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Terms and Conditions

Review of Tuition Fees

TAFE NSW reserves the right to review its fees and charges. If tuition fees are increased you will be required to pay the new fees from the commencement of the next semester. If you defer your course, you will be required to pay the fees applicable to your new commencement date.

Refund Policy

TAFE NSW English Language Course

Transfer of Fees
If you complete your English course at TAFE NSW earlier than expected and there is a further general English course available at this centre, any remaining fees will be applied to that course; or if you enrol immediately in a TAFE NSW vocational course, the remainder of your paid fees will be transferred to that course. If you are accepted into a TAFE NSW course before you complete your English course, we will transfer to that course the remainder of your paid fees as at the end of English course session/term in which you are enrolled at the time of transfer. No fees will be transferred to other institutions or persons.

Refund Procedures
All applications for refunds must be made in writing and must contain the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE) form, receipt for course fees and certified copies of any supporting documentation. If you provide TAFE NSW with false or misleading information or documents, or breach your visa conditions, no refund will be made.

If you complete the general English program earlier than expected and do not enrol in a TAFE NSW course, remaining fees will be refunded. There is no refund for public holidays. Processing fee, accommodation placement, guardianship and airport reception fees are not refundable.

Refund Policy

  • A$100 processing fee applies to all refunds except when a student visa is refused or a TAFE NSW course is cancelled.
  • Course fee refunds are calculated from the date a written refund application is received, on the following basis only:
    • The English Language Centre will refund 100 percent of the English language course fee paid if your application for a visa to study in Australia is rejected.
    • The English Language Centre will refund 100 percent of the English language course fee paid if the course you have enrolled in is cancelled by TAFE NSW.
    • The English Language Centre will refund 90 percent of the English language course fee paid if you withdraw from the course 4 weeks (28 days) or more before commencement date of course of study.
    • The English Language Centre will refund 80 percent of the English language course fee paid if you withdraw within the final 4 weeks (28 days) before commencement date of course of study.
    • There will be no course fee refund on or after commencement date of course of study.
    • No refund will be paid to a third party unless the student indicates the name and address of the person to whom the refund should be paid. If no name and address is provided, the refund will be sent to the student's home address as indicated in section 2 of this form.

TAFE NSW Vocational and Package Programs

  • New students must pay the Registration Fee/Application Fee, English language fee (if applicable), OSHC, and the whole year's vocational course tuition fees. Students may pay half the year's tuition fee, with the balance payable before the end of their first semester of study.
  • When you pay fees for a packaged English language and vocational course with TAFE NSW, the fees for the English language course are charged at the lower packaged rate of A$300 per week. If you withdraw from the TAFE vocational course, then the normal English language fee applies i.e. A$340 per week for 20 weeks or less / A$320 per week for more than 20 weeks.
  • Tuition fees for vocational and packaged programs are payable within 4 weeks of receipt of an offer to study at a TAFE NSW Institute. If you apply within 4 weeks of the course commencement date, the fees are payable within 7 days of receipt of the offer letter.
  • Continuing students must pay the tuition fee for their next semester of study before the end of their current semester of study or a Late Payment Fee of A$200 will apply.

Refund Policy for Vocational Course Component of a Packaged Program

Part or whole of the tuition fees are refundable under the following circumstances:

  • TAFE NSW will refund 100 percent of the tuition fees paid if your application for a visa to study in Australia is rejected before commencing a course. If you commence a TAFE course before your student visa application has been processed and it is subsequently rejected, a pro rata refund of tuition fees paid will be made.
  • TAFE NSW will refund 90 percent of the tuition fees paid if you withdraw from your vocational course 4 weeks (28 days) or more before course semester commencement, except where you have applied for a packaged English language and vocational course, where the English language fees have been charged at the lower rate of A$300 per week. Withdrawal from the vocational course will incur the charge for the relevant English language fee calculated by reference to the weekly rate of A$320 or A$340. The difference between the relevant fee and the lower packaged fee for English will be deducted from the vocational course tuition fees.
  • TAFE NSW will refund 80 percent of the tuition fees paid if you withdraw from your vocational course within the fi nal 4 weeks (28 days) before the course semester commencement, except where you have applied for a packaged English language and vocational course, where the English language fees have been charged at the lower rate of A$300 per week. Withdrawal from the vocational course will incur the charge for the relevant English language fee calculated by reference to the weekly rate of A$320 or A$340. The difference between the relevant fee and the lower packaged fee for English will be deducted from the vocational course tuition fees.
  • TAFE NSW will refund 75 percent of the tuition fees for the vocational course where you:

    1. Apply for both a TAFE NSW vocational course and an undergraduate course in an Australian university immediately following the completion of the NSW Higher School Certificate, AND

    2. Withdraw from the vocational course no later than 14 days after February start date to take up your place in a university course.

  • TAFE NSW will refund pro-rata tuition fees from the date of becoming an Australian permanent resident, minus a A$300 processing fee if you have been granted permanent residency during a course.
  • TAFE NSW will refund pro-rata tuition fees from the date of becoming a temporary resident, minus a A$300 processing fee and minus the temporary resident tuition fees, if you have been granted temporary residency during a course.
  • If you have not reached a level of English adequate to obtain a Certificate in English for Further Study, you will be permitted to defer commencement of your vocational course until the next available intake for that course but if no suitable course is available TAFE will refund tuition fees for vocational course minus a A$300 processing fee.
  • If you obtain a deferral of the vocational component of your combined packaged course and then do not enrol for it, the refund policy relevant at date of deferral will be applied to any pre-paid fees.
  • Processing fee, accommodation placement, guardianship and airport reception fees are not refundable.
  • The complaints procedure contained in these terms and conditions of enrolment is available to a student in the event of a grievance in relation to a claimed refund. However, this agreement and the availability of complaints and appeals processes does not remove the student's right to take further action under Australia's consumer protection laws or pursue other legal remedies.

Application fees are not refundable. Tuition fees are not refundable:

  • If a student fails to comply with the conditions of enrolment at a TAFE NSW Institute.
  • If a student breaches any of the visa requirements of his or her visa as imposed by the Australian Government.
  • If a student withdraws from their vocational course after the course has commenced.
  • If a student/parent provides false or misleading information.

Refund Procedures

  • You must complete a TAFE NSW Refund Application Form.
  • Your refund will be processed within 4 weeks of receipt of your completed refund application if it includes all the required documents. However, if TAFE NSW withdraws a course the student has enrolled in, the refund will be processed within 2 weeks. A written statement will be provided to the student to explain how the refund is calculated.

Provider Default

In the unlikely event that TAFE NSW is unable to deliver the agreed course in full, the student will be offered a refund of all the course money paid to date. The refund will be paid to the student within two weeks of the day on which the course ceased being provided. Alternatively, the student may be offered enrolment in an alternative course by TAFE NSW at no extra cost to the student. If an alternative course is offered, the student has the right to choose whether he or she would prefer a full refund of course fees, or to accept a place in another course. If the student chooses placement in another course, TAFE NSW will ask the student to sign a document to indicate that the student accepts the placement.

Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC)

  • All international students are required to pay the OSHC for themselves and all dependent members of their family staying with them in Australia.
  • If you are currently studying in Australia, then you must provide a copy of your health fund membership records showing your name, membership number and date of expiry.
  • TAFE NSW receives a commission from the health insurance provider for processing your OSHC payment.

Information regarding a disability

Information about your disability is requested to establish whether you require the provision of additional services or facilities not required by students who do not have a disability. After consideration of your requirements, if the provision of these services or facilities would impose “unjustifiable hardship”, for example a very high cost on TAFE NSW, your enrolment may be refused or additional fees may apply. You will be advised in writing of our decision.

Expectations of Students and Parents

The student (and parent if the student is under 18, so far as relevant, will cause the student to comply with the following):

  • Is subject to the requirements of the National Code must comply with TAFE NSW enrolment conditions and requirements in respect of international students.
  • Must obtain a student visa and comply with student visa requirements.
  • Must meet TAFE NSW course requirements and meet the requirements of DEST-DIAC Course Progress policy.
  • Must not engage in any activity that may endanger their safety or the safety of any other persons.
  • Must ensure requirements are met and maintained for accommodation and welfare arrangements for students under 18.
  • Must pay the required fees when an offer of placement is made and fees owing on receipt of invoice.
  • Must notify the International Student Coordinator at their TAFE NSW Institute immediately if they terminate their studies, withdraw from their course, or there are any changes to their visa status.
  • Must notify the International Student Coordinator at their TAFE NSW Institute of their residential address within seven days of arrival and of any change to their residential address within seven days of any change.

No Obligation

TAFE NSW does not represent or guarantee that the student will:

  • Be accepted for enrolment at a specific TAFE NSW college
  • Successfully complete studies undertaken
  • Gain entry into further tertiary studies.

Complaints Procedure*

If the student has any complaint(s) about the services provided by the TAFE Institute or the relevant fees, attempts should be made to resolve the problem with relevant staff before lodging the complaint.

So far as possible relevant complaints will be handled upon the same basis as complaints from a student or parent ordinarily resident in NSW.

Complaint(s) must initially be made in writing in English and sent to the college director. The directors will use their best endeavours to resolve the complaint(s). However, if the complaint is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student, a copy of the written complaint together with the reasons for the dissatisfaction may be forwarded to the Director, International Students Centre, NSW Department of Education and Training.

The International Students Centre Director will review the complaint and undertake such action as he or she deems fit. If the student is not satisfied with the solution arising from this process, they may request independent grievance handling/dispute resolution using a mediation/conflict resolution service through the Director General of TAFE or his or her nominee. Independent grievance resolution process may include a nominee of the student if the student so chooses.

*The above procedure is currently under review. Please check this page for further updates.

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