TAFE fees and charges

The following information regards payments for study at TAFE on a student visa (subclass 500). Information for Western Australian (WA) Government schools can be found on our School fees and charges page. 

As a new student, you will find detailed fee and payment information in your Letter of Offer. When you are a continuing student, you will receive a tuition fee reminder notice in April for Semester two, and October for Semester one the following year. You must make payments by the due dates in the notices to maintain a valid enrolment. 

Before you arrive in Australia, you must pay tuition fees to TIWA and purchase applicable Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) to secure your enrolment.

After you arrive in Australia, you pay resource and materials fees to your TAFE college – your college will provide details at your orientation session. 

Your tuition fees are set on a commercial basis and paid as a whole of course fee. As an international student, your tuition fees are different from local student tuition fees. 

We state your tuition fees in a Letter of Offer, which you sign to accept the offer. This is needed as part of the Department of Home Affairs student visa application process. Please note that TIWA does not accept liability for any fees paid to an agent or other third party in relation to an application for enrolment.

You pay tuition fees to TIWA before each semester that you are enrolled. Tuition fees start from AUD$6,240 per semester and do not include text books or course materials.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and you can view these in our course catalogue. You will need to pay the updated fees as they are introduced.

You need to pay resource fees to your TAFE college each semester. These fees are a fixed payment, determined by each unit of enrolment for your course. Resource fees are charged for items you will use during your course; for example if you are studying a hospitality course it could be for the food you use; or in an art and design course it may include paint.

Your TAFE college determines your resource fees, and they may vary each semester during your enrolment. Your TAFE college will advise when resource fee payments are due for future semesters. Your payment of resource fees provides you with full access to services and facilities at your TAFE college. 

For some courses you need to pay materials fees.

These are for materials you will use during and after your studies; for example personal protective equipment, text books and uniforms etc. 

You can study TAFE courses as a: 

• standalone course – for example, the Certificate III in Individual Support; or 
• package of courses – you can apply for two or more courses packaged together, which allows you to complete English requirements, required courses or a higher level course entry requirement. 

You can package your TAFE course with an eligible university undergraduate degree. You must pay the tuition deposit for this before your enrolment. 

Overseas Student Health Cover

Please view our health cover section for detailed information including fees.

Instalment plans

After your first semester of study, you may be eligible for an instalment plan for your tuition fees. As a continuing student you can apply for an instalment plan [PDF 230 KB](PDF document - opens in a new tab) – a AUD$200 administration fee may apply. If you default on an instalment payment, this may result in cancellation of your enrolment. Dishonoured payments incur a AUD$10 charge each dishonour. 

Repeating units 

If you need to repeat units, you will pay additional fees and charges. These are calculated on a course by course basis. 

Refund policy 

You may be eligible for a refund of fees if your circumstances are covered by the TIWA refund policy [PDF 208 KB](PDF document - opens in a new tab). 

Please note that TIWA is not responsible for any losses or gains resulting from fluctuations in exchange rates or any related bank fees.