Jun 9, 2026 – 6.16pmThe architect of Australia’s student loan scheme says the unpopular job-ready graduates university fee model could be overhauled at no additional cost to the taxpayer, by linking how much a student pays for their course to their future earning capacity.Under the Morrison-era scheme, introduced in 2021 to direct students into degrees aligned with the country’s skill needs, the cost of a typical three-year arts degree has more than doubled in five years to around $52,000, while teaching, nursing and mathematics fees have been simultaneously slashed.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles