Census dates

The census date is the date on which the following important things happen for ALL students:

  • you become financially liable for any subjects in which you are registered,
  • it's the final day you can withdraw from a subject without incurring:
    1. financial liability, and
    2. academic penalty,
  • It's the final date you can submit a Unique Student Identifier (USI)

For International students, your fees are due at the start of session, but census is the final date that you can add subjects or request to drop subjects.

For Domestic students, census date is also the final day that you can:

  1. Submit your Commonwealth assistance form (eCAF) to accept your Commonwealth supported place in your program* and
  2. provide your tax file number (TFN) or evidence that you have applied for a TFN, if you intend to defer your fees,
  3. it's the final day you can pay your fees upfront
  4. you incur a HELP debt for any subjects for which you are eligible for a HELP loan and have not made an upfront payment,

*Even if you don’t want to defer your fees you still need to complete the eCAF to accept your Commonwealth supported place

If you don’t feel like you can continue with your current number of subjects, get in touch with Student Services Hub before census to get advice and information about your options.

If you're considering taking a Leave of Absence for the term, you need to submit your 'Discontinuation or break from studies' form to Student Services Hub by the census date. Find out more on the Applying for leave and resigning from your program webpage.

Note: If the census date for a teaching term falls on a weekend, you will need to provide any required documentation to Student Services Hub before 5:00pm on the last business day before the census date. Check the census date for your teaching term

Students changing citizenship status

If you have changed residency or citizenship status you need to let the University know before census date. Go to Student Services Hub with either your citizenship certificate (if you are permanent resident becoming an Australian citizen) or your passport and visa (if you are an international student becoming a permanent resident).If you are a Humanitarian visa holder you will need to show your passport and visa- if your visa is more than two years old you will need to provide a VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) to show an up-to-date verification of the visa.

Once you have submitted your documentation and your residency has been updated, you will need to complete a new electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF). If you do not submit your residency documents or submit a new eCAF prior to census date your previous residency status will apply and you will be charged the associated tuition fees. If you submit your change of residency or eCAF after census date, your new status will apply from the following term only.

List of census dates

The census dates for each teaching terms are available on our Academic year dateline

Definitions of fee and census-related terminology

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) - As a domestic student at Western you are eligible to study in a Commonwealth Supported place. This means that the Australian Government subsidises your fees so you are charged a smaller amount than what it actually costs for the University to deliver the program.

Student contribution amount The subsidised fees you pay as a CSP student, are called Student contribution amounts, and are charged on a per subject basis

Commonwealth assistance form (eCAF) - An eCAF serves two purposes:

  1. It allows you to accept your Commonwealth supported place (if you are a domestic undergraduate student).  Even if you want to pay your fees upfront you must submit an eCAF to accept your Commonwealth supported place in your program at Western.
  2. It allows Australian Citizens, Permanent Humanitarian visa holders, and eligible NZ citizens to defer their student contribution fees via HECS HELP (or to FEE Help for postgraduate students) In order to defer your fees you must submit your Tax file number (TFN) in your eCAF prior to census

NOTE: You have to submit an eCAF for any new program you commence.

Unique Student Identifier (USI) - As a student enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place at Western, you need a Unique Student identifier (USI). A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a reference number made up of ten numbers and letters that is free and easy to create and stays with you for life. You need a USI in order to receive your qualification.  The USI will give you access to an online record of your nationally recognised training in the form of a USI Transcript. This can be used when applying for a job, seeking a credit transfer or demonstrating pre-requisites when undertaking further training. You can submit your USI in MySR

Tax File Number A tax file number (TFN) is your personal reference number in the tax and superannuation systems. It is free to apply for a TFN. If you are an Australian Citizen, Permanent Humanitarian visa holders, or eligible NZ citizens and you want to defer your student contribution fees via HECS HELP (or to FEE Help for postgraduate students) you must submit your Tax file number (TFN) in your eCAF prior to census. If you don’t have a TFN you need to apply for a TFN (via MyGov) prior to census and provide evidence of your application for a TFN to the University. If you do not provide your TFN in your eCAF, or evidence you have applied for a TFN prior to census you will be discontinued from your program.

Make sure you protect your identity by keeping your TFN secure. Only supply your TFN via the eCAF. Do not email your TFN to the University. Note that it is a criminal offence to supply a TFN that does not belong to you.

Helpful links

  • Enrolment page – instructions on how to add and drop subjects and apply for a Leave of Absence
  • Fee page – information on eligibility to defer your tuition fees, how to make payments and electronic Statements of Account and eCAFs
  • Changing residency status page – 'how to' information and where to send certified copies of required documentation if you can't get to a Student Central