The reforms will unshackle universities, colleges and TAFEs in regional Australia, helping them to grow local economies.

Regional Australians have too often missed out on high quality education due to narrowly focussed government policy.

Expanding access to higher education

For the first time the Government will provide support to:

• all undergraduate students, whether studying at universities, TAFEs or private colleges
• all students studying diploma, advanced diploma and associate degree courses, as well as those studying bachelor degrees.

Not only will this provide a boost to regional economies by ensuring there are more skilled workers, but education institutions themselves will be able to grow, to employ more people and invest more back into their local communities.

Supporting access for more students

Over 80,000 students will be provided additional support in 2018. This includes an estimated:

48,000 students in diploma, advanced diploma and associate degree courses

35,000 additional students undertaking bachelor courses

New Commonwealth Scholarship scheme

The Government will also introduce new Commonwealth Scholarships at Australia's universities to ensure students from disadvantaged backgrounds don't miss out.

Institutions will be required to spend $1 of every $5 of additional revenue on these scholarships.

Removing FEE and VET FEE HELP loan fees

The existing loan fee of 25 per cent for FEE-HELP and 20 per cent for VET FEE-HELP will be removed for undergraduates, as will the lifetime limits. This will level the playing field for students.

Supporting our rural and regional students

A number of universities have forged partnerships with regional TAFEs to develop new courses. The new initiatives announced in the Budget will allow more of these productive arrangements to flourish such as:

• Charles Sturt University (CSU), in partnership with the North Coast TAFE and Wodonga TAFE, is establishing two Regional University Centres in Northern Victoria and the mid-north coast of NSW. In collaboration with the TAFEs, CSU will deliver programmes locally to new, underserviced regional markets where there are poor higher education attainment rates but good Vocational Education and Training (VET) preparation to Diploma level.
• In North-West Tasmania, the University of Tasmania's Cradle Coast campus has formed links with TasTAFE and other providers to offer pathway programs in areas relevant to local industry (primarily mining and manufacturing), such as engineering pathway, pathways for up-skilling, and new management qualifications.
• Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) has partnerships with a range of TAFEs in regional Victoria to provide pathways to higher education for people who might not otherwise get the opportunity.