Fees and enrolment information for higher degree by research (HDR) students
Fees for research degree programs
With the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation on the 1 July 2006, membership to the UniSA student services provider UniLife (formerly the UniSA Students Association) is now voluntary and students are no longer charged a compulsory fee. For this reason, students will not be considered members until they opt-in via the myUniSA Student Portal.
Australian HDR students
Under the Australian Government's Research Training Scheme (RTS), Australian HDR students are exempt from tuition fees for a limited time only. Doctoral students are exempt from tuition fees for up to the equivalent of 4 years full time. Masters by Research students are exempt from tuition fees for up to the equivalent of 2 years full time. Students who exceed these times are liable to pay tuition fees.
Fees for domestic candidates who exceed their RTS allocation
From 1 January 2009, the fee for HDR students who exceed the time allocated, or who have gone overtime prior to 2009, will be set at the equivalent of Student Contribution Amount Band 2 for 2009: $7,412 per annum. This is a tuition fee payable up-front in full to the University of South Australia on or before the census date for the relevant period of study you are enrolled in.
- Full-time HDR students will be required to pay $3,706 per study period (or part thereof) until they complete the degree and submit for examination.
- Part-time HDR students will pay $1,853 per study period (or part thereof) until they complete the degree and submit for examination.
A limited number of fee-relief scholarships will be available.
Australian HDR students who are liable for fees and do not receive a fee-relief scholarship may receive FEE-HELP provided they meet the standard eligibility conditions. More information on FEE-HELP can be obtained from the DEEWR website (PDF file).
Calculating the tuition fee payable
For administrative purposes, all HDR students are enrolled in programs, courses and non-timetabled classes, even though most do not undertake courses or attend classes. These courses are converted to a 'load' value known as EFTSL (Equivalent Full Time Student Load), which is a measure of the study load for a course in the research degree program. The Unit Value for undertaking a full-time program at UniSA for a study period is 18 points and the Unit Value for undertaking a full-time program for a year (two study periods) is 36 points. All research degree courses have a Unit Value of 18 points and therefore an EFTSL of 0.5.
Tuition amounts for HDR students who have gone overtime are calculated per Unit of Study, which is equivalent to a 'course' at UniSA.
Full-time HDR students who exceed their tuition fee-free time allocation will pay for 18 units of study in each study period. This will amount to $3,706 for each study period. For a full-year this will add up to $7,412.
Part-time HDR students who exceed their tuition fee-free time allocation will pay for 9 units of study in each study period. This will amount to $1,853 for each study period. For a full-year this will add up to $3,706.
Note: Study Periods is the new terminology for Semesters and Terms.
International HDR students
International HDR students either:
- pay full tuition fees to the University for the duration of their
research degree program
OR - have tuition fees paid on their behalf if they are sponsored by
their home government or university, or hold a Commonwealth-funded
Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS), or have been
awarded a University President’s Scholarship
Enrolment information for research degree programs
The Graduate Studies Office enrols:
- all HDR commencing students
- HDR continuing students who make satisfactory progress into their research degree program. Enrolment occurs during January and February each year once the report of the student’s progress is received.
All HDR students should check their enrolment on myUniSA. If you have any queries about your enrolment, please email research.degrees@unisa.edu.au
The Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) requires that a reporting date be determined for each Unit of Study being offered in an academic year. These are known as 'census dates' and the University is required to report the student load to DEEWR on those dates.
The applicable census dates for higher degree by research students are 31 March and 31 August.