Student Services and Amenities Fee

Find out who pays this annual fee, how it's calculated, and how it benefits students.

What is the SSAF?

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a compulsory annual fee for most students enrolled at the University of Melbourne.

It supports services, activities and facilities that enhance student wellbeing, engagement, representation and community participation across all campuses.

SSAF-supported services

The SSAF helps fund services such as sport and recreation, careers programs, student grants and campus activities. Examples include:

Two Student Union representatives speak with new students at an outdoor orientation event.

Student unions

Discover events, social activities, arts and advocacy through the University of Melbourne Student Union and Graduate Student Association.

Members of the MU Sport netball team high-five each other after a game.

MU Sport

Melbourne University Sport offers sporting clubs, programs, and fitness services that cater to the first-timer through to the elite athlete.

SSAF Impact Grant

You can apply for funding through the SSAF Grant Program for student-focused initiatives that benefit our diverse student community.

Visit the SSAF funding allocation page for a full list of supported services and historical reporting information.

Who pays the SSAF?

You’ll be charged the SSAF if you're in a Research Training Place (RTP), or a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) enrolled in 12.5 credit points of study or more during the calendar year.

Check your Statement of Liability to see whether you are liable for the SSAF. The fee will also appear on your Student Invoice, which is issued 4–5 weeks before your fee due date.

Learn about fee statements

Eligibility and exemptions

  • You will see the SSAF as a separate charge if you are:

    • A CSP student enrolled in 12.5 credit points of study or more during the calendar year
    • A graduate researcher

    If you see the charge on your fee documents, you are required to pay it. This includes:

    • Scholarship holders
    • Students completing their course mid-year
    • Students commencing mid-year
    • Students with a primary study location other than Parkville
    • Students with a HECS-HELP loan.

    Eligibility for the SSAF is based on your study load reaching the 12.5 credit point SSAF threshold rather than your campus location, study period or funding arrangement.

  • These students will not be charged for the SSAF:

    • Domestic fee-paying student
    • International fee-paying student

    Instead, the University contributes an equivalent amount towards the same student services and amenities supported by SSAF.

  • Some exemptions apply. You may not be required to pay the SSAF if you:

    • Are a graduate researcher who submits your thesis on or before 31 March
    • Commence a graduate research degree on or after 2 October
    • Are enrolled as a cross-institutional student and pay SSAF through your home institution
    • Are an exchange student from an international partner institution
    • Are enrolled in a Community Access Program (CAP)
    • Are enrolled in Fee-Free Uni Ready (FFUR).

    Note: online subjects do not count towards the SSAF enrolment threshold.

How much is the SSAF?

You pay the SSAF each year around the commencement of your studies. The amount you pay depends on your study load across the calendar year. You'll be charged either the full-time or part-time SSAF rate. The rates for 2027 will be:

  • Full-time rate: $386 – for students studying 75 credit points or more across the calendar year.
  • Part-time rate: $289 – for students studying less than 75 credit points across the calendar year.

Rates are reviewed annually and may change from year to year.

You will only be charged SSAF once a year, unless your enrolment changes and your SSAF rate needs to be recalculated to reflect your revised study load.

Enrolment load and SSAF calculation

  • If you make an enrolment change that affects your SSAF rate, your SSAF will be recalculated automatically.

    After changing your enrolment, wait for an updated Student Invoice to be issued. Your updated invoice will show the correct SSAF amount and payment due date.

    • If your annual enrolment load changes from full-time to part-time, your SSAF may be reduced and a credit may appear on your Fee Account Statement.
    • If your annual enrolment load changes from part-time to full-time, you will receive a new Student Invoice for the additional SSAF amount.

    Leave of absence
    If you are on a leave of absence, you may still have to pay the SSAF based on your enrolment across the calendar year. Students who have been enrolled in at least 12.5 credit points for part of the year will still be required to pay the fee, even if they are currently on leave.

    Course or subject withdrawal
    If you withdraw after the relevant census date, you may still have accrued study load and remain liable for the SSAF.

    If you withdraw before the census date, your SSAF charge may be recalculated based on your revised enrolment load.

  • Your enrolment load across the calendar year is assessed taking into account:

    • Changes to study rate
    • Periods of leave of absence
    • Time after thesis submission
    • Other enrolment changes that affect study load

    If your enrolment changes from part-time to full-time, or vice versa, your SSAF charge will be recalculated accordingly.

How to pay the SSAF

You can choose from our secure payment methods to pay upfront by the due date.

If you're eligible, you can defer the SSAF through an SA-HELP loan.

Pay your fees

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