ANU Campus Printing, Scanning, and Photocopying: Locations, Costs Per Page, and How to Top Up Your Print Credit

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ANU’s campus printing, scanning, and photocopying services are managed centrally by the Information Technology Services (ITS) division, covering more than 30 print stations across the university (ANU ITS, 2024, Campus Printing Services). The system runs on the PaperCut software platform and lets students authenticate and pay with their student card (ANU ID Card) or a mobile device. In 2024, black-and-white single-sided printing on the ANU campus printing system cost AUD 0.08 per page, colour single-sided printing AUD 0.50 per page, and scanning was free (ANU ITS, 2024, Print Pricing and Locations). With the Semester 1 2025 start approaching, knowing where the print stations are, how the fees work, and how to top up has become a basic skill for new and returning students managing their study costs efficiently.

Print stations on the ANU campus are concentrated in high-use areas such as libraries, teaching buildings, and the student centre. As of 2024, there are more than 30 multifunction printers (MFP) across campus, all supporting printing, scanning, and photocopying.

Main Print Station Locations

Hancock Library is the largest printing hub, with 6 multifunction devices covering the basement through level three. J.B. Chifley Library has 4 devices, mainly serving students in the humanities and social sciences. Menzies Library offers 3 devices, with a focus on Asian studies resources. In addition, the Marie Reay Teaching Centre has 2 devices on level one, and ANU Student Central in the Kambri Precinct campus centre also has 2 devices (ANU ITS, 2024, Print Locations).

Device Features and Limits

All multifunction printers are Fuji Xerox models supporting A4 and A3 paper. The maximum single print job is 100 pages; larger jobs must be run in batches. Devices are available 24 hours a day, but some stations inside teaching buildings can only be accessed during building opening hours (usually 7:00 to 22:00).

Fee Structure and Billing Rules

The ANU printing system charges per page, deducted from your student printing account (Print Credit). Black-and-white and colour rates differ significantly, and duplex printing lowers the per-page cost.

Black-and-White and Colour Printing Costs

Black-and-white printing: AUD 0.08 per page single-sided, AUD 0.06 per page duplex (i.e. AUD 0.12 per sheet, both sides). Colour printing: AUD 0.50 per page single-sided, AUD 0.40 per page duplex. Scanning is free, but each device scans up to 50 pages at a time, with output formats limited to PDF and JPEG (ANU ITS, 2024, Print Pricing).

Photocopying and Special Paper Handling

Photocopying costs the same as printing, but when using A3 paper, black-and-white is AUD 0.16 per page and colour AUD 1.00 per page. Special media (such as label paper or envelopes) must be requested through the ITS service desk and cannot be handled on the self-service devices.

How to Top Up Your Print Account

Students top up their print account through the ANU Online Portal or the PaperCut mobile app. Account balances never expire, but balances cannot be refunded after graduation or withdrawal.

Online Top-Up Process

Log in to the ANU Online Portal, go to the ‘Print Credit’ module, and choose a top-up amount (minimum AUD 5, maximum AUD 100). Payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, and bank transfer. For cross-border tuition payments, some study-abroad families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payments to settle their currency transfers, but print account top-ups are settled in Australian dollars only and need no cross-border handling.

Cash Top-Up Option

Students holding an ANU student card can top up with cash at the Kambri Information Desk, minimum AUD 5. This method carries no additional fees, but only Australian dollar cash is accepted.

Submitting and Releasing Print Jobs

The printing system uses a ‘submit-release’ model: after submitting a job from your own device, you verify your identity at any multifunction printer with your student card or the PaperCut app, and only then is the job released for printing.

How to Submit

Students can submit jobs over campus Wi-Fi (eduroam) or a wired network. Windows, macOS, and Linux are all supported. Submitted jobs remain in the system for 24 hours and are deleted automatically after that.

Release and Collection

Selecting ‘Print Release’ on the device shows all pending jobs. Up to 5 jobs can be released at once. After printing, the system deducts the cost from your account automatically. If your balance is insufficient, the job is held until you top up and release it.

Scanning and Digital File Handling

All multifunction printers have scan-to-email functionality at no extra cost. The default scan resolution is 300 dpi, adjustable to 600 dpi on the device panel.

Scanning Process

Place the document on the scanning glass, select the ‘Scan to Email’ option, and enter your ANU email address. The system sends the file to that address as a PDF. The single-scan limit is 50 pages; larger documents must be scanned in batches.

File Storage and Security

Scanned files are automatically wiped from the device memory after sending, with no copy retained. Students are advised to check their email after sending to confirm the file arrived intact.

Common Faults and Solutions

Common printing system issues include paper jams, insufficient account balance, and jobs not appearing. ANU ITS offers 24-hour online support.

Dealing with Paper Jams

If the device reports a paper jam, open the front cover and remove the jammed paper as instructed. If you cannot resolve it yourself, contact the ITS Service Desk (phone: 02 6125 4321). Devices usually display a fault code; the corresponding solution can be looked up on the ANU ITS website.

Insufficient Account Balance

When the account balance is below the total cost of a print job, the job is held. Students need to top up through the ANU Online Portal or with cash, then select ‘Release All’ on the device to release all pending jobs. Held jobs are deleted automatically after 7 days.

FAQ

Q1: Can the balance in my print account be refunded?

No. ANU print account balances never expire, but after graduation or withdrawal the balance cannot be refunded. Under ANU ITS policy (2024), unused balances go into the university’s operating funds. Students are advised to top up as needed rather than loading large amounts at once.

Q2: How do I view my print history and balance?

Log in to the PaperCut Web Portal (print.anu.edu.au) with your ANU student account. The page shows your current balance, your last 30 print jobs, and a per-page cost breakdown. The balance updates every 5 minutes.

Q3: How much more expensive is colour printing than black-and-white?

Colour single-sided printing costs AUD 0.50 per page versus AUD 0.08 per page for black-and-white — colour is 6.25 times the black-and-white price. With duplex printing, colour is AUD 0.40 per page and black-and-white AUD 0.06 per page, making colour 6.67 times the black-and-white cost (ANU ITS, 2024, Print Pricing).

References

  • ANU Information Technology Services. 2024. Campus Printing Services. Australian National University.
  • ANU Information Technology Services. 2024. Print Pricing and Locations. Australian National University.
  • ANU Student Central. 2024. Student Card and Print Credit Policy. Australian National University.
  • Unilink Education. 2024. Australia Campus Services Database. Unilink Education.