TAFE FAQs

When enrolling in a CQUniversity TAFE certificate or diploma course you only need to pay the tuition cost for the units in which you are enrolled. This means the full course cost does not need to be paid for in advance. Payment plans are available for eligible applicants, call 13 27 86 for details.

There may be other ancillary costs associated with your study, and these vary depending upon the course you are undertaking. These costs may include course specific materials, clothing, tools, textbooks or administrative fees such as replacement student cards.

Many CQUni TAFE diplomas will give eligible students up to a year’s credit towards a bachelor’s degree. Visit our Credit Calculator for more information.

The TAFE Academic Calendar sets out important dates for you to know including the start date of each intake and also the last day for you to add subjects each study intake. You can view the current TAFE Academic Calendar.  

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible prior to the commencement of the TAFE course intake. An early application will increase your opportunity to secure a place in the course and allow time to prepare for your studies. Check the important application dates page for details.

The Certificate 3 Guarantee requires a contribution by either the student, an employer, or a third party unrelated to CQUniversity. The amount of the contribution varies depending upon the course. To ensure TAFE training is affordable, with CQUniversity TAFE you only need to pay for the units you are about to commence. Eligibility will be formally assessed upon submitting your course application. For more information visit Certificate 3 Guarantee page.

VET Student Loans is an Australian Government loan scheme available to eligible applicants for most of the TAFE diplomas offered by CQUniversity. VET Student Loans are to assist with tuition fees, and cannot be used for other study-related costs such as accommodation or textbook. For eligibility, courses and other details visit TAFE Diploma and VET Student Loans. A VET Student Loan gives rise to a HELP debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is paid.

Timetable information is available on the CQUni Handbook for enrolled students.

BKSB (Basic Key Skills Builder) is an online pre-enrolment assessment tool for TAFE used to assess your literacy and numeracy skills. The BKSB assessment helps CQUniversity determine if you have the core skills required to succeed in your chosen course. It is not used to decide your acceptance but helps identify any areas where you might need additional support during your studies. 

You may be required to complete the BKSB assessment after submitting your application, depending on your level of education. If it’s necessary, you’ll receive an email from CQUniversity with a link to the assessment after submitting your TAFE application.

The BKSB assessment is self-paced and typically takes 20–40 minutes to complete. 

There are several Government subsidies that may reduce the price of your chosen course. Eligibility will apply, and this varies depending upon the specific subsidy. These subsidies, if you are eligible, apply regardless of your income. For further information visit our TAFE Subsidised Training page.

A concession price will provide a further reduction in course fees. To be eligible you must meet one of the following criteria:

• do you have or be listed on an Australian Government Low Income Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card

Or

• hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

Or

• if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

Or

• if you have a disability

A CQUniversity course is a great pathway to further study. In many instances our certificate courses provide credit into other certificate courses, and a CQUniversity TAFE diploma may provide up to a year’s credit towards a bachelor’s degree. Current High School students may also be eligible to start their tertiary education with our Start TAFE Now program. For more pathways information and options visit cqu.edu.au/pathways.

This will depend on the course level, full time or part time, the type of course and how the course is undertaken. An approximate guide would be 4-6 hours a week in addition to class time. Other considerations are whether a placement or residential school is required.

Planning your time is as important as the time you take to study. By planning your time and priorities you can stay on track and not get behind. CQUniversity provides planning tools to assist with your preparation through Handbook.

HEPPP-Funded Scholarships target students studying an undergraduate degree and identified as living in regional and remote Australia, low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds, and/or Indigenous persons.

Dare to be Deadly Scholarships target students who identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and are able to provide Confirmation of Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Identity or Cultural Reference documents and are enrolled in one of the following courses:

• STEPS 
• Bachelor
• Bachelor Honours 
• Associate Degree
• Advanced Diploma (Higher Education)
• Diploma (Higher Education)
• Postgraduate (Coursework)

Donor-Funded Scholarships target specific students based on the individual Donor Scholarship eligibility criteria which vary from term to term.

Other featured Scholarships:

• External Scholarships
• Research Scholarships
• International Scholarships

We encourage you to review the available scholarships listed on our website to see what you may be eligible for.

Any CQUniversity student who completes a qualification above a Certificate I can apply to graduate at any one of our graduation ceremonies across any of our locations. Those who have completed a short course, either accredited or non-accredited, are not eligible to attend.