L. Incidental fees

• A set of tools for that occupation used during the course of study by the student.
• Protective clothing determined as essential to the unit of study by the provider.
• Textbooks.

The items become the property of the student. The items are essential, but they can be purchased by the student second hand, or from other supplier, and they become the property of the student.

• The accommodation and food component of a residential unit of study.
• Flights for a unit of study available undertaken as part of a study tour.

There are no barriers in HESA to a provider delivering units of study in the manner they determine. Costs that meet the definition of an incidental fee cannot be included in tuition fees for that unit.

• A uniform for a work experience program to obtain licensing, that is, not listed as part of the requirements for that qualification in the training package.

As the work experience program is not part of the qualification as defined in the training package, then the uniform is not essential to the course of study.

• A fee for a review of grade if a student has already been deemed competent in competencies contained in the VET unit of study, but is seeking to improve their grade.
• Fines or penalties for late enrolments or late variations to enrolments.
• A fee set as a disincentive for students who repeatedly request administrative actions the provider provides for free. For example, a request for credit that has been already been assessed and rejected.
• Charge for damages or non-return of equipment.

These are fines or penalties set as a disincentive and not to raise revenue or cover administrative costs.

• Textbooks or materials that are populated by the student with information as part of assessment or that contain a unique single use set of information for assessment, for example, a one-use code required for a one-off compulsory assessment essential to completing a unit of study.

These goods are consumed during the course and do not meet the definition of an incidental fee, therefore, they can be included in the tuition fee.

• Access to provider computer rooms to use particular software only loaded onto computers in that room, that is only available for use through the provider.

Access is essential to the course of study therefore it can be included in the tuition fee.

• A uniform for a placement that is part of the course of study, embroidered with the VET provider’s emblem and student’s name and status as student. The uniform is only available to students of that provider and is determined as essential to the unit of study.

Wearing a uniform is compulsory to undertake placement, therefore, it is essential to the course of study. The uniform is also not available through any other avenue than through the provider, and so can be included in the tuition fee.

• A set of products used in the occupation that is consumed by the student during the course of study.

These goods are consumed during the course and do not meet the definition of an incidental fee, therefore, they can be included in the tuition fee.