What is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)?
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a position in a university course where the government subsidises part of your fees, leaving you with a smaller remaining amount. You don’t need to pay back the part of your tuition fees covered by the CSP.
Under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme, Western Sydney University Online is able to offer a certain number of CSPs each year for all of its courses. CSPs are generally only offered for undergraduate study, but the Master of Teaching (Primary) at Western Sydney Online is also CSP-funded. This is particularly great news for any future educators who would like to pursue a postgraduate qualification.
What’s the difference between a CSP and HELP?
A CSP and HELP loan are not the same. These are the key differences:
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- CSP: A CSP is a government subsidy, not a loan. It covers part (but not all) of tuition fees for students whose CSP application is accepted.
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- HELP: The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) (also known as HECS) is a loan from the government that helps eligible students defer their tuition fee payment. The accumulated HELP debt gets repaid once the student enters the workforce and reaches a certain income level.
If you’re eligible for both a CSP and HELP, you can defer payment of the remaining portion of your tuition fees (known as the ‘student contribution amount’) through the HELP scheme.
If you’re eligible for a CSP but not HELP, you’ll need to pay the student contribution amount upfront.
More information can be found at the Australian Government’s guide to Commonwealth Supported Places.
What are the benefits of a CSP?
A CSP offers a significantly more affordable way to study at university. If you successfully secure a CSP, the Australian government will pay a portion of your fees, which could ultimately save you thousands of dollars.
If you’re also eligible for HELP, you can defer payment of your tuition fees (including the Student Services and Amenities Fee). To do this, you’ll need to complete the HELP forms for both fees to be deferred – instructions on how to do this can be found on the Student Hub under the sections ‘HELP loan applications and Commonwealth Supported Places’ and ‘Subject and SSAF fees’.
CSPs make education more affordable and accessible. A university degree is more than just a qualification – it challenges you to learn new skills, broaden your professional network, and develop your confidence. The courses offered by Western Sydney University Online are designed to help you expand your career potential, opening the door to exciting new opportunities.
Who is eligible for a CSP?
To be eligible for a CSP, you must be one of the following:
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- An Australian citizen
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- A New Zealand citizen
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- An Australian permanent visa holder
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- An eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; or
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- A Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) holder who studies the entire course while living in Australia
For full details about eligibility, please get in touch with one of our Online Course Consultants. They’ll be able to guide you through the application process and give you an indication of how much CSP funding you can expect to receive if successful (subsidy levels vary depending on the program you’re applying for).
CSP courses at Western Sydney University Online
If you meet the above criteria, you can apply for a CSP for any course offered by Western Sydney University Online. Courses include:
Business
Social Science
Nursing and Midwifery
Education
Please note: CSP places have limited availability
Due to the limited availability of CSP places, we recommend applying early to avoid disappointment. Please get in touch with our Online Course Consultants to confirm your eligibility, and prepare your application ASAP.
Apply today to secure your place
Our Online Course Consultants can advise whether you’re eligible for a CSP, and provide information about how many places are available in your preferred course. Please feel free to call us on 1300 050 928 (9am – 5pm Monday – Friday AEDT) to chat about your options.
You can also apply now to take the next exciting step in your study journey.