Higher Education Support Act 2003

to support a higher education system that:

is characterised by quality, diversity and equity of access; and

contributes to the development of cultural and intellectual life in Australia; and

is appropriate to meet Australia’s social and economic needs for a highly educated and skilled population; and

promotes and protects freedom of speech and academic freedom; and

to support the distinctive purposes of universities, which are:

the education of persons, enabling them to take a leadership role in the intellectual, cultural, economic and social development of their communities; and

the creation and advancement of knowledge; and

the application of knowledge and discoveries to the betterment of communities in Australia and internationally; and

the engagement with industry and the local community to enable graduates to thrive in the workforce;

to strengthen Australia’s knowledge base, and enhance the contribution of Australia’s research capabilities to national economic development, international competitiveness and the attainment of social goals; and

to support students undertaking higher education and certain vocational education and training.

through grants and other payments made largely to higher education providers; and

through financial assistance to students (usually in the form of loans).

Chapter 2 sets out who are higher education providers, and provides for the following grants and payments:

grants under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme;

grants for assisting Indigenous persons;

other grants for particular purposes;

grants for Commonwealth scholarships.

Higher education providers will be universities, self‑accrediting entities or non self‑accrediting entities.

Chapter 2 also provides for the direct payment to students of certain Commonwealth scholarships.

HECS‑HELP assistance for student contribution amounts;

FEE‑HELP assistance for tuition fees;

OS‑HELP assistance for overseas study;

SA‑HELP assistance for meeting student services and amenities fees imposed by higher education providers;

STARTUP‑HELP assistance for accelerator program courses.

The provisions of this Act not listed in the table in subsection (2) or in subsection (4) apply to a *Table C provider, the *Australian branch of the provider and to students undertaking or proposing to undertake units of study at that branch.

The provisions of this Act listed in the table apply to a *Table C provider in the way set out in the table.

The provisions of this Act listed in subsection (4) do not apply to:

a *Table C provider; or

the *Australian branch of the provider; or

students in their capacity as students of that provider or of that branch.

The provisions are as follows:

Part 2‑2 (Commonwealth Grant Scheme);

Part 2‑2A (Indigenous student assistance grants);

Part 2‑3 (Other grants);

Part 2‑4 (Commonwealth scholarships);

Part 2‑5 (Reduction and repayment of grants);

Part 3‑2 (HECS‑HELP assistance);

Part 3‑7 (STARTUP‑HELP assistance);

Schedule 1A (VET FEE‑HELP Assistance Scheme).