Payment plan for TAFE students
Victoria University (VU) offers a payment plan option allowing certain students to pay fees in instalments via direct debit.
When enrolling, you agree to pay your fees by the due date. While we offer alternative payment options, you must be prepared to pay the full amount upfront if you do not qualify for these options or if you choose not to accept the instalment amounts offered.
The payment plan option is subject to approval and requires acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined on this page.
For the security of your financial information, we uses an external company called FACTS to manage direct debit arrangements on our behalf.
Eligibility & exemptions
Eligibility
Your application will be assessed to determine your eligibility for a payment plan.
In general, you may be eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are a domestic student who is not on a student visa
- You are enrolled in a VET/TAFE course
- You have no overdue fees
- Your payable fees total $500 or more
- You understand that the payment plan cannot extend past November of the current year
- You have submitted your Tax File Number (TFN) if you are an Australian citizen or Humanitarian Visa holder enrolled in a diploma or higher-level course.
Australian citizens and humanitarian visa holders studying diploma-level or above courses that are part of the VET Student Loan (VSL) program: only materials, auxiliary fees, student amenities fees, and tuition fees that are above the VSL cap can be included in a payment plan. Tuition fees covered by VSL must be deferred or paid upfront prior to the census date.
Exemptions
The following groups are not eligible for a payment plan:
- international students
- higher education students
- students studying short courses or non-award programs.
We may also decline your application if you have a history of non-compliance with previous payment plans or if your account has been referred to debt collectors. Additional exclusions may apply.
Tax File Number
If you are eligible for a VET Student Loan, please provide your Tax File Number (TFN) before applying for a payment plan. If you have not submitted your TFN, your payment plan application will be declined. You must also allow 2 business days from the time of your TFN submission before submitting your payment plan application.
Instalments & payments
All payment plans must finish by the end of November each year.
The length of the payment plan and the instalment amount is determined by how many fortnights or months remain until November. We won't accept requests for a specific instalment amount.
Each instalment amount is of equal payments at the minimum instalment amount possible. You are welcome to make additional payments at any time, but the minimum instalment amount must still be met.
VU reserves the right to adjust your minimum instalment amount if your fees or enrolment change after your payment plan has been established. In such cases, the debit amount will be adjusted rather than extending the plan. Please refer to the 'student responsibilities' section for more details.
We do not provide an indicative instalment amount. If you want to know roughly how much the instalment amount may be, please refer to the table below.
Example instalments & payments
| Student | VU fees | Start date | Number of months till end November | Instalment Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John | $100 | 1 February | 10 months | $100 ÷ 10 months = $10 per month |
| Amy | $100 | 1 July | 5 months | $100 ÷ 5 months = $20 per month |
Direct debit process
Once your payment schedule is confirmed, payments will be automatically processed by FACTS via direct debit from your nominated bank account or credit card.
Direct debit payments may take up to 10 business days to clear from your FACTS account into your Victoria University account.
Extra payments
- Do not make payments directly to Victoria University, as scheduled direct debits will still occur.
- Dishonour fees cannot be refunded.
- Extra payments must be made through your FACTS account, where you can choose which future instalment the payment will apply to.
If you make a payment directly to VU (not recommended), it will be allocated to any arrears first, and then evenly across all remaining instalments or to any future scheduled debit date at VU’s discretion.
Cost of the payment plan
The following non-refundable fees apply and are charged by FACTS Management Company:
- $41 FACTS enrolment (registration) fee per calendar year
- $33 returned payment (dishonour) fee for each failed scheduled debit
Manage your FACTS account
After registering with FACTS, you can use the self-service portal to:
- update your contact details
- update your financial information
- make extra payments
- delay an original scheduled debit by up to 5 days (maximum of 5 delays per year)
- view your payment schedule, balance and payment history
- access communications sent to you.
Arrears, termination & non-adherence
You must ensure your instalments are successfully debited on the scheduled date. Missing one instalment is considered non-adherence.
If this occurs, Victoria University may cancel your payment plan without further notice and:
- apply sanctions to your student record (restricting enrolment, graduation, results, transcripts, etc.)
- refer your file to an external debt collection agency (additional fees may apply and your credit rating may be affected if legal action occurs)
Your plan may also be terminated if it becomes inactive, which generally occurs if your:
- financial account is invalid
- enrolment/registration fee has not been paid
- bank blocks scheduled debits
Student responsibilities
Payments
- Ensure you have sufficient funds in your nominated account on the scheduled debit date. Insufficient funds may result in additional, non-refundable fees.
- Do not make payments directly to Victoria University, as scheduled direct debits will continue.
- If you wish to make advance payments, these must be made through your FACTS account.
Enrolments & fees
- Only fees assessed at the time of your payment plan application are included initially. Any additional or newly generated fees for the same academic year will be added to your payment plan where possible and split evenly across future instalments.
- Fees that cannot be added to the plan must be fully paid, directly to Victoria University.
- If you discontinue a course or unit on or before the relevant VET/TAFE census date (or within 28 days of each unit start date for Certificate-level students), your payment plan will be adjusted or terminated as necessary.
- Withdrawals after the cut-off date will not stop your payment plan; you remain liable for the fees. Learn more about refund eligibility.
- Victoria University sends automated fee reminders/invoices when there are new transactions on your account. You will continue to receive these even when you are under a payment plan.
- The invoice due date won't change. Your file will be marked as a “Payment Plan Student,” which prevents penalties or referral to debt collection.
Re-applying & settling
While on a payment plan, you cannot:
- have your award conferred
- graduate
- obtain an official academic transcript.
Once your payment plan with FACTS is completed, you must verify with VU if any fees remain outstanding that were not included in the plan.
If you are re-enrolling for the following academic year, you must re-apply for a payment plan.
Apply for a payment plan
The application process is completed in two stages, both of which must be finalised to formally enter a payment plan.
Applications for course fees for the current year close on 31 October.
Stage 1: Submit your application
After reading and understanding the information on this page, you can complete our payment plan application form.
Our finance team will then conduct a further assessment to confirm whether you can be approved for a payment plan. You will be notified of the outcome within 5 business days.
Stage 2: Create a FACTS account
Successful applicants will receive an email from FACTS Management Company with a unique registration link.
When you register for a FACTS account, you will select the start date and frequency of payments, and provide your financial details.
Victoria University will upload your fees to your FACTS account. This may take up to 5 business days from the time your account is created.
Once your fees are uploaded, FACTS will send you an email with your instalment amount and payment schedule.
