Census

Census is your deadline to finalise subject enrolment and fee arrangements each session. After the census date:

  • your enrolment is locked in
  • you're financially responsible for your subjects
  • subjects appear on your academic record
  • unpaid fees will be deferred to your HELP loan (if you're eligible and your form is approved)

Census is an important deadline. Make sure you're confident in your subject choices and fees are sorted.

When is census?

Each session has its own census date. You can check yours in two ways:

  • Use the key dates page: filter by 'Census and fees' to see all upcoming census dates.
  • Check your Census checkpoint: this personalised tool shows any upcoming census dates based on your current subject enrolment.

What to do before census

Before the census date, make sure you:

1

Check your subjects

Confirm you're enrolled in the subjects you plan to study.

Check your enrolment

2

Withdraw if needed

Make sure you’re only enrolled in the subjects you plan to study. If you want to withdraw from any, do it before census to avoid fees or academic penalties.

Withdraw from a subject

3

Organise your fees

Make sure your fees will be paid on time. You can either:

  • pay upfront, or
  • defer using a HELP loan (if you're eligible)

If you're using a HELP loan, you must submit your HELP form and provide your Tax File Number (TFN) before your first census date. If your form isn’t approved in time, you may be withdrawn from your subjects and lose your place in your course.

If you're using a HELP loan

  • Submit your HELP form before your first census date. You’ll need to include your Tax File Number (TFN)
  • If you don’t have a TFN yet, apply early. It can take up to 28 days to receive
  • Once your form is approved, your unpaid fees will be deferred automatically after census

You only need to submit your HELP form once. If it's approved, your eligible fees will be deferred automatically in future sessions unless you choose to pay upfront.

If you don’t submit your HELP form in time, you will be withdrawn from your subjects and may lose your place in your course.

Not sure which loan applies to you?

  • HECS-HELP is for Commonwealth supported students
  • FEE-HELP is for full fee-paying domestic students
  • International students are not eligible for HELP loans. You must pay your fees in full by the census date. If you do not pay on time, your enrolment may be cancelled.

Learn more about HELP loans

  • Pay your fees in full by the census date
  • If you do not pay by census, your enrolment may be cancelled

Pay upfront

Thinking about taking a break from study?

What you can do depends on where you’re at in your course and when you decide. Before census, first-year students may be able to defer, and continuing students can apply for a leave of absence. After census, changes are more limited. If a serious illness or personal circumstances come up, you may be able to apply for special consideration or a fee refund.

Find out more about taking a break from study

Explore more

Teaching periods

Subject enrolment

Fees