Guidelines for fee payment extension or payment by instalment

1. Student status

To be considered you must be a fee-paying student (either domestic or international onshore). Payment extensions or instalment plans are not available for:

• Commonwealth supported students
• Students studying non-award topics
• International offshore students

2. Alternative payment options

Approval for a payment extension or instalment plan will only be considered if you are unable to access the necessary funds or funding scheme to pay your fees.

If you are an Australian citizen or hold a Permanent Humanitarian visa, you may be eligible for the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme. This scheme provides a loan to pay all or part of your tuition fees. View further information on the FEE-HELP loan scheme.

If you are no longer eligible for FEE-HELP because your entitlement has been used, you may be considered for a payment extension or instalment plan.

3. Your circumstances

There are many reasons why students find themselves in financial hardship. Applications will be considered when your financial circumstances have changed with little or no warning and where, as a result, you no longer have the financial capacity to pay your tuition fees by the due date.

You must be able to demonstrate genuine short-term financial hardship. A payment extension date or instalment plan is normally only available for the semester in which the fees are due. If approved, you must be able to demonstrate that you can meet the payment extension date, or the instalment plan dates.

Applications will not normally be considered where financial difficulties are expected to be ongoing. If you have on-going financial hardship it may be appropriate to reconsider your financial position and commitment to University study.

International onshore students must plan to pay fees on time. A delay accessing funds from home banking or financial institution is not normally considered a satisfactory reason to prove short-term financial hardship.

Please note, your previous payment history with the University may be considered as part of the application process. If you have defaulted on payments of tuition fees or student contribution amounts at Flinders University in the past, this may impact your application.

4. Lodgement dates

All applications must be lodged on or before the first day of teaching for the topic(s) related to your application.  These dates for the main two semesters are:

• The Monday of week 1 for Semester 1 topics;
• The Monday of week 1 for Semester 2 topics.

For non-standard semesters please refer the individual topic requirements

An application for fee payment extension or payment by instalment should be completed electronically. Supporting documentation can be uploaded and submitted with your application.

When completing the form indicate whether you are applying for a payment extension or an instalment plan, and the relevant semester that your application relates to.

In the space provided please provide clear statements outlining:

• Your change in circumstance – detail what circumstances occurred after you commenced your course that have affected your ability to pay your tuition fees. Include the date(s) your circumstances changed.
• How this change of circumstance has affected your ability to pay your tuition fees by the due date. 
• Why you are unable to make other arrangement to pay your tuition fees.
• The steps you are taking to ensure you can pay your tuition fees for subsequent semesters.

You must also attach relevant documentation that supports your claims. As a minimum, your attached documentation must include your most recent bank statements, including the last three months of transactions, for each account that you hold. Other documents that are relevant can also be included, for example, a letter from an employer confirming changes to your employment, or a letter from a financial counsellor.

A confirmation that your application has been received will be sent to your email address. You will be contacted by a Student Finance Officer if your application is incomplete or does not have the required supporting documents, it will be denied.

If your application is approved, you will receive notice in writing of the agreed extension due date or the instalment plan arrangements.

If your application is not approved, you will be advised in writing. This will include the reason for the decision. 

If your application is approved your repayments will be monitored to ensure you meet your agreed commitments. Failure to meet your agreed commitments has the following consequences:

• Your instalment plan will be cancelled, and all outstanding instalments will become payable immediately.
• If outstanding fees are not paid immediately further action may be taken, this may include cancellation of your enrolment, or referral of your outstanding balance to our external debt collection agent.
• If you are an international onshore student and your enrolment is cancelled, the Department of Home Affairs will be notified.