This report seeks to offer additional information about this new rule, including plans for
implementation within the University and across its Colleges from 1 January 2022.
Based on the current enrolments as shown in the graph below, FEE-HELP students account for
56.6% of the total enrolments at the University of Divinity.
FEE HELP RFS RFSRSS UPFRONT_FEES
2021 Enrolment by Fee Type
ATTACHMENT 14
Changes to FEE-HELP Report Page 2 of 3
- 50% Pass Rate Rule – changes from 1 January 2022
From 1 January 2018, Non-University Higher Education Institution (NUHEI) students had a 50%
pass rate rule imposed on them for FEE-HELP courses.
From 1 January 2022, this same 50% pass rate rule will apply to all students studying with a public
or private university who access FEE-HELP (https://www.studyassist.gov.au/help-loans/fee-help).
Pass rate requirements apply to all commencing students commencing, including postgraduate
research students.
A unit of study for purposes of the 50% pass-rate has the same meaning as a ‘unit of study’ as
defined under HESA, regardless of the Equivalent Full Time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the unit.
Coursework students studying on a part time basis would have to complete the relevant number
of units before the pass-rate is applicable to them and the time the student takes to complete the
threshold number of units is not relevant to the calculation of the pass-rate.
Section 104-1A of HESA outlines that the 50% pass rate applies after the student has
• attempted 8 or more units of study in a Bachelor level or higher course
or
• the 50% pass rate applies once the student has attempted 4 or more units in a sub
bachelor course.
For students who do not complete the threshold number of units, normal academic suitability
requirements are still in place as per the Student Progress Policy. Before enrolling a student in a
unit of study, providers must assess whether the student is academically suited to that unit
according to HESA section 19-42. A student’s ability to pass previous units in their course would be
relevant considerations in this assessment.
This means that from 1 January 2022, all commencing students enrolled with the University of
Divinity will need to ensure that they pass at least 50% of their total attempted units across their
course of study, otherwise they will need to pay their tuition fees upfront until they improve their
pass rate.
Example:
• If a student gets enrolled in a diploma course, uses FEE-HELP to pay for their Semester 1
fees, and in Semester 1 they undertake 4 units and fail 3, they will not be eligible to access
FEE-HELP in Semester 2 as they needed to pass at least 2 units.
• Then if in Semester 2, having paid for the units upfront, the student undertook another 4
units (8 units in total), they would need to pass 3 of those in eir
academic performance, the university can allow consideration for these impacts. Special
circumstances are defined as the specific requirements that a student must meet for their HELP
balance to be re-credited and their FEE-HELP debt to be removed, as set out in the Higher
Education Support Act 2003 and its associated guidelines.
ATTACHMENT 14
Changes to FEE-HELP Report Page 3 of 3
In addition, if a student chooses to change their course of study or change their Higher Education
provider, their completion rate does not follow them and allows them to re-set the clock on the
50% pass rate rule.
- Compliance to the 50% Pass Rate Rule
Currently, each semester a ‘student progress report’ is provided to each College Academic Dean to
assist in the requirements for monitoring student progress as outlined in the Student Progress
Policy. While this report has functioned for the sole purpose of monitoring student progress as per
the Student Progress Policy, the report can be reconfigured to additionally assist in the FEE-HELP
50% pass rate rule.
In preparation for compliance with the 50% pass rate rule coming into effect from 1 January 2022,
the following actions will be implemented via the Academic Programs staff and with Colleges:
• The Learning Specialist will supply all Colleges with their most up to date list of ‘students at
risk’ report no later than 30 November 2021 (will include Semester 2, 2020 and Semester
1, 2021);
• An updated student progress and student at risk report will be created in Paradigm and
supplied to Colleges by the Academic Compliance Manager after Results Release to
determine those students who have failed to pass at least 50% of their total attempted
units across their course of study.
o Where this threshold has not been met, Colleges will need to inform the student
that their tuition fees will move to ‘up front’ until their pass rate improves.
Colleges will need to ensure that any enrolments for the following semester have
been updated in Paradigm.
o Colleges will report back to the Dea