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2008-2009-2010
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Higher Education Support Amendment (University College London) Bill 2010
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Education
the Honourable Julia Gillard MP)
Higher Education Support Amendment (University College London) Bill 2010
OUTLINE
The purpose of the Bill is to provide for an amendment to section 16-22 of
the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to list University College London as
a Table C provider.
This amendment will allow University College London to offer FEE-HELP to
eligible domestic students.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact associated with this amendment.
Higher Education Support Amendment (University College London) Bill 2010
NOTES ON CLAUSES
Clause 1 - Short title
Clause 1 provides for the Act to be cited as the Higher Education Support
Amendment (University College London) Act 2010.
Clause 2 - Commencement
Clause 2 provides that the Higher Education Support Amendment (University
College London) Act 2010 will be taken to have commenced on 1 January 2010.
Retrospective commencement of the amendment is considered appropriate to
ensure that any students wishing to seek FEE-HELP assistance for units of
study they undertake with the University College London during semester 1
of 2010 will not be disadvantaged owing to a delay in the passage of the
bill after commencement of semester 1 of the 2010 academic year.
Clause 3 - Schedule(s)
Provides that each Act that is specified in a Schedule is amended or
repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule and that any
other item in a Schedule has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1 -Amendments
Summary
This Schedule amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to list
University College London as a Table C provider, which will enable it to
offer FEE-HELP assistance to its eligible domestic students.
.
Background
The Higher Education Support Act 2003 includes provision for a foreign
University, operating in Australia to be listed as a Table C provider which
will enable it to offer FEE-HELP assistance to its eligible domestic
students.
To be eligible to be considered for listing as a Table C provider, a
foreign University must first have been approved to operate in Australia by
the relevant state or territory under the National Protocols for Higher
Education Approval Processes (National Protocols).
In 2009, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
received a request from the University College London to be listed as a
Table C provider. University College London, a non-profit organisation
established under United Kingdom law, has been approved to operate as a
higher education provider in Australia by the South Australian government
under the National Protocols. University College London will commence
offering courses in Semester 1, 2010.
Explanation of the changes
Higher Education Support Act 2003
Item 1 - Subsection 16-22(1) (at the end of the table)
Item 1 adds University College London to the list of Table C providers in
the table under subsection 16-22(1).
Item 2 - Application
Subitem 2(1) provides that the amendment will apply to units of study
offered by the University College London on or after 1 January 2010.
The amendment will apply retrospectively to avoid disadvantaging students
who may wish to seek FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study they undertake
with the University College London during semester 1 of the 2010 academic
year.
FEE-HELP is a Commonwealth scheme which provides financial assistance to
eligible domestic students undertaking units of study offered by higher
education providers. The FEE-HELP scheme is administered by Part 3-3 of
the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
Subitem 2(2) is consequential to item 2 of Schedule 1 and inserts a
definition for the term unit of study used in subitem 2(2) of Schedule 1.
Subitem 2(2) provides that the term, unit of study has the same meaning as
in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.