student rights information v09.01
illegal fees & your
rights
When you enrol at RMIT you are confronted with many fees and charges. This leaflet aims to
inform you about what fees can be considered illegal and what you should do about them!
Fees and Your Rights Material fees: Any materials that you need
to complete the program must be available
It is illegal for your department to force you to free of charge. A fee may be charged if you
buy or pay for something which is necessary wish to keep the materials, but you must
for the completion of your program. have the option not to keep them.
(There are some exceptions to this rule; If Exam fees: You cannot be charged for
your trips also come within the definition of sitting exams.
fees and if you are a student at TAFE please Lecture Notes: As long as the material
refer to the information specific to TAFE that is contained in them is available in the library
listed below). or on free loan from the department it is
Some Examples of Illegal Fees legal for departments to sell these.
Voluntary Fees
Workbooks: This means that if you have to
write in the book, or work out of it during RMIT can only charge you for these things if
class, and it is not available on loan (free of they are not necessary for achieving the skills
charge) then it is a compulsory fee and is or competencies to complete your program.
illegal. Any fee, which you are charged, must be
Laboratory Notes/Prac. Guides: If you are considered „voluntary.‟
required to have a copy of these with you
during practical classes and it is not According to legal advice from the University
available on loan (free of charge) it is a Solicitor „Voluntary‟ fees were “intended to
compulsory fee and therefore illegal. cover incidental fees such as charges for the
Computer programs: If you are required to use of equipment, sale of notes and use of art
have a copy of a particular program and it and other material. Charges for these items
is not available on loan (free of charge) it is are considered voluntary provided that
an illegal fee. students are given alternative means of
Camps, Fieldwork and Excursion Fees: access to the item, for example on reserve in
Charges for equipment, accommodation the library or available for borrowing from the
and food payable in connection with department itself ”. (University
compulsory field trips also come within the Solicitor, RMIT, 1991.)
definition of fees and are therefore illegal. In order for a fee to be truly voluntary there
However if attending such activities is has to exist a way for you to be able to
genuinely voluntary then it is not illegal to complete the requirements of the program
levy such charges. without paying any fee. In other words you
www.su.rmit.edu.au
student rights information v09.01
have to be given a choice between paying the TAFE - What the Guidelines Say
fee and an alternative method. You must not
suffer any academic disadvantage because The State Government regulations that govern
you do not pay a fee. fees and charges - the “Current Fees and
It is your department‟s responsibility to inform Charges Policy” states that a “Provider must
you of your options. not charge fees in relation to an enrolment in a
government funded course other than:
TAFE Fees and Charges
a) a tuition fee (enrolment fee); or
The rules that govern fees charged to TAFE b) to recover no more than the actual cost of
students are different to the rules that govern providing goods or materials to be
fees charged to students studying in Higher retained by a student as his or her
Education. See the sections “TAFE Fees and personal property. However, a student
Charges – what the guidelines say” and must be permitted to use equivalent goods
“Higher Education – what the Act and or materials obtained from sources other
guidelines say” below for some more specific than the institution;
information. c) to recover the actual cost of an excursion
or field rip which is not a requirement of
If you have been charged fees for goods and the accredited course; or
materials and you would like to question the d) in the case of a TAFE Institute or
legality of those fees it‟s probably a good idea University TAFE Division a Compulsory
to talk to one of the TAFE Student Rights Non Academic Fee, Subscription or
Officers. You can also refer to the 2006 Charge*”
Approved Schedule of Fees and Charges to e) to recover no more than the actual cost of
see if particular material fees charged for your assessment of recognition of prior learning
course have been approved by the RMIT for the purposes of the course, but only if
Academic Board to be levied by your the assessment is conducted at the
Department. request, or with the consent, of the
student.
Mid Year Enrolment TAFE Tuition
Fees, Or Cross Year Caps. Fees and charges for TAFE students
increased in 2004 for the first time since 1995,
If you are a student who has enrolled mid-year rising by $0.25 per student contact hour to a
and have been charged for 12 months tuition rate of $1.25 per student contact hour. In
fees, only to be charged for 12 months tuition 2003-2004, the Victorian State Office of
at the start of the next year, you should Training and Tertiary Education
contact your Student Rights Officer or Student (OTTE) conducted a review of State policy on
Union representative for assistance. Unless fees and charges. More details can be found
you are an apprentice or a trainee, this at www.otte.vic.gov.au
practice is not illegal, but it is clearly unfair. In
some cases the Student Union has negotiated Higher Education Fees and Charges - What
refunds, and the documentation of your the Act and Guidelines Say
experience will help any campaign against this
unfair practice. If you are interested to The Higher Education Funding Act 1988 is the
participate in a campaign to challenge relevant legislation governing fees in Higher
RMIT‟s practice of charging students 12 Education and the „Advice to Higher Education
months tuition for 6 months study, please Institutions on fees for ancillary or additional
contact your Student Union. services‟ contain the relevant guidelines.
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student rights information v09.01
It is possible that RMIT departments may Useful Contacts
breach sections of the relevant Act and
Guidelines by: The following details are for services based at
Levying tuition fees the payment of which is the City Campus - students at other campuses
not voluntary should advise the person taking their call of
Levying lab fees their location.
Levying fees for course outlines
Not ensuring alternatives to fees are RMIT Counselling Service.
available hence making the fees Personal problems, relationship issues,
compulsory depression, grief and anxiety.
www.rmit.edu.au/counselling
The Act specifically states tuition fees cannot Ph. 9925 4365
be levied unless the payment is voluntary; the
payment must not be compulsory (i.e. not the RMIT Health Service.
subject/course). http://www.rmit.edu.au/healthservice
Ph. 9925 2297
Furthermore, the guidelines provide examples
of items where fees cannot be charged. The RMIT Disability Liaison Unit.
guidelines clearly states fees cannot be http://www.rmit.edu.au/disability
charged on: Ph. 9925 1089
“course materials such as subject outlines,
reading lists, tutorial or seminar topics and RMIT Study and Learning Centre
problems, assignment and essay Time management, exam preparation, maths
questions and requirements and and English support.
guidelines for the presentation of work; http://www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre
clinic, laboratory or workshop material.” Ph. 9925 3600
How to Make A Complaint RMIT International Student Information and
Support (ISIS) City :9925 2963
If you suspect that your Department or School RMIT International: 9925 5156
is charging illegal fees, write a letter to your Building 108 Level 4, 239 Bourke Street
Head of Department or School or Program http://www.rmit.edu.au/isis
Coordinator. Explain your complaint, ask why isu@rmit.edu.au
you are being charged for particular items or
events, and ask for copy of the RMIT Fees Also, check out the HUB on your campus for
and Charges Schedule. Always ask for a additional drop in times or
response in writing. You can make a group www.rmit.edu.au/students/services
complaint as a class or year level about
excessive charges. See your Student Rights Complaints
Officer for information.
Student Complaints Liaison Officers (SCLO‟s)
SCLOs are ocated in all Academic Portfolios,
Departments, Schools and Groups
www.rmit.edu.au/academicregistrar/studentco
mplaints
RMIT Ombuds
Terry Roberts
www.su.rmit.edu.au
student rights information v09.01
Ph. 9925 2930 You can discuss any questions you have
Email: ombuds@rmit.edu.au about these policies with a Student Rights
Terry only works one day a week. Usually Officer.
Tuesdays.
Other Useful Student Rights Leaflets
Relevant Policy and Advice You can pick up the following leaflets from
your nearest Student Union Office, or
There are a range of RMIT University policies download them from our website,
relating to this topic, including: www.su.rmit.edu.au/rights
2006 Schedule of Fees and Charges How to write a letter
To access these policies, check out: Special Consideration
http://mams.rmit.edu.au/1jt6z3gs9szx1.pdf How to0 take a leave of absence
Your rights as a student with (dis) ability
Being Excluded from your Program
Disclaimer: The information in this leaflet is a general guide only. RMIT is a very complex
environment, and there are often a number of different rules which apply.
For more student rights information visit our website: www.su.rmit.edu.au
For Additional Assistance drop into a Student Union Front Office to speak with a Student Liaison
Officer
City Higher Ed: Building 8, Level 3
Tivoli (Business): Building 108, Level 3
Carlton Campus: Building 57, Level 4
Brunswick: Building 514, Level 2
Bundoora: Building 202, Level 2
Or send detailed information regarding your case to student.rights@rmit.edu.au
Or call 9925 5004 for any enquiries
If required, an appointment will be made for you with a Student Rights Officer
Has this leaflet been helpful?
Join the Student Union and
Join the fight to improve your rights!
www.su.rmit.edu.au