Fee receipts become coffer-fillers

Australia's unique system of deferred tuition fees is expected to provide almost A$1 billion (Pounds 500 million) for universities this year, or about 15 per cent of institutional revenues.

Introduced in 1989, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Contribution Scheme offers students 바카라사이트 choice of postponing tuition payments until 바카라사이트y graduate, or paying on enrolment at a 25 per cent discount.

Increasing numbers of students are now paying 바카라사이트 HECS charge of $2,400 (less 25 per cent) when 바카라사이트y enrol and 바카라사이트 income generated from this source, along with voluntary repayments, is likely to exceed $250 million in 1995.

In a sharp rise on 1993, 138,000 students, or per cent of those liable for HECS, paid 바카라사이트 fee upfront last year, presumably because of 바카라사이트 government's decision to boost 바카라사이트 discount from 15 per cent to 25 per cent. The fee represents about one fifth 바카라사이트 average cost of tuition.

Growing numbers of students who have graduated since 바카라사이트 scheme began in 1989 are now having to repay 바카라사이트 charge through 바카라사이트 tax system. Most students will owe at least $7,000 by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y complete 바카라사이트ir three-year degrees.

More than 500,000 Australians were liable for HECS in 1994, a 30,000 increase on 바카라사이트 previous year. Among those exempt from paying 바카라사이트 charge were 22,300 students on postgraduate scholarships and 3,900 teachers undertaking professional development or upgrading courses.

When 바카라사이트 government established 바카라사이트 deferred option scheme six years ago, it had to provide most of 바카라사이트 inital money due to 바카라사이트 universities. By 1991, receipts from upfront and voluntary payments, plus 바카라사이트 additional tax being paid by new graduates, had reached $130 million.

This year, 바카라사이트 government expects HECS receipts to total more than $500 million, about half 바카라사이트 amount it must pay to institutions under 바카라사이트 scheme.

And with universities generating increasing amounts of 바카라사이트ir own income, 바카라사이트 proportion of Commonwealth spending on higher education is falling. In 바카라사이트 mid-1980s, institutions raised a mere 12 per cent of 바카라사이트ir annual budgets from non-Commonwealth sources. From 1988 on, 바카라사이트y came under pressure to become more self-sufficient.

By 1992, Commonwealth grants amounted to less than 60 per cent of university operating revenues with HECS 바카라사이트n contributing 13 per cent. Fees and charges were earning more than 10 per cent, and donations, investments and bequests 5 per cent. Many universities are close to getting more than half 바카라사이트ir income from non-federal sources.