Compulsory Student Services Fee

The levy is a compulsory student fee that partially funds services including:

Advocacy, representation and legal advice

AUTSA provides AUT students with independent and confidential support, advice and advocacy services, including assistance for legal matters, disciplinary action, harassment, complaints, employment and tenant rights, grade appeals, class representatives, general information, and translation of AUT rules and policies. All university-related issues are resolved where possible or escalated for action as appropriate.

Careers advice and guidance

AUT offers career counselling, employability development services and job search support to prospective and current AUT students. AUT’s career specialists provide advice and support students to make informed decisions about their career path and study programme, internship opportunities and to improve their employability. AUT also delivers the AUT Edge Award and Beyond AUT Award, which formally acknowledges students’ involvement in volunteering, leadership and employability activities.

Clubs and societies

AUTSA offers support and grants to student clubs to deliver a range of student-run social, sporting, sustainability, religious, academic and cultural clubs through which students can meet new people, participate in events, and get involved in university life.

Childcare services

AUT hosts an independently-run crèche at North Campus. The centre provides excellent facilities and services, including school holiday programmes. AUT also provides comfortable and private rooms for breastfeeding at all three main campuses.

Counselling, welfare and pastoral care

AUT has a diverse range of pastoral, welfare, mental health, counselling, and wellbeing services to facilitate our students’ integration into university life and provide on-going personal, spiritual, psychological and emotional support. The University offers specialised services to students with an impairment or disability, or who are Māori, Pacific, Chinese, international, refugees, new migrants, elite athletes, members of the Rainbow community, scholars, and postgraduate students, as well as students who present with behavioural concerns through the Student Conduct team. The members of this team are professionals with psychosocial qualifications.

The University operates a comprehensive orientation and transition programme, and an early intervention service, delivered by peer advisors, to promote the success and retention of our students. This is in addition to a programme of regular workshops and events throughout the year to support the development of wellness, positive psychology and resilience.

Employment information

AUTSA provides students with employment information and funding for Student Job Search (SJS), an employment agency targeted at finding employment for students.

Financial support and advice

AUT offers students information and advice to help manage their money, including assistance with StudyLink issues, budgeting, and banking. In addition, the University offers financial assistance for students experiencing financial hardship in the form of cash payments, vouchers for food and transport, and assistance with outstanding bills. In 2020, the financial allocation was substantially increased in response to student hardship caused by the COVID global pandemic.

Health services

The Student Medical Centres at City and North Campuses offer integrated general practice medical, nursing, and wellbeing services to support students’ overall health and wellbeing. The centres are part of the Auckland Primary Health Organisation. Routine consultations are free for domestic students who register with one of the centres as their primary health care organisation.

At North Campus, the Student Medical Centre, counselling and mental health services are delivered at NorthMed, a purpose-built integrated health clinic near the campus. For students based at South Campus, the University offers a nurse and mental health services, as well as access to funded consultations with four local medical practitioners.

Media

AUTSA supports the production and dissemination of information by students for students through Debate magazine and online media.

Sport, recreation and cultural services

AUT delivers a range of recreational and competitive sport events and activities. Each campus has a fitness centre offering quality fitness equipment as well as in-person and online group classes and personalised exercise programmes, and access to sport and exercise services.

In 2021, we opened Te Āhuru Recreation Centre on the AUT City Campus, designed to provide students with spaces to connect with friends and cultivate their interests. With a sports court, dance and exercise studios, flexible spaces for clubs, kitchen, and large spaces to gather and share food.

The University also offers a wide range of cultural events and diversity-related activities to promote diversity and inclusion, as well as to support student engagement.

AUTSA complements AUT’s services with the delivery of a student-led recreational programme of events, including AUTSA O-week to welcome and celebrate new students at the beginning of Semesters 1 and 2, as well as spirituality and social sport activities.

AUT-managed services and facilities

• Student Medical Centre
• Student financial hardship
• Subsidised gym membership
• Disability support services
• Rainbow community support services
• Māori student support
• Student counselling and mental health services, including after-hours support
• Employability and careers support
• Student wellbeing support
• Student events including Orientation
• Peer mentoring programmes
• Student personal support
• Student residents’ support
• AUT student sport
• Development of student spaces
• Chaplaincy

AUTSA-managed services and facilities

• Student advocacy and representation
• Legal advice
• Student events including O Week
• Clubs and societies
• Spirituality services
• Student Job Search
• Foodie Godmother
• Debate and student media

Effective from 1 January 2022, the Student Services Levy is calculated on the number of credits of study in an academic year a student is enrolled in, based on $7.78 (GST included) per academic credit.

The levy is made up of:

• 2022 Compulsory Student Services Fee: $934.07 (GST included) for 120 credits
  • Covers the provision or subsidy of various services that students access.
• In 2022 the Building Levy fee will be discontinued as a result of the Te Ahuru Recreation Centre being completed.

For students that are studying offshore the total student services levy and building levy is discounted by 30%.

Exemption of levy charges

Applications for exemption of levy charges can be directed to the Group Director Student Services and Administration by emailing studentfeedback@aut.ac.nz

Exemptions will be considered based on the following:

1. Living outside the boundaries of Auckland City and not using University facilities other than the Library; or
2. Enrolled under approved university exchange schemes

The Student Services Levy is governed by the same AUT refund policy as tuition fees. If you’re eligible for a refund of tuition fees, the same refund apportionment will be applied to the Student Services Levy and will be included in your refund entitlement.

Effective from 1 January 2021, the Student Services Levy is calculated on the number of credits of study in an academic year a student is enrolled in, based on $6.59 (GST included) per academic credit.

The levy is made up of:

• 2021 Compulsory Student Services Fee: $790.40 (GST included) for 120 credits
  • Covers the provision or subsidy of various services that student’s access.
• 2021 Building Levy: $77.52 (GST included) for 120 credits
  • Covers maintenance and development of student buildings and facilities.

The cost of service provision is greater than the levy revenue collected. As AUT are committed to the care and support of its students, the University allocates additional funding to make certain services remain viable.

The levy charges are automatically added to your fees invoice at the time of enrolment. As the levy is compulsory to all university students studying in New Zealand, it can be paid for through your student loan funding or included in your fees free entitlement.

Not all students have to pay the fee. Those students who are studying on exchange programmes or distance learning aren’t charged the fee in 2020. Distance learning means that a student’s faculty have confirmed no portion of the course is taught on an AUT campus.

The Student Services Levy is governed by the same AUT refund policy as tuition fees. If you’re eligible for a refund of tuition fees, the same refund apportionment will be applied to the Student Services Levy and will be included in your refund entitlement.

Offshore international students

For students that are studying offshore the total student services levy and building levy is discounted by 30%. Applications for exemption of levy charges can be directed to the Group Director Student Services and Administration by emailing studentfeedback@aut.ac.nz

The Student Services Levy is governed by the same AUT refund policy as tuition fees. If you’re eligible for a refund of tuition fees, the same refund apportionment will be applied to the Student Services Levy and will be included in your refund entitlement.

AUT has a formal partnership with AUTSA through the Student Advisory Committee, which provides oversight and guidance on the allocation of the Student Services Levy. The membership of the committee consists of equal numbers of representatives from AUT and AUTSA. The committee is responsible for ensuring the raising student matters, increasing annual levy expenditure, and promoting student engagement with learning and AUT.

AUTSA are contracted to provide services on behalf of AUT and receive levy funds to deliver these supports. AUTSA provides insights from the student body how levy funds may be best spent to maximise value for the students.

Recommendations are made to the Vice-Chancellor and approved by AUT Council. The AUTSA Student President is a member of AUT Council, which is responsible for the governance of the University, including oversight of the institution’s policy, degree, financial and capital matters.

The levy amount is decided by the cost for delivering each service and activity. This includes staffing costs, space, technology and operational expenses. Each year the cost is inflation adjusted and increased based on student need. Annually, the AUT Auditor reviews the accounts to make certain the funds are being correctly applied. In 2021, this review will include the amount paid to AUTSA for the services required to be delivered under the AUT and AUTSA contract.

Each year, a breakdown of expenditure is publicly published through the AUT Annual Report. The report breaks down the detail against the types of service clusters as outlined in the Ministerial Direction.

Download AUT 2020 Annual Report

Effective from 1 January 2023, the Student Services Levy is calculated on the number of credits of study in an academic year a student is enrolled in, based on $8.95 (GST included) per academic credit.

The levy is made up of:

• 2023 Compulsory Student Services Fee: $1074.18 (GST included) for 120 credits
  • Covers the provision or subsidy of various services that students access.

For students that are studying offshore the total student services levy and building levy is discounted by 30%.

Exemption of levy charges

Applications for exemption of levy charges can be directed to the Group Director Student Services and Administration by emailing studentfeedback@aut.ac.nz

Exemptions will be considered based on the following:

1. Living outside the boundaries of Auckland City and not using University facilities other than the Library; or
2. Enrolled under approved university exchange schemes

The Student Services Levy is governed by the same AUT refund policy as tuition fees. If you’re eligible for a refund of tuition fees, the same refund apportionment will be applied to the Student Services Levy and will be included in your refund entitlement.

Effective from 1 January 2024, the Student Services Levy is calculated on the number of credits of study in an academic year a student is enrolled in, based on $9.55 (GST included) per academic credit.

The levy is made up of:

• Compulsory Student Services Fee: $1146.15 (GST included) for 120 credits
  • Covers the provision or subsidy of various services that students access.

For students that are studying offshore the total student services levy is discounted by 30%.

Exemption of levy charges

On application to the Group Director Student Services, by emailing studentfeedback@aut.ac.nz the following students may be exempt from paying the CSSF to use student services if they are:

1. Enrolled under approved university international exchange schemes.
2. By application citing one off or special circumstances

The Student Services Levy is governed by the same AUT refund policy as tuition fees. If you’re eligible for a refund of tuition fees, the same refund apportionment will be applied to the Student Services Levy and will be included in your refund entitlement.

Effective from 1 January 2025, the Student Services Levy is calculated on the number of credits of study in an academic year a student is enrolled in, based on $9.93 (GST included) per academic credit point.

The levy is made up of:

• Compulsory Student Services Fee: $1192.00 (GST included) for 120 credits
  • Covers the provision or subsidy of various services that students access.

For students that are studying offshore the total student services levy is discounted by 30%.

Exemption of payment of the Student Services fee

On application to the Group Director Student Services, by emailing studentfeedback@aut.ac.nz the following students may be exempt from paying the fee to use student services if they are:

1. Enrolled under approved university international exchange schemes.
2. By application citing one off or special circumstances

The Student Services Levy is governed by the same AUT refund policy as tuition fees. If you’re eligible for a refund of tuition fees, the same refund apportionment will be applied to the Student Services Levy and will be included in your refund entitlement.