Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF)
The Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) is an additional levy to your programme or course fees.
The Education Act 1989 was amended in 2011 to allow the Minister of Education to issue directions in relation to compulsory student service fees. The purpose of these changes was to ensure transparency in setting the fees and accountability for their use.
1) What is the Ministerial Direction?
- Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) can charge a compulsory student service fee to help fund the costs of delivering student services such as health care and recreational activities.
- How these fees are set and used are informed and regulated by Ministerial Direction that the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment introduced to improve transparency in setting the fees and accountability for their use.
- All Tertiary education organisations that charge a compulsory student service fee must comply with the provisions of the Ministerial Direction.
- The Ministry of Education regularly reviews the compulsory student service fees framework to make sure it is fit for purpose
The Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) at MIT is an additional levy to MIT domestic and international students’ programme fees. The CSSF funds key services for students to assist their success, retention and overall wellbeing while studying at MIT. All students, except distance and exchange students, must pay the fee and can borrow the amount against their student loan.
2) What the fee covers
By Ministerial Directive the CSSF can only be spent on specific permitted categories of spend. The following categories of spend are permitted for providers to provide a fee to support.
- Advocacy and Legal Advice
- Careers information, advice and guidance
- Counselling services
- Employment information
- Financial support and advice
- Health services
- Media
- Childcare services
- Clubs and societies
- Sports, recreation and cultural activities
The fee funds key services for students to assist their success, retention and overall wellbeing while studying at MIT. All students, except distance and exchange students, must pay the fee and can borrow the amount against their student loan.
3) CSSF Fee
- In September 2023, the CSSF for 2024 was set at $324 (GST inclusive) per domestic and international full-time student.
- This is a 2.8% increase from the 2023 fee of $315 (GST inclusive) per domestic and international full-time student.
- The fee is less for students studying part-time.
- All students, except distance and exchange students, must pay the Fee and can borrow the amount against their student loan, alternatively if eligible this fee is covered under the fees free policy.
4) Student Consultation
Consultation meetings were held with Student Council in 2023 to seek feedback, recommendations and endorsement on how the CSSF could be spent and allocated across various services. The following services were endorsed by the Student Council for delivery in 2024 under the permitted CSSF categories of spend.