Fees
How much will I pay for courses at Chisholm?
Circumstances for everyone are different - and this can affect what you pay for your training at Chisholm.
Course costs are made up of three areas:
- Tuition fees.
- Student services fee (Please note that full workplace-based students do not pay the student services fee)
- Materials fee (if applicable).
Costs for Chisholm courses are listed on course pages and are divided into fees for three types of students:
- Students eligible for Victorian (Skills First) and Commonwealth government-funded training
- Students eligible for concession rates on Victorian (Skills First) and Commonwealth government-funded training
- Students who are required to pay the full fees for tuition and other costs.
Free TAFE courses at Chisholm
Free TAFE (also known as Free TAFE for Priority Courses) is a Victorian Government initiative designed to give more Victorians access to training that leads to the jobs of the future, by covering their tuition costs.
Eligible students studying the courses in the Free TAFE course list are exempt from tuition fees (although other fees, such as student services and materials fees, may apply).
Find out more about Free TAFE courses at Chisholm.
Eligibility for Vocational Education and Training (VET) government-funded training
To be eligible for Victorian and Commonwealth government-subsidised training, you need to be either an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen or holder of a Permanent Visa, and:
- have a physical presence in Victoria while undertaking the course, and
- not be attending a school (this does not include a TAFE) or registered for home schooling at the time of the course (excluding School Based Apprentice/Trainee),and
- have not commenced or be scheduled to commence more than two Skills First subsidised courses and two Skills First subsidised skill sets in a year, and
- not be undertaking more than two Skills First subsidised programs – either courses or skill sets – at any one time, and
- not be undertaking a Foundation level course if a diploma or higher qualification is held or are participating in the Commonwealth Government's 'Skills for Education and Employment' program
Please note: Some exceptions apply for asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking.
Students with a disability are encouraged to apply for courses subsidised by the Skills First Program.
Eligible students are subsidised by the Victorian government under the Skills First Program (SFP). Enrolment may impact access to further government-funded training under the SFP.
Eligibility for concessions on VET government-funded training
Students enrolling in a government-subsidised course up to certificate IV level who hold a current and valid Commonwealth Healthcare Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans' Gold Card (or who are the dependant spouse or dependant child of a cardholder) at the time of enrolment are eligible for a concession on tuition and student services fees. You must provide proof at the time of enrolment that you are the card holder or the dependant spouse or dependant child of a card holder.
Where a current and valid eligible concession card is presented for courses or units commencing in 2025, the concession discount will be applied to all future enrolments in that specific course, irrespective of whether the concession card is current or has expired.
Australian Indigenous students will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver for any level course (excluding higher education courses), but will need to pay any applicable student services fee and any materials fees (where applicable).
Eligible students are subsidised by the Victorian government under the Skills First Program (SFP). Enrolment may impact access to further government-funded training under the SFP.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL or Skills Recognition is an assessment that is undertaken to acknowledge skills and knowledge a student has gained through prior formal training, work experience or life experience. RPL can contribute to you gaining credit towards your new course, shortening the time and cost to complete your course.
Visit the Skills Recognition page for more information
Help with fees
A range of options to assist students in paying course fees including:
for help with eligible diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate and graduate diploma courses
for help with degree and graduate certificate courses
Students experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to explore their options with our Student Support and Engagement staff. Chisholm can provide assistance to students to help with budgeting, money management and referrals to external support agencies offering financial counselling.
Miscellaneous fees and charges – 2025
Students may also be required to pay the following:
- Initial hard copy certificate (and record of results) - $20
- Replacement certificate - $50*
- Letter of completion - $15
- ‘On request’ hard copy statement of attainment, hard copy statement of results or replacement competency card - $10*
- Replacement certificate for overseas students (standard postal delivery) - $70
- Replacement certificate for overseas students (courier delivery) - $120
- International delivery - $20 (standard postal delivery) or $70 (courier delivery)
- Copy of a receipt - $5
- Replacement of student ID card - $10
- Archive search (prior to 2000) - $50
- Creation of a My eQuals user account with AQF certificates issued prior to 2024 – Free on request
* Where a hard copy replacement certificate or statement of attainment is ordered, a copy will also be provided via My eQuals.
Note
- AQF qualifications or statements of attainment will be issued via My eQuals
- My eQuals is only available for Australian students (i.e., students where training is delivered or completed in Australia)
- Fees and charges are in Australian dollars
Printing and photocopying charges
- Black A4 - single sided 8c/ double sided 16c
- Black A3 - single sided 16c/ double sided 32c
- Colour A4 - single sided 24c/ double sided 48c
- Colour A3 - single sided 48c/ double sided 96c
Materials fees
The materials fee for each course covers the actual cost of essential materials required for the successful undertaking of the course, excursions and other activities. There are no concessions for materials fees. There are no refunds for material fees if you withdraw more than 28 days after commencing your course for the year or have received your materials.
Exam fees and charges (current Chisholm students)
- VETASSESS plumbing licence resit - $45
- Resit electrical licence exam - $88
- All other exams (for external students) - $45 per examinable hour plus a $55 administrative fee per exam.
Withdrawals and refunds (non-short courses)
- 100% refund of all fees if Chisholm cancels your course. Course cancellation does not include circumstances where a course is superseded on the national register (training.gov.au) and a student is offered enrolment in a replacement/superseding course.
- You will receive a refund of tuition and student services fees paid less an administration fee of $50 for non-VET Student Loans/FEE-HELP eligible courses if you lodge a withdrawal/refund application within 28 days from the first commencement in the course for the year (or, in the case where you never commenced, within 28 days of your expected commencement date).
- You will receive a 100% refund of the tuition fees if you lodge a withdrawal/refund application for a VET Student Loans/FEE-HELP eligible unit of study on or before your Census Date for that unit, but you will only receive a refund of student services fees paid if you lodge a withdrawal/refund application within 28 days of commencing your course for the year.
- There are no refunds associated with material fees if you withdraw after 28 days from the first commencement in the course for the year (or in the case where a student never commenced, within 28 days of your expected commencement date), or where you have used or been issued the materials.
- Where employers have paid fees for an apprentice/trainee or employee, a request for refund can be sent directly to the Academic Registrar (registrar@chisholm.edu.au) and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- You will not be eligible for refunds of tuition fees for units where you have received a final result. The exception to this are withdrawals on or prior to the census date for VET Student Loan/FEE-HELP eligible units of study.
- Information about how to withdraw is provided at: https://www.chisholm.edu.au/students/fees/withdrawals-and-refunds