Funding
UQ Skills offers subsidised training for school leavers and other eligible Australian residents through several funding programs.
Choose a funding option, below, to check if you're eligible.
Certificate 3 Guarantee
Choose a Certificate III qualification with UQ Skills and access government funding while you study for your first post-school qualification.
The Queensland Government's Certificate 3 Guarantee supports eligible individuals to gain a post-school qualification and increase their skills to gain employment, re-enter the workforce or advance their career.
UQ Skills is an authorised provider of approved Certificate 3 Guarantee programs.
You’ll pay a reduced amount for your training, making it more accessible and affordable to kickstart your career.
To access this funding you will need to meet the following criteria:
- be a Queensland resident
- be aged 15 years or over, and no longer at school (with the exception of VET in Schools students)
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency
- not hold, or be enrolled in, a certificate III level or higher qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training).
Once you've completed a Certificate III qualification you'll no longer be eligible to receive the Certificate 3 Guarantee funding for any future study.
Eligible UQ Skills programs:
User Choice
If you are considering a traineeship or apprenticeship with UQ Skills, access subsidised training through the User Choice program.
Read more about User Choice training, including free apprenticeships for under 25s, participant eligibility and high priority qualifications.
Eligible UQ Skills programs:
Higher Level Skills program
The Queensland Government’s Higher Level Skills program aims to help you gain the higher-level skills required to secure employment or career advancement in a priority industry, or to transition to university to further your studies.;
Eligible students may be able to apply for Higher Level Skills funding to receive a partial payment towards the cost of selected Certificate IV or above qualifications and priority skill sets.
You will need to contribute to the cost of your training through a co-contribution fee. Your out-of-pocket expense will depend on which program you choose.
UQ Skills is an authorised provider of approved Higher Level Skills programs.
To access this funding you will need to meet the following criteria:
- be a Queensland resident
- be aged 15 years or over, and no longer at school
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency
- not hold, or be enrolled in, a certificate IV level or higher qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundations skills training).
Once you have completed a certificate IV or higher qualification you are no longer eligible to receive Higher Level Skills funding for any future study.
Find out more about the Higher Level Skills program.
Eligible UQ Skills programs:
Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS)
Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) is a program that enables high school students to gain nationally recognised qualifications for specific industries while they're still at school.
To participate in the VETiS program with UQ Skills, you must:
- be a Queensland resident
- be aged 15 years or over
- be in Year 10, 11 or 12 in a Queensland High School
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency
- not have completed, or be enrolled in, a qualification funded through VETiS funding.
- have agreement from your school and parents, and identify the VETiS program in your Senior Education and Training (SET) plan.
Once you've completed a Certificate I or II qualification using VETiS funding you're no longer eligible to receive VETiS funding for any future study.
For information regarding the VETiS, visit the Queensland Government's VETiS web page.
Eligible UQ Skills programs:
VET Student Loans program
The Australian Government's VET (vocational education and training) Student Loans program helps eligible students pay their tuition fees for selected programs.
You can apply for a VET Student Loan for approved programs at the diploma level and above. So you can’t get one for a Certificate IV-level program or below.
Receiving a VET Student Loan will create a debt which you'll be required to pay back in full to the Australian Government. You repay your loan through the Australian tax system when you reach the minimum income threshold for repayment.
Find out more about VET Student Loans, including
- how to apply
- applying for a Tax File Number (you will need a TFN to enrol in a VET Student Loan-approved program)
- loan caps
- loan fee exemptions
- your rights and responsibilities
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy assessments.
VET Student Loans (VSL) will not be approved for students who do not meet the eligibility requirements. View the VSL student entry procedure (PDF, 99.2 KB) for students who are eligible and wish to access VET Student Loans.
If you're unable to fulfill the requirements of your course due to special circumstances, you may be able to apply for your VET Student Loan to be re-credited for the unit of study. Download the VET Student Loans re-credit form (DOCX, 98.7 KB) for more information on the application process or to apply.
Please refer to the Diploma of Agribusiness Management (AHC51422) and Diploma of Agriculture (AHC50116) fee schedules for 2024 (PDF, 303.7 KB).
NSW Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are a proven pathway to well-paid jobs in a diverse range of careers. Under the New South Wales Government’s Smart and Skilled funding apprenticeships are fee-free – meaning no upfront training costs for students or employers.
Fee-free apprenticeships are available to NSW apprentices – including school-based apprentices whose training:
- is funded under the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled Program
- commenced after 1 July 2018.
Apprentices that cross NSW borders to undertake training funded by the NSW Government are also eligible.
You can find more information by visiting the NSW Government’s Fee-Free Apprenticeships website.
Eligible UQ Skills programs:
NSW Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Scholarships
If you’re completing a full qualification, up to and including a Certificate IV, you may be eligible for a Smart and Skilled Scholarship.
To be eligible for a Fee-Free Scholarship, you must:
- be wanting to study a full qualification up to and including Certificate IV (use the Skills Compare); and
- meet the Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria.
and
- be aged between 15 and 30 years when you start training; and
- be either the recipient of a specific Commonwealth Government benefit or allowance or the dependant of such a recipient; or
- be aged 15-17 years and currently in out-of-home care or aged 18-30 years and previously have been in out-of-home care
or
- be aged 15 years or over and have a letter of recommendation from a domestic and family violence service, refuge or other support agency.
You are eligible for one scholarship per financial year and a maximum of two scholarships over four financial years. This limit does not apply if you live in NSW Social Housing or on the NSW Housing Register (waiting list); or if you meet the out-of-home care criteria for a Fee-Free Scholarship.
Diploma and Advanced Diploma level qualifications are not eligible for Fee-Free Scholarships.