Community News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more.
Camera IconCommunity News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more. Credit: Community News

University says fees may increase

Staff ReporterFremantle Gazette

As part of a deregulation of the tertiary education sector, universities will be able to decide how much they will charge students for degrees, while students will also be forced to repay their study debt earlier.

University of Notre Dame vice-chancellor Celia Hammond said she welcomed the changes to higher education announced in the Budget, even though some changes would mean an increase in student fees.

‘The University of Notre Dame Australia welcomes the key structural reforms to higher education, particularly the opening up of government subsidies to all registered higher education providers and the deregulation of fees,’ she said.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

‘We believe that these measures will enhance competition and increase choice for students.

‘Given that the Government will be reducing its subsidy for courses by approximately 20 per cent from 2016, it is likely that UNDA will raise its student fees.

‘The extent to which fees are raised, and in which courses, will be something which we will consider very carefully.’

Fremantle MHR Melissa Parke said it was a Budget of broken promises.

‘This Budget delivers economic pain to those who can least bear it, while attacking the foundation of Australia’s social compact,’ she said. ‘Australia’s future has been sacrificed in the name of a false ’emergency’, and the revenue gap is being bridged on the backs of the poor.’