Bills Digest no. 98 2009–10
Higher Education Support Amendment (University College
London) Bill 2010
WARNING:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced
and does not canvass subsequent amendments. This Digest does not have
any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine
the subsequent official status of the Bill.
CONTENTS
Passage history
Purpose
Background
Financial implications
Main provisions
Contact officer & copyright details
Passage history
Higher Education Support Amendment
(University College London) Bill 2010
Date introduced: 4 February 2010
House: House of Representatives
Portfolio: Education
Commencement: 1 January 2010
Links: The relevant links to the Bill, Explanatory Memorandum
and second reading speech can be accessed via BillsNet, which is at http://www.aph.gov.au/bills/. When Bills have been passed they can
be found at ComLaw, which is at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/.
Higher Education Support Amendment
(University College London) Bill 2010 (the Bill) provides for University
College London to be added to the list of Table C providers in section 16-22 of Higher Education Support Act 2003 (the Act) so that University College
London domestic students can access FEE-HELP.
Table C Providers
The Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2005 Measures
No. 4) Act 2005 (the amending Act) amended the Higher Education Support
Act 2003 to permit the operation of foreign higher education providers in
Australia. The amending Act created a new category of higher education
providers – Table C providers which are overseas higher education institutions
with Australian branches. These providers and their students are explicitly
excluded from the Commonwealth Grant Scheme and other grants made under the Act,
Commonwealth scholarships and the HECS-HELP scheme. However, the Australian
students of Table C providers have access to FEE-HELP.
To be eligible for listing as a Table C provider, a foreign
University must first have been approved to operate in Australia by the
relevant state or territory under the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes (National
Protocols).
The 2005 legislative
change was prompted by a proposal by Carnegie Mellon University (a private US
institution with around 8000 undergraduate and postgraduate students) to
establish an Australian campus. On 29 October 2004 the State of South Australia
and Carnegie Mellon signed Heads of Agreement expressing their intention to
collaborate in the establishment of a privately-owned university in Adelaide.
The South Australian Government committed up to $20 million over four years to
assist with the establishment of the University.[1]
Similarly,
the South Australian Government has supported (in collaboration with oil and
gas company Santos) the establishment of University College London’s Adelaide
campus with $4 million towards the refurbishment of premises in the Torrens
Building and support for operations over the College’s first seven years.[2]
University
College London has been approved to operate as a higher education provider in
Australia by the South Australian government under the National Protocols. From
Semester 1 2010, University College London will offer an industry-focused Masters
degree in Energy and Resources developed for the Adelaide campus.[3]
FEE–HELP
The FEE–HELP
scheme is administered by Part 3-3 of the Act. It allows a domestic student enrolled
in a full fee paying course to FEE–HELP assistance of up to $85,062 to pay
tuition fees. The assistance is paid to the higher education provider and the
loan is repaid, like other HECS–HELP loans, through the tax system once the
student’s income is above the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment.
Financial implications
The Explanatory Memorandum states ‘there is no financial
impact resulting from this amendment’. However the Bill will allow a relatively
small number of extra students to access FEE-HELP.
Schedule 1
Item 1 proposes to add University College London to
the list of Table C providers in the table under subsection 16-22(1) of the Act.
Item 2(1) proposes that the amendment will apply to courses
offered by the University College London on or after 1 January 2010.
Coral Dow
9 February 2010
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