What happened to OLDPS?
Major differences for Open Universities Australia (formerly OLA) students
Loan fees and charges
Request for FEE-HELP (OLA) assistance form
What happened to OLDPS?
On 1 January 2005, the Open Learning Deferred Payment Scheme (OLDPS) for Open Learning Australia (now Open Universities Australia) students was replaced by FEE-HELP. Eligible Open Universities Australia students can access a FEE-HELP loan up to the current FEE-HELP limit.
See also: Open Universities Australia
Major differences for Open Universities Australia students
The FEE-HELP eligibility criteria for Open Universities Australia students differ from those of OLDPS. The changes include:
- the current 50% pass rate will now only apply if you have completed eight units or more through Open Universities Australia
- you can obtain a loan for postgraduate or undergraduate units
- you can obtain a loan for part-time studies
- you can obtain a loan for the full amount of the fee charged by Open Universities Australia
- you no longer have to defer payment for all the units of study undertaken in a study period
- you no longer have to defer the full amount of your tuition fee
- only Australian citizens and holders of permanent humanitarian visas are able to access FEE-HELP
- no limit is set on the number of units for which you can defer payment through FEE-HELP.
Note: The FEE-HELP limit will apply.
See also: Full Fees & FEE-HELP for the current FEE-HELP limit.
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Request for FEE-HELP (OLA) assistance form
If you are a student undertaking study directly through Open Universities Australia and you wish to obtain FEE-HELP to pay your tuition fees you must:
- meet the eligibility requirements for FEE-HELP
- complete the Request for FEE-HELP assistance (OLA) form
- provide your Tax File Number (TFN) or Certificate of Application for a TFN
- submit your completed form to Open Universities Australia on or before the census date for your units of study.
For full details on FEE-HELP see: Full Fees & FEE HELP
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Loan fees and charges
FEE-HELP loans for individual units of study that are directly undertaken through Open Universities Australia are not subject to the 20% loan fee.
As with OLDPS debts, all outstanding FEE-HELP debts will be increased by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each year to maintain their real value.
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Repayment
You will be required to make compulsory repayments on your FEE-HELP loan once your income exceeds the minimum repayment threshold.
See also: Pre-2005 students: repayment arrangements
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