University fees set for biggest shake-up in a decade
The government will announce plans to double the cost of some uni courses while slashing fees for others. Here are the winners and losers.
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Nursing degrees, maths courses and psychology degrees will be slashed to just to $3700-a-year in massive discounts designed to encourage younger Australians into the jobs of the future.
In the biggest shake-up of university fees in a decade, the Morrison Government will announce plans to double the cost of some courses while slashing the fees for other degrees.
“We are facing the biggest employment challenge since the Great Depression. And the biggest impact will be felt by young Australians. They are relying on us to give them the opportunity to succeed in the jobs of the future,” Education Minister Dan Tehan will say at the National Press Club Friday.
“A cheaper degree in an area where there’s a job is a win-win for students. And as I said earlier, when graduates succeed, our country succeeds.”
The humble arts degree is set to carry a mighty sting under a major shake-up of university fees set to be announced.
The cost of an arts degree and communications courses is set to double to $14,500 a year as the Morrison Government tries to dissuade students from studying courses without a clear job pathway.
Law degrees and economics will also face fee hikes of nearly 30 per cent rising to $14,500.
Students are not required to pay the fees upfront but are required to pay the debts back when they enter the workforce.
But the fee changes will only apply to new students applying to attend university from 2021, ensuring existing students are not stung by unexpected fee increases.
As universities reel from the coronavirus crisis and a reduced number of overseas students the Morrison government has moved to shake up the system.
Education Minister Dan Tehan will announce the changes today in a speech at the National Press Club titled “Job Ready Graduates”.
“Universities must teach Australians the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future,” Mr Tehan said.
“We will also incentivise students to make more job-relevant choices, that lead to more job-ready graduates, by reducing the student contribution in areas of expected employment growth and demand.
“To deliver cheaper degrees in areas of expected employment growth, students who choose to study more popular degrees will make a higher contribution.”
The Morrison Government is expecting a massive spike in the number of students attending universities as unemployment continues to rise.
The latest jobs figures put the unemployment rate for under 25s at the highest in 20 years but economists believe the true rate could be as high as 26 per cent.
But the radical reform agenda Mr Tehan will outline must first pass the Senate, setting the scene for negotiations with Labor and the crossbench.
Originally published as University fees set for biggest shake-up in a decade