Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
Higher education providers can charge students this fee to fund or subsidise non-academic services and amenities to support you through university. This includes such things as sport and recreation, student clubs, health and wellbeing, and employment and career advice.
You can learn more about the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).
Payment options: Upfront or SA-HELP
Payment options
Upfront in full
Upfront payment is your only option if you're not an Australian citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder (resident in Australia) or a New Zealand special category visa holder who meets all the eligibility criteria.
Your fees statement will give you the amount and due date to pay, if paying upfront. For payment methods, see the options for fees statement payments (enrolled students).
You can't get a fee extension to pay this fee.
Deferring part or all payment with SA-HELP
If you're an Australian citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder (resident in Australia) or a New Zealand special category visa holder who meets all the eligibility criteria, you may choose to pay the entire fee upfront, or:
- pay some of it upfront and get an SA-HELP loan for the remainder
- get a SA-HELP loan for the full amount.
SA-HELP
Like HECS-HELP for your course fees, SA-HELP allows you to defer payment of the SSAF through a government loan. SA-HELP is not automatic - you need to apply for it. This is done through the Web Enrolment System - you'll find it in the Enrolment Summary screen.
You only need to apply for SA-HELP once for each course. If you change your course or change universities, you need to reapply for SA-HELP.
To be eligible for SA-HELP, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- be an Australian citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa-holder (resident in Australia) or a New Zealand special category visa holder who meets all the eligibility criteria
- be enrolled in an award course
- provide Monash with your Tax File Number (TFN) or a Certificate of Application for a TFN
- and submit a Request for SA-HELP Assistance (in the Web Enrolment System) by the due date.
Don't have a Tax File Number?
If you don't have a Tax File Number, you can apply for one. Do this as soon as possible:
- apply online at the ATO website
- print your application summary
- book an interview at an Australia Post outlet and bring your printed summary and proof of identity documents.
Take these to Monash Connect as soon as possible:
- your receipt from Australia Post and your TFN application summary
- let the Monash Connect staff know if you want your fee option changed from upfront payment to SA-HELP deferred payment.
As soon as you know your TFN:
- login to the Web Enrolment System (WES)
- update your payment method in the SA-HELP section.
Deadlines apply, so provide Monash with your TFN or proof of application before your SSAF payment due date so your Monash account won't be blocked for late payment.
Incurred date
Even if you defer payment using SA-HELP, you can still make partial or full payments before the debt is transferred to the tax office. This allows you to reduce or remove the debt. The debt transfer happens on 31 December and is referred to as the incurred date.
We'll send you a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) to confirm your loan amount, within 28 days of the SA-HELP incurred date.
How much and when do I pay?
The amount you pay depends on your fee type, study load, and whether you're studying on or off-campus. The maximum amount charged for 2020 is $308.
Calculate your SSAF
Use the calculator at the bottom of the page to get an estimate of how much you'll be charged. This is an estimate only, based on the information you provide. If you change your enrolment during the year, this may affect the SSAF amount charged.
If you are charged the fee, we'll send you a statement with the exact amount.
Table view of rates
Statements and due dates
We start sending fees statements from mid-December. This will show your fees, including the SSAF amount charged. You can also access your statement in the Web Enrolment System (WES).
| Fees invoice cycles 2020 | SSAF payment due date |
|---|---|
| Summer B teaching periods | 21 February |
| Semester one teaching periods | 3 April |
| Winter teaching periods | 3 July |
| Semester two teaching periods | 18 September |
| Spring teaching periods | 6 November |
| Summer A teaching periods | 4 December |
Who says how this fee is spent?
The distribution of the SSAF is based on allocation principles approved by Monash University Council in December 2011, which state:
- 40% is allocated to Monash University directly for the provision of services and amenities to students
- another 40% is allocated to the Monash Student organisations for the provision of services and amenities
- and 20% is allocated for facilities and amenities expenditure of a direct benefit to students at each campus. Projects are determined by the University in consultation with student representatives.
The SSAF can’t be used for the provision of academic service, to support political parties or the election of a person to a Commonwealth, state, territory parliament or local government body.
For more about what the fee can and can't be used for, see the government website for guidelines for spending the SSAF.
Services and projects funded by SSAF
We're spending every dollar of the SSAF 20% allocation on new and improved services and amenities that student life and experience across all campuses.
The SSAF Advisory Group was formed in April 2012 to consider submissions of each Campus Service Council for potential facilities and service improvements to be funded from the 20% of SSAF that is directly beneficial to students. The SSAF Advisory Group is chaired by the PVC Major Campuses and Student Engagement and comprises student and staff members. The Group makes recommendations on priority projects, ensures the projects are compliant with the legislation and provides elected student representation in the allocation of the SSAF within Council approved principles.
You can find out more information about SSAF in the Monash University Council Regulations.
Some recent examples of new and improved student amenities are pictured below and you can also see detailed expenditure breakdowns in the 2019 Annual Report (pdf, 0.71 mb).
See our photo gallery of amenities and facilities paid for by SSAF funding.
How has the money been spent at Monash in 2018 and 2019?
We have had a number of capital and service improvement projects across our campuses in 2018 and 2019.
Take a look at our completed 2018 and 2019 projects and the ones currently in progress for 2019.
2019
Completed projects
- Cable traps for event use on campus
- Chisholm Hall event flooring
- English Connect seminar rooms
- Family-friendly study room - MGA
- HDR writing-up and break-out rooms - MGA
- Mobile TV screen and room upgrade - NRC
- MGA Caulfield office
- NRC event equipment
- NRC Common Room furniture upgrade
- NRC Event space/Common Room
- Outdoor chess
- SSAF Marquee Caulfield
Projects in progress
- Building T BBQ courtyard upgrade
- C2 postgraduate lounge
- Container storage
- Stage 2 C2 Plaza enhancement
- Volunteers seating in Building S level 2 Student Union office
Completed projects
- Accommodation enhancements - Monash Rural Health
- Bean bags - MSA
- Bikes on loan - Monash Rural Health
- Club cages/storage space (sealed and unsealed)
- Club mailboxes
- Communications and Design office renovation - MSA
- EAE PGC Wellbeing improvement
- ESA sign and counter
- Fencing storage area
- Hockey Pavilion AV upgrade
- Laptop loan service - MSA
- Library storage room and office (SURLY - MSA)
- Live music mixing equipment
- Maintenance of Chemistry Postgraduate Room (CHAMPS Room)
- Maths:Bean bags
- Maths:cooler
- Mobile Staging Unit
- Medical clinical sites amenities
- Mental wellness POD
- MGA office
- MGA postgraduate groups
- MSA Activities and Host Scheme Office Storage
- MSA marquees
- MSA Volunteer Lounge: Additional power points/USB ports
- MSA Volunteer Lounge: Open windows
- MSA Volunteer Lounge: Phone charge stations
- MSA Volunteer Lounge: Projector and screen
- MSA Volunteer Lounge: Portable wall storage
- MSA Volunteer Lounge: Shade blinds
- MSE Postgraduates - appliances
- MSS - items for use at club bbqs and events
- MUST sound, curtain, projector and storage upgrades
- New seating for MAPS spaces
- Refurbishment Office Bearer spaces
- Re-use a cup
- Science Student Learning Lounge upgrade
- SSAF Marquee Clayton
- Student locker upgrade - Monash Rural Health
- Student lounge space - Monash Rural Health
- Student lounge and learning space - Monash Rural Health
- Tech and storage facility
- Upgrade prayer rooms - Clayton campus
- Upgrade to Elimenti SpinetiX and Fusion software
- Wildfire Student Society room
Projects in progress
- Balcony refurnishing - MUMPS
- E-sports Lab
- Fearson Oval match video camera
- FMNHS Student Informal Learning Space
- Games room (Courtyard refurbishment)
- MGA Postgraduate Lounge
- Radio Monash Level 1 Campus Centre
Completed projects
- Artistic activity for students - Student Common Room - PPA
- Communal bike - PPA
- Digital screens - MPSU
- Foldable trolley and storage boxes - PPA
- Recreational activities for Postgraduate Common Room - PPA
- Sink in student cafeteria - PPA
- Table tennis table - PPA
- Water bottle refill stations and drinking fountains - MPSU
Projects in progress
- Bike storage - PPA
- Combined student space refurbishment - MPSU and PPA
Completed projects:
- Bean bags
- Kitchenette - Building U
- MGA Peninsula - board games, A-frames, screen
- NRC common room fit-out
- Outdoor furniture for Library lawn and storage cage
- Plasma screen update
Projects in progress
- Igloos
- Outdoor advertising
- Student Lounge update
2018
Completed projects
- Building S, level 3 MONSU Caulfield refreshment
- C2 plaza furniture
- Caulfield Non-Residential Colleges' Common Room and event space
- Caulfield Non-Residential Colleges' storage space
- Caulfield temporary student event structure
- Graphic uplift for MONSU Caulfield, level 2, Building S
- MONSU Caulfield bean bags
- MONSU Caulfield student microwaves in Building S
- MGA Pop-up booths Caulfield
- MGA C2 coffee machine
- MGA C2 entertainment
- MGA C2 entertainment (Caulfield contingency)
- MGA C2 hot plates and pans
- MGA C2 laptop rental
- MGA C2 study tables
- MGA Caulfield office cabinetry
- MU Sport Caulfield Fitness Studio AV
- MU Sport Caulfield outdoor fitness lighting and entry
- MU Sport Chisholm Hall imagery
Projects in progress
- Mobile shade structures
- MGA giant outdoor chess board
Completed projects
- AMREP HDR student facilities
- AMREP screen - Alfred Hospital
- Campus Centre - digital screens to eastern stair landing
- Clayton Non-Residential Colleges' Common Room refurbishment
- Clayton temporary student event structure
- Department of General Practice: student facilities improvement - Building 1, Notting Hill
- FIT Student Lounge upgrade
- Monash University Microbiology Postgraduate Society (MUMPS) assets
- MMC screen - MMC Hospital
- MMC student room refurbishment
- MGA lounge security Campus Centre
- MGA pop-up booths Clayton
- MSA bike shop upgrade
- MSA Finance Office
- MUARC HDR Lounge
- MU Sport bike lockers Clayton
- MU Sport Clayton - central courtyard refurbishment feasibility
- MU Sport Clayton Greenview Room - IT assets enhancement
- MUST lighting and patching infrastructure upgrade
- Queer Lounge upgrade
- Recreational space for Masters in Biomedical & Health Science students
- Students' Neuroscience & Psychological Society (SNAPS) cupboard
- Sustaining Monash permaculture
- Wholefoods signage upgrade
Projects in progress
- Clayton BBQ shade structures
- Digital poster Clayton prototype pillar
Completed projects
- MGA Pop-up booth
- MGA screen
- MPSU Common Room
- MPSU pool table
- MPSU office
- PPA Common Room water system upgrade
- PPA Common Room whiteboard upgrade
- PPA student entertainment
- PPA students' de-stress
Completed projects
- MGA pop-up booth
- MU Sport Peninsula live streaming
- Arcade games
- Giant games
- Library lawn speakers
- Non-Residential College Common Room fit out
Higher education providers can charge students this fee for non-academic services and amenities to support you through university. This includes such things as sport and recreation, student clubs, health and wellbeing, and employment and career advice.
You can learn more about the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).
How much will my SSAF be?