a decision.
Time-frame for applications
You will need to apply for special circumstances within 12 months of the following dates:
- The date you withdrew from the course, if you withdrew from it, or
- The end-date of the relevant study period, if you didn’t withdraw.
Applications submitted more than 12 months after the relevant date will not be considered.
The Institute may consider waiving the application period, in accordance with HESA, if it is deemed not possible for the application to have been made within the 12 month period. Additional supporting documents will be required. Lack of knowledge of the debt is not considered reason itself as to why you could not submit an application.
What supporting documentation to include
It is most important to provide independent supporting documentation to support your application. It is not sufficient to provide only a personal statement outlining your special circumstances.
Please note, SAE Institute may contact any professional authority who has supported your application, to verify any information they have provided.
Your application, personal statement, and any supporting documents must be in English. An official translation in English must be included with your application for any supporting documentation issued in another language.
Please find the list of supporting documentation here.
Outcomes of the Application Process
You will be notified of the outcome of your application within 28 calendar days of the date the application was received by SAE Institute. The Notice of Decision will be sent to your student email and contain the following:
- the outcome of your application;
- reasons for the decision
- How to apply for a review (if the application is refused)
Approved Applications
If your fee remission is approved the process applied for the re-crediting or remission of the financial liability will depend on your fee type and the method of payment used;
Upfront Fee Paying Students: Students who have paid tuition fees upfront will have this amount credited to their student account. Where a student requires a refund of monies rather than a credit towards future study, the student will need to complete the Refund Application Form.
Rejected Applications and Appeals
If your application is rejected and you’re not satisfied with the decision, you may apply for a review of the decision within 28 calendar days after you first received the decision on your application.
You will need to send your appeal c/o Director of Finance, to [email protected] and you will need to include the following information:-
- Your grounds for requesting a reconsideration of the decision; and
- Any additional supporting documentation you may wish to include in support of your appeal
We will advise you in writing of the receipt of the appeal. Your request will be reviewed by an independent Senior Officer of the Institute.
You will usually be notified of a decision within 28 days (in most cases) of the result of your appeal.
If your appeal application outcome is reviewed and you’re still dissatisfied, you can apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a further review of the decision (this does not apply to full fee-paying students or international students). This must be lodged with the AAT within 28 days of receiving the notice of the decision.
Please find the following fees applicable for fines, replacement testamur and Overseas Student Health Cover.
Replacement Testamur (costs vary based on delivery method:-
- Regular Post within Australia – $65*
- International Post outside Australia – $80*
- Collect from Campus – $50*
Library Fines – Fines will vary based on the condition of the returned items and days overdue. Visit here for more details.
*Non-tuition (Administration) Fees are subject to change
STUDENT SERVICES AND AMENITIES FEE
The Student Services and Amenities Fee is a Commonwealth Government legislated fee charged by many higher education providers across Australia to help fund support services for students of a non-academic nature, including recreational activities, accommodation, community events, student publications, and career and employment advice.
The SSAF funding model is designed to achieve maximum benefit for the most students. It allows SAE to use the collective contributions to fund as many programs as possible to support different students with a variety of needs across the entire student cohort, such as:
- Counselling services
- Careers and leadership development and advice
- Health and wellbeing services and promotion
- Helping secure student accommodation
- International Support
- IT services
- Financial support
- Food and beverage provision at college events
- Orientation
- Student amenities
- Student advocacy and legal services
- Student communications
- Student services, support, activities and events
- Supporting sporting, recreational and cultural activities
All enrolled SAE students will pay the SSAF, however there are some exceptions:
- Students on 100% scholarships
- Navitas staff
- Students who began studying before January 2012
- Students in VET, non-award courses, and short courses (up to 16 weeks’ coursework)
Note: This exemption list may be amended in future trimesters.
The maximum SSAF amount students are required to pay is determined by the government and depends on study load.
The maximum 2024 SSAF for SAE is set at $326 for full-time students. The fee is charged per trimester at:
- $108.00 for full-time students* (FT = study load of 20 credit points and above)
- $81.00 for part-time students (PT = a study load of 10 credit points)
The maximum 2025 SSAF for SAE is set at $365 for full-time students. The fee is charged per trimester at:
- $121.00 for full-time students* (FT = study load of 20 credit points and above)
- $91.00 for part-time students (PT = a study load of 10 credit points)
*SSAF-related Government Guidelines define ‘full-time’ as a study load of 0.25 EFTSL and above (the equivalent of 20 credit points and above), however this may differ to other definitions, such as those used by other government services and SAE.
Liability for the SSAF is based on enrolled study load at each trimester’s census date.
The amount you pay will depend on your enrolled study load at each census date.
The SSAF is a compulsory charge for all students enrolled at SAE.
The payment date or the date that the debt is incurred for SSAF is on census date, however cannot be earlier than the last dates students are able to enrol in a course.
The maximum annual SSAF that can be charged is determined by the Commonwealth Government. In 2025 this will be up to $365 for a full-time student. Students studying on a part-time basis cannot be charged more than 75% of the maximum amount that the students studying on a full-time basis are charged. The fee may be indexed annually.
The SSAF can be paid via up front or by deferring the fee.
Option 1: Pay upfront
If you’re an international student, you’ll need to pay your SSAF upfront, by that trimester’s commencement date, with a refund provided to any student who withdraws prior to census date.
Option 2: Defer your fees through SA-HELP
Eligible students who are enrolled in an award course may choose to defer part, or all, of their fees through SA-HELP. All other students must pay their fees upfront, directly to SAE.
To defer the SSAF you need to complete a ‘Request for SA-HELP Loan’ form. Students who use SA-HELP will be required to pay their SSAF debt through the tax system when they earn above the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment, in the same way that FEE-HELP works. Request for SA-HELP Loan forms are available from Student Services.
Remember, if you are eligible and are going to defer your SSAF, you need to do this before the required payment date.
When you haven’t paid or deferred your SSAF payment, you can expect to receive reminder notifications following the SSAF deadline at Census. The SSAF is a compulsory charge – if you have not paid your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) instalment invoice by the payment due date penalties will apply as outlined in the Tuition Fee and Refund Policy.
Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Proposed Spend 2025
We have spoken to our students and they have told us how they would most like to see their SSAF dollars spent.
All students will continue to have the opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process for future SSAF spending, including through democratically elected student representatives.
Continued one-on-one and group learning services, including peer programs, to help students develop and improve their core academic and study skills, and a continued full range of orientation activities and the Student Partners initiative.
Providing career advising services and industry engagement measures to help students and graduates understand career options and access employment opportunities. These services include individual support and workshops from careers advisors, creation and implementation of employment strategies, the 24/7 accessible Employability Toolkit, online master classes, in-person and online industry networking opportunities, and industry partnerships.
More support to enhance a range of community, cultural, social and creative student events, and funding for student-led initiatives and activities, enhancing diversity and inclusivity.
Continued dedicated support for students’ wellbeing, including confidential professional counselling services and wellbeing support programs, and advice and activities to foster wellbeing.
SSAF Consultation and Achievements
In its first year at SAE University College, the SSAF has supported the provision of a range of non-academic services and facilities for all students. Following student consultation at the start of 2024 – through a combination of surveys, emails and discussions at local campus meetings – key priorities for the year were identified as:
- Career services (40%)
- Student support and engagement (32%)
- Health & welfare (16%)
- Student-led initiatives (12%).
The highest specific priority area for expenditure was career development and advisory services, followed by learning and counselling services.
Achievements
In response to the students’ needs, two SSAF-funded positions were appointed, which commenced in May 2024:
- Learning Advisor (full time)
- Counsellor (part time).
In addition, a comprehensive SSAF-funded consultation on employability and career development was conducted. After extensive engagement with professional and academic staff and students, a final report was prepared. The report focuses on enhancing employability, curriculum alignment and industry integration for SAE students. It outlines a detailed framework for a strategic approach to integrating employability into the SAE curriculum and student experience.
Key recommendations:
- Redefine employability to encompass a broader range of skills and career stages.
- Implement a skills-based framework across all courses.
- Enhance curriculum and assessment
- Rename transferable skills to “professional skills” to better reflect their importance.
- Regularly review and update the Employability Toolkit.
- Align graduate attributes with industry standards.
- Develop a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) framework.
- Redesign course maps and unit guides to link learning outcomes to career development.
- Incorporate employability development into student portfolios.
- Improve student support and engagement.
- Enhance communication strategies to target different student groups.
- Identify and promote existing employability activities.
- Review marketing materials to emphasise skills development and professional standards.
- Create an employability award to recognise student achievement.
These recommendations aim to create a more coherent and practical approach to employability education, equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen careers. These initiatives are available to all students, including those online.
SAE is recruiting a Careers Advisor, due to commence in 2025.
In addition, the Employability Toolkit, a comprehensive online module was made available to all students in Moodle. The Toolkit, developed with student input, includes resources about career activation, industry connections, portfolio and profile development, and industry experience. More than 400 students have accessed the Toolkit in 2024, which will be updated with videos featuring industry practitioners reflecting on various career activation and employability aspects.
SSAF-funded events
In 2024, SAE University College spent 4% of SSAF funding on food and beverage. The events included orientation, club get togethers and student showcase, and occurred on multiple campuses throughout the Trimesters.
Services provided through the SSAF funding are made available to all SAE students, and it is up to each individual student to choose their level of engagement with these services and activities.
When you haven’t paid or deferred your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) payment, you can expect to receive reminder notifications following the SSAF payment deadline. SAE reserves the right to withhold your grades or restrict your enrolment in future sessions if you have any unpaid SSAF fees.
The SSAF model allows funding to areas which would not normally be allocated through operational costs or cannot be funded due to legislation or education guidelines It allows SAE to allocate funding to services, facilities and student-focused initiatives that would otherwise be unsupported or unable to go ahead.
SAE consults with students and their representatives about priorities for student services and amenities.
SAE will publish identified priorities for proposed expenditure and seek feedback from all students via an annual SSAF survey. Staff will meet with the Student Staff Consultative Committees and other interested students to consider priorities for using SSAF revenue. Students can email feedback, suggestions or questions to [email protected] or call 1300 136 933.
Contact Us
For more information about the SSAF call 1300 136 933, or email [email protected].
Have Your Say
We welcome and encourage feedback from students on our SSAF processes. Have your say by emailing us at [email protected].
