The Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS) provides funding to higher education providers for Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) in bachelor courses of study and some CSPs in sub bachelor, non research postgraduate, medicine and other courses of study specified by the Minister.
Prior to 2012, the Commonwealth provided funding to eligible higher education providers for an agreed number of Commonwealth supported places (i.e. targets) in a given year. The amount that the Australian Government provided was determined by reference to the number of places in each funding (or discipline) cluster. During the transitional period in 2010 and 2011, the ‘cap’ on funding for over enrolments was lifted from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, allowing universities to over enrol by 10 per cent (in funding terms) above their funding agreement targets.
From 2012, public universities will determine the number of students they enrol in bachelor level courses (excluding medicine) and will receive funding for these places. Universities will be able to increase the number of Commonwealth supported places they offer in particular disciplines in response to employer and student demands.
For non-research postgraduate courses and designated undergraduate courses (medicine, enabling courses and courses of study leading to a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree), the Commonwealth will provide funding to public universities for an agreed number of Commonwealth supported places in a given year. All other providers are funded for Commonwealth supported places based on allocations by the Commonwealth.
Providers must enter into a funding agreement with the Commonwealth in order to receive a grant under the CGS. Providers’ funding is subject to adjustment in relation to their performance in meeting funding agreement targets in the preceding year.
Providers may receive additional funding through the regional, enabling, medical student and/or transitional loadings under the CGS.
Regional loading – provides additional funding to assist providers with regional campuses to meet the higher costs they face as a result of their location, size and history.
Enabling loading – provides additional funding to providers to assist with the cost of providing places in enabling courses of study. It recognises that providers are prohibited from charging Commonwealth supported students a student contribution amount for such courses.
Medical student loading – provides additional funding to providers with CSPs in a medicine course of study, the completion of which would allow provisional registration as a medical practitioner.
Transitional loading for mathematics, statistics and science units – provides additional funding to providers to compensate them for the reduction in the maximum student contribution amount for commencing Commonwealth supported students studying mathematics, statistics and science to the lowest priority rate.
Change to transitional loading (MYEFO 2011-12)
On 29 November 2011, the Australian Government announced that it was reinstating student contribution amounts for mathematics, statistics and science units of study to Band 2 for commencing domestic students from 1 January 2013.
This transitional loading will be phased out as the student contribution amount increases from 1 January 2013.
Students who commence their course between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2012 will continue to pay a reduced student contribution amount until 31 December 2015, with the Government providing transitional loading for these units. Students who commence their course from 1 January 2013 will be charged the Band 2 rate for any mathematics, statistics and science units of study.
CGS Funding Agreements for 2012
Under the Higher Education Support Act 2003, a higher education provider may only receive CGS funding if it has entered into a funding agreement with the Commonwealth pursuant to section 30-25 of the Act. Section 30-28 of the Act requires that a copy of each funding agreement is published on the Departmental website.
To view each provider’s 2012 CGS Funding Agreement, click the relevant link below:
Useful Links
Administering area
Funding and Student Support Branch
Higher Education Group
For enquiries email: cgs@deewr.gov.au
Please Note: The Tertiary Cluster of the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations and support for that Cluster is transitioning under a machinery of Government change to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.