Fees

What Will it Cost to Enrol?

In 2023, you are required to pay a tuition fee. Materials and consumable fees may also be required for some courses. Your enrolment is not valid until all these fees have been paid.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are calculated using an hourly rate multiplied by the course hours in any one year. The actual hourly rate varies for each course and is also dependent on whether you are eligible for a government subsidy or concession. Tuition fees are published on this website against the relevant course.

If you are an Indigenous student the relevant concession tuition fee applies - 20% of the standard fee for a student eligible for government-subsidised training under Skills First.

For concession card holders enrolling in a course (certificates I - IV), the relevant concession tuition fee applies - 20% of the standard fee for a student eligible for government-subsidised training under Skills First.

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.

Non-Tuition Fees

Materials Fees

• Materials fees may be required by the student during the course of his or her study. Materials fees relate to goods or materials that become the property of the student and are retained by them in the event of withdrawal from the course.
• These materials may be made available through the Institute bookshop or other commercial suppliers. Students have the right to purchase these goods from whichever source they choose. Refund and exchange policies applicable to these goods are determined by the relevant supplier.

Consumable Fees

• Items consumed during the course of study which may be expendable but are only provided/supplied at the point in the training where they are used or needed.

Eligibility for Government Subsidised Training

Generally, you are eligible for a government-subsidised training place if you are:

• an Australian citizen; or
• a holder of a permanent visa; or
• a New Zealand citizen

and are any of the following:

- under 20 years of age
- seeking to enrol in a Foundation Skills List course (and do not hold a Diploma or above qualification or are receiving core skills training in other sectors)
- seeking to enrol in VCE or VCAL
- seeking to enrol in an apprenticeship
- 20 years and older and ‘upskilling’ by seeking to enrol in a course at a higher level than your existing qualification

If you are enrolled at a school, you will not be able to receive a government-subsidised training place for a course through Skills First, unless you are undertaking the course as part of a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship. The Government supports schools in other ways to offer vocational training to their students, so you should discuss all your options with your school.

To you check your eligibility click here.

How many courses am I eligible for?

You are eligible to commence a maximum of two government-subsidised courses at the same qualification level in your lifetime. This restriction applies whether or not you complete the courses. For example, this means if you have already commenced two government-subsidised courses at the Certificate III level, you may only commence government-subsidised courses at the Certificate IV level (or above).

This restriction does not apply to courses on the Foundation Skills List or to students recommencing training in the same qualification (at the same or a different provider).

In addition, eligible students can begin up to two government-subsidised courses in a year as long as you are not doing any more than two government-subsidised courses at a time.

Eligibility for Concession Fees

Important information for TAFE fee concessions

If you are a vocational education student, you may be entitled to a concession on your fees if you are in a government funded place and you meet the eligibility criteria. In general, you are eligible if you have a valid concession card issued by Centrelink and presented at the time of enrolment. A card is deemed to be valid where the card start date is before or on your first scheduled class. You must present the original of your valid concession card when you enrol. If you have applied for, but not received, your concession card then you are permitted to present a letter from Centrelink called ‘Confirmation of Concession Card Entitlement’ that confirms you have submitted your application and been approved for your concession card. This letter from Centrelink must be presented at the time of your enrolment.

How much you will pay

If your tuition fee concession application is successful, your concession fee will be charged at 20% of the government funded tuition rate for your program.

Eligibility criteria and supporting documentation

The eligibility criteria for a TAFE fee concession are set by the Victorian Government and assessed by the Institute in accordance with government directives. These eligibility criteria and directives are subject to change at any time.
Students are eligible for a TAFE fee concession if they:

• are enrolled into Certificate I to Certificate IV courses
• hold a valid Concession/Pension card issued by Centrelink or are named on a Concession/Pension card as a dependent child/spouse.

Students are ineligible for a TAFE fee concession if they:

• are enrolled in a Diploma or Advanced Diploma
• are enrolled in a full fee place or international full fee place.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student concessions

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in a government funded place will continue to be eligible to access concession at all program levels (including diploma, advanced diploma, vocational graduate certificate and vocational graduate diploma programs).
Documentation required to support your application: if you have a valid Commonwealth Health Care, Pensioner or Veteran’s Gold card, the original or a certified copy of the relevant cards must be provided. If you do not have one of these cards, or your card is not valid, please select concession category – Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander without concession card, on the form.

Self-identification as Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander on the enrolment form is sufficient evidence of eligibility for the Indigenous Completions Initiative tuition fee concession.

When to apply for a concession

You must apply (on your enrolment form) for fee concession with all supporting documentation prior to commencement of training (first scheduled class). No applications will be accepted after this date. Information on class start dates is available from your Teaching Department.
Please note: Submission of the fee concession request does not guarantee that a concession fee will be approved. You will be notified by the Institute if your application is unsuccessful and you are not eligible for a fee concession, in which case you will remain liable for full tuition fees if you do not withdraw from the program prior to your first class census date/or within 28 days of your first class, in the relevant term.

How to apply for a concession

• You must apply for concession for each new teaching period ie semester or when your concession status changes.
• Complete the Application for Fee Concession on the Enrolment Form for the program in which you are seeking a concession.
• Before your first scheduled class present your original and a photocopy of your valid concession card (or letter confirming eligibility from Centrelink) as well as any other documentation which will support your application at the Customer Service Centre at your relevant campus location

If you cannot present a valid and current concession card at your enrolment or before your classes start you will be charged the non-concession fee. Call 13 TAFE (8233) or visit a Customer Service Centre at your campus if you would like further information.

Full Fee

If you are not eligible for government-subsidised training you will pay the full fee listed on the respective course page. In addition you will need to pay the Student Services Fee of up to $200 and any applicable materials and consumables fees.

Payment of Fees

You can pay your fees by credit card over the phone or with cash, cheque, credit card or EFTPOS at a Customer Service Centre located at any of our campuses. If paying through the post, send your payment (please do not send cash) to Private Bag 299 Somerton VIC 3062. Cheques must be made payable to Bendigo Kangan Institute.

Fees in relation to Skills Recognition

Skills Recognition or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) means that skills, experience and knowledge you already have can be assessed for credit against a qualification. This can occur either before or after your enrolment.

A fee will apply for each application for Skills Recognition by students depending upon the selected course. Fees for skills recognition assessments are the same as the course tuition fees.  Please contact the Skills Recognition Centre for more information at skillsrecognitioncentre@kangan.edu.au.

If you have already paid the tuition fee for the units being assessed for Skills Recognition, there is no further charge for a Skills Recognition application for those units or modules.

You can apply for Skills Recognition in whole units of competency or modules - not parts of units or modules.

Fee Refunds

• 100 percent refund if the Institute cancels your course.
• If you provide formal notification of withdrawal prior the commencement of your course or within 28 days of your non-VET Student Loans course commencing, you are entitled to the refund of your tuition fees, materials fees and Student Services fee (less an administration fee of $80). A refund will not be granted where training has been completed for a unit or module and a result entered.
• If you lodge a withdrawal/refund application from a Skills Deepening (diploma or advanced diploma) course within 28 days of the commencement of your course, you are entitled to a refund of your materials, consumables and Student Services fees. (less an administrative fee of $80).

Further Assistance: Centrelink Allowances for Students

• Youth Allowance/Austudy/Abstudy
• The main income support schemes for students are Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy. Application forms are available from any Centrelink office or phone 132 490.
• Pensioner Education Supplement
• If you receive a Parenting Payment Single (PPS) or the Disability Support Pension (DPS), you may also be eligible for extra assistance while you are studying. Application forms are available from Centrelink or telephone 132 316.

Zero Tuition Fee Training - Skills First Youth Access Initiative

Skills First Youth Access Initiative is to support young people on Youth Justice Orders or Child Protection Orders, or who have been on Youth Justice Orders or Child Protection Orders and are not more than 22 year of age, to participate in education and training. The Institute will provide a tuition fee exemption to eligible students when presented with a validly endorsed referral form from either the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Justice and Regulation, or a referring agency. 

Are There Any Other Possible Charges?

^*All Academic history requests prior to 2000 will incur an Archive search fee in addition to the replacement document cost (if documentation is found).
^**Short Course withdrawal applications submitted five business days or more prior to the scheduled start date of the short course are entitled to a refund of your enrolment fees less an administrative processing fee of $40.

Where Can I Obtain Further Information on Fees and Charges?

Contact the Customer Service Centre at any campus or call 13 TAFE (13 8233).