Finance and money matters
If you need guidance and advice on study-related finances, we can help. If you’re experiencing genuine, urgent financial hardship, SSA team may provide a one-off financial support grant.
Please contact the SSA Team immediately if you’re having trouble paying for your studies. Unpaid fees and fines can cause problems with re-enrolment and can affect the status of student visas for international students.
UTS College & Medibank Financial Support Grant for Onshore International Student
Under the current Covid-19 pandemic, many students are going through a difficult time, so in partnership with Medibank, we are offering a COVID financial hardship support grant to onshore international students. You don’t have to hold your OSHC with Medibank.
Grant Amount
The College can approve a maximum of two (2) grants (each $500) each semester. The second application can only be submitted one month after the first application has been approved.
Eligibility
- You must be currently enrolled in a course at UTS College, post your first session census date.
- Currently living in Australia
- You need to demonstrate low income, which means:
- Income of $900 or less per fortnight and inadequate reserves in savings to meet your needs
- If your income is above the $900 fortnightly income, but within a close range of this amount, you can be considered on the basis of extenuating circumstances such as carer roles for dependents on their income, or other personal circumstances resulting in hardship. We ask you to provide supporting documentation wherever possible.
Supporting documents to prepare before starting the application form:
- In a Word document, tell us about the circumstances affecting you
- Provide the most recent 90-days of income and outgoing transactions on your various bank accounts
- Bank account statements for all savings accounts and investment accounts you hold. These must be PDF documents with a letterhead. Screenshots of your accounts aren’t accepted
- Documents that show upcoming financial responsibilities (for example, extraordinary medical or specialist consultancy costs; bond and moving costs; textbooks or digital access needs; utilities and every-day living costs should you require assistance for these and similar costs).
What happens after your application:
- You’ll receive an acknowledgement email after you submit your application, which will take approximately one week to process (peak periods can lead to minor delays). You’ll be notified the outcome of your application, by email.
- Once your application has been approved, your payment will take approximately one week. Please ensure you enter your Australian bank account details correctly, to avoid payment delays to your nominated bank account.
Important notice
- If your application isn’t successful and your financial situation worsens, you can re-apply.
- There are limits to how many vouchers can be awarded to all students in a semester. UTS College can’t accept applications once it reaches this limit.
- If further clarification is needed to assess your application, you may be asked for further details or to make an appointment with the Student Success Team.
- We expect all students to provide genuine, truthful evidence of financial hardship. Providing misleading information such as transferring funds to a hidden account is in breach of the Student Charter and is a serious matter. Such conduct increases the processing time for all applications and may delay the granting of funds to students in genuine need.
If you’re eligible, please contact SSA team for an application form.
Don’t communicate with the person who is trying to get money from you or your family · Contact the SSA team for help.
4 Find out about legal service and get legal help. Our SSA team can help you to arrange an appointment.
For fraud, scams and legel help, please view Your Personal Safety, Fraud and Legal.
Be aware of frauds and scams
Please be careful and protect yourself from scammers and people trying to commit fraud:
- Never send money to anyone you don’t know
- Never isolate yourself from your family and friends – those committing fraud try to get you to follow their instructions and isolate you from others,
- If someone claims to be an official – for example, from an Embassy, Consulate, or the Australian Tax Office – contact UTS College immediately for help to verify them.
What to do if you are approached or concerned you may be scammed
- Don’t communicate with the person who is trying to get money from you or your family · Contact the SSA team for help.
- If you’re threatened or asked for money – call NSW Police on 000.
Virtual Kidnapping – Stay Alert
NSW Police is warning students to be particularly careful of ‘virtual kidnapping.’ This is when criminals contact students and impersonate officials. They may tell you you’re in trouble and to follow their instructions. This is so they can extort money from you and your family.
If you get a phone call like this, seek help immediately from UTS College or NSW Police.
NSW Police regularly posts information on social media. You’ll also find helpful postings at Scam Watch.
Sometimes you might need professional advice about the legal system (for example, if you receive a fine and need to make an appeal, or if you’re involved in more serious situations related to the law). As a UTS College student, you have access to free legal help.
Find out about legal service and get legal help. Our SSA team can help you to arrange an appointment.