Commonwealth supported students receive a fee subsidy from the Australian Government. However, they are required to pay the remainder of their fees, known as the Student Contribution Amount.
Here you can find information on whether you are eligible for a Commonwealth supported place and the student contribution rates.
Student contribution bands
The Australian Government’s Job-ready Graduates reform package was passed on 19 October 2020. The package includes changes to the student contribution for new students, who study in a Commonwealth supported place, from 1 January 2021.
The Government has introduced Grandfathering arrangements for those students who commenced their program before 1 January 2021.
‘Grandfathered’ students will not be disadvantaged by the student contribution changes. If you are studying courses where the student contribution has decreased, you will be charged the decreased rates. If you are studying courses where the student contribution has increased, you will be charged the lower grandfathered rates.
Students who are not grandfathered, will be charged the new student contribution rates.
Access Grandfathered student contribution bands
Access New student contribution bands
Calculating the student contribution amount
To calculate the student contribution amount for a course, please follow these steps:
1. Identify the student contribution band
- Each course is allocated to a student contribution band, which determines the cost per course. These bands are set by the government annually and vary depending on the discipline (field of study).
- You can find the student contribution band for a course on Program and courses. Search for the course and check the information displayed on the right-hand side of the page under 'Student contribution band'.
2. Determine the Equivalent Full-Time Study Load (EFTSL)
- To calculate the EFTSL for a course, you divide the credit points of the course by the total credit points for a standard year of full-time study (80 credit points).
- 1 EFTSL = 80 credit points
- 10 credit point course = 0.125 EFTSL (10/80)
- You can find the credit points for a course on Program and Courses. Search for the course and check the information displayed on the right-hand side of the page under 'Credit Points (awarded)'.
3. Calculate the cost
- To calculate the student contribution amount, multiply the EFTSL value of the course by the student contribution band amount.
- Example: In 2026, you are studying 1000ESC which is allocated to Band 2 and has an EFTSL of 0.125.
- 0.125 x $9,537 = $1,192 (rounded down to the nearest dollar)
- The student contribution amount for the course is $1,192.
Equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL)
Equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) is the measure used to determine a student's study load. One EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year. At Griffith an annual total of 80 credit points is equivalent to a standard year of full-time study (one EFTSL ).
EFTSL is sometimes required by external organisations or government departments such as Centrelink as it provides a universal measurement of study load and is typically used to determine eligibility for payments and allowances. The EFTSL of each course is displayed on your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN).
Calculating your EFTSL
Your EFTSL calculation will be based on the number of courses you are enrolled in.
| Enrolled courses | EFTSL calculation |
|---|---|
| One course worth 10 credit points | (1 x 10) / 80 = 0.125 EFTSL |
| Four courses each worth 10 credit points | (4 x 10) / 80 = 0.5 EFTSL |
| Eight courses each worth 10 credit points | (8 x 10) / 80 = 1 EFTSL |
More information is available to Griffith users.
Log in
to view it.
Contact us
Speak to our friendly team who are happy to help