Australia to adjust university fees to match community needs

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The cost of studying humanities at university is set to double, but "job-relevant" course fees will be slashed under an overhaul of tertiary education to be announced by the Federal Government today.

Education Minister Dan Tehan will also announce an extra 39,000 university places for Australian students will be funded by 2023.

Demand for 2021 is already soaring, with the estimated 20,000 year 12 students who usually defer university now less likely to take a gap year because of travel restrictions and the poor jobs market.

The rising unemployment rate is also driving demand — in a recession, many unemployed people typically turn to universities.

"We are facing the biggest employment challenge since the Great Depression," Education Minister Dan Tehan is expected to say in a speech to the National Press Club today.

"And the biggest impact will be felt by young Australians. They are relying on us to give them the opportunity to succeed in the jobs of the future."

How fees will change:
Agriculture and maths degrees: 62pc decrease
Teaching, nursing, clinical psychology, English and languages degrees: 46pc decrease
Science, health, architecture, environmental science, IT and engineering degrees: 20pc decrease
Medicine, dental and veterinary science degrees: no change
Law and commerce degrees: 28pc increase
Humanities degrees: 113 per cent increase