Students pursuing arts degrees in Australia will continue to face fees of $50,000 until at least 2027, according to George Williams, Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University. This situation persists despite the Albanese government’s acknowledgment that the controversial job-ready graduates scheme (JRG) has failed and promises for reform.
The JRG, introduced under the previous Morrison government, increased fees for degrees in arts, humanities, and law while reducing costs for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and essential worker degrees, such as teaching and nursing. Williams, a noted critic of the JRG, expressed hope for a reform that would benefit students by 2027, but acknowledged the challenges ahead. He stated, “I’ll be hopeful for 2027, but it’s looking challenging given what the government has already prioritised.”
The Albanese administration has initiated the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) to redesign university fees. However, legislation must be enacted before ATEC can officially commence its operations in early 2026. Professor Andrew Norton, an expert in higher education at Monash Business School, indicated that a change in the fee structure would likely be feasible no sooner than 2027. He explained, “The government will get this new commission to advise them on new funding rates, and the broad idea is they go back to the old system where there’s some rough relationship between earnings and the fees you pay.”
The complexity of the situation is compounded by budgetary concerns. Norton highlighted that the government would either have to increase student contributions in other courses significantly or enhance subsidies from the budget, both of which pose political challenges.
In July 2023, an interim report from the universities accord found that the JRG had failed and recommended its replacement. Following this, Jason Clare, the Federal Education Minister, repealed a rule that removed HECS debt eligibility for students who failed more than 50% of their units. Other recommendations from the report, such as providing payments for students undertaking practical placements, have also been implemented.
During a recent education summit, Clare indicated that changes to the fee structure would occur, but emphasized that reform is a gradual process. He noted, “Whether it’s the structure of universities or whether it’s fixing JRG, reform is a bit like eating an elephant – one bite at a time.”
Despite these statements, pressure is mounting from within the Labor Party to expedite reforms. Carina Garland, a Victorian MP, stated that many constituents have raised concerns about the JRG, and she is keen to prevent the scheme from becoming entrenched.
Williams pointed out that the current fee structure disproportionately affects students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and women, who are often the primary recipients of arts degrees. He remarked, “It was a failed and flawed idea in the first place, but what it does do is provide a major disincentive for students to go to university.”
The chancellor of Western Sydney University, Jennifer Westacott, echoed Williams’ concerns, emphasizing the importance of arts degrees as foundational qualifications for further education in specialized fields. She stressed the need for investment in humanities, stating, “The idea that we are not going to have serious investment in humanities in this AI-digitised world is crazy.”
Clare’s office was contacted for further comment on the ongoing discussions regarding the future of arts degree fees.
