The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a compulsory fee approved by the Australian Government.
The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is set on an annual basis in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) and the ECU SSAF Rules. The purpose of the SSAF is to provide student services and amenities beyond those required for the academic work of the University. At ECU, proceeds from the SSAF are allocated to a range of services and initiatives in areas including health, counselling, sport and recreation, social clubs and societies, student welfare, careers advice, student advocacy, orientation, production and dissemination of media to students, and student representation.
The amount of SSAF revenue anticipated for 2027 is $5.6m.
The SSAF Advisory Forum – which consists of members of University management, the ECU Student Guild and an elected student member of University Council – will meet in early 2027 to discuss how to prioritise expenditure across the range of student services and amenities at ECU, and how and by whom the services and amenities should be provided. The recommendations of the SSAF Advisory Forum are presented to the Vice-Chancellor for endorsement, and to University Council for approval.
Your SSAF is charged automatically when you enrol in your units and must be paid by the due date shown on your Statement of Account. Payment due dates are available on the When to Pay page.
The SSAF is charged in Semester 1 and/or Semester 2, depending on your study load during the year.
Eligible students may choose to defer their SSAF through the SA-HELP scheme. To do this, you must submit a Request for SA-HELP form through SIMO before the census date for your teaching period. Students enrolled in non-award or cross-institutional units are not eligible for SA-HELP.
If the census date has passed, you cannot defer your SSAF for that teaching period and must pay the fee upfront. Information on payment methods is available on the How to Pay page.
If you do not pay your SSAF by the due date, an encumbrance may be applied to your student record. This may restrict access to services including academic transcripts, results and graduation.
You are exempt from paying SSAF if you are:
SSAF is calculated based on your enrolled study load, your location and your study mode. The maximum SSAF charge is $373 in 2026.
| Enrolment Mode | Instalments per year | Instalment Due Dates | Part-time Costs per Instalment | Full-time** Cost per Instalment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational Education and Training (VET) WAAPA | 1 | Full Year (16 May) | $186.50 | $373.00 |
| On-Campus | 2 | Semester 1 (11 March) Semester 2 (12 August) | $93.25 | $186.50 |
| Fully Off-Campus* | 2 | Semester 1 (11 March) Semester 2 (12 August) | $93.25 | $93.25 |
| Fully Off-Campus Accelerated | 6 | Accelerated 1 (19 January) Accelerated 2 (16 March) Accelerated 3 (11 May) Accelerated 4 (6 July) Accelerated 5 (31 August) Accelerated 6 (26 October) | $33.57 | $33.57 |
* Enrolment in one or more on-campus units will incur the on-campus fee.
** Full-time means a study load of at least 75% of the normal full-time load for the relevant period.
SSAF is calculated based on your enrolled study load, your location and your study mode. The maximum SSAF charge is $386 in 2027.
| Enrolment Mode | Instalments per year | Instalment Due Dates | Part-time Costs per Instalment | Full-time** Cost per Instalment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational Education and Training (VET) WAAPA | 1 | Full Year (16 May) | $193.00 | $386.00 |
| On-Campus | 2 | Semester 1 (11 March) Semester 2 (12 August) | $96.50 | $193.00 |
| Fully Off-Campus* | 2 | Semester 1 (11 March) Semester 2 (12 August) | $96.50 | $96.50 |
| Fully Off-Campus Accelerated | 6 | Accelerated 1 (18 January) Accelerated 2 (15 March) Accelerated 3 (10 May) Accelerated 4 (5 July) Accelerated 5 (30 August) Accelerated 6 (25 October) | $34.74 | $34.74 |
* Enrolment in one or more on-campus units will incur the on-campus fee.
** Full-time means a study load of at least 75% of the normal full-time load for the relevant period.