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Budget 2017: Students set to face higher uni fees under government shake‑up

The ANU is radically changing the way it selects its new students.

The ANU is radically changing the way it selects its new students. Photo: Education Brochures

Students are set to face higher university fees from January next year as part of the federal government’s overhaul of the higher education sector.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham on Monday night unveiled changes that he described as “measured, modest and balanced” ahead of next week’s budget.

As part of the shake-up, student fees would increase by 1.8 per cent next year and continue rising to a total of 7.5 per cent by 2021.

The government argues the changes would mean a price hike of between $2000 and $3600 for a four-year course, or an increase of between $8 and $17 per week.

The most expensive course, a six-year medical degree, would cost $75,000.

Senator Birmingham said the new policy was “quite measured, quite modest and quite balanced” and noted the government was still paying the majority of students’ fees.

“We’re trying to maintain fairness and equity across this system,” he told 7.30.

“Taxpayers will still pick up 54 per cent of average fee costs per student.”

The plan also includes changes to the government’s Higher Education Loan Program.

HELP debt repayment income threshold lowered

From July next year students will have to start paying back their loans when they reach an income level of $42,000 per year, down from the current level of about $55,000.

The government has abandoned a previously announced 20 per cent cut to university funding, but institutions will be hit with a 2.5 per cent efficiency dividend instead on Commonwealth Grant Scheme payments in 2018 and 2019.

The government will also make elements of university funding contingent on performance in priority areas.

From January, 7.5 per cent of a university’s funding from the Commonwealth Grant Scheme will be contingent on universities meeting requirements for admissions and financial transparency.

That will expand to include performance requirements for student retention and success from 2019.

Universities have been in limbo waiting for the government to outline its plans for the sector, since it dumped the previous Abbott government’s policy of full-fee deregulation.

That proposal failed to win enough support in the Senate and 12 months ago the Minister started a fresh round of consultation canvassing a range of options for the sector.

The government estimates the changes will save $2.8 billion over four years.

-ABC

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