Overview
Commonwealth loans
Scholarships
General citizenship and residency rules
Commonwealth assistance available
Overview
In 2005, the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) replaced HECS. The previous arrangements for loans were expanded to further assist fee paying students under FEE-HELP (formerly the Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme [PELS]). OS-HELP was also introduced for eligible Commonwealth supported students.
HELP is comprised of four main loan programs:
HECS-HELP
FEE-HELP
OS-HELP and
VET FEE-HELP
Higher education providers are able to offer two types of places to domestic students: Commonwealth supported places (previously known as HECS places) and fee paying places.
From 1 January 2009, public universities are no longer able to offer full fee paying places to any commencing domestic undergraduate students except in certain circumstances.
If you are in a Commonwealth supported place, you only make a contribution towards the cost of your education (known as the student contribution) while the Australian Government contributes the majority of the cost.
If you are not Commonwealth supported, you will pay tuition fees which are not subsidised by the Australian Government.
Overseas students are only able to study in an overseas fee paying place and must pay overseas student fees. Providers must charge overseas students fees at a level sufficient to recover the full costs of delivering their course.
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Commonwealth loans
Eligible students have access to deferred payment arrangements through HELP.
HECS-HELP is a loan scheme for eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan covers all or part of their student contribution.
For more information see the Information for Commonwealth supported students booklet on the Publications page.
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible fee paying students enrolled at an eligible higher education provider or Open Universities Australia (OUA) to pay their tuition fees. FEE-HELP can cover all or part of a student’s tuition fees. Over their lifetime, a student may borrow through FEE-HELP an amount up to the FEE-HELP limit to pay their tuition fees.
For more information see the FEE-HELP information booklet on the Publications page.
OS-HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible Commonwealth supported undergraduate students at eligible Australian providers to undertake part of their study with overseas higher education institutions. OS-HELP provides students with a cash loan to cover expenses such as accommodation and travel.
For more information see the OS-HELP statement of terms and conditions booklet and the OS-HELP support for overseas study brochure on the Publications page.
HELP is administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), the Tax Office, and higher education providers.
For previous versions of these booklets see the the Publications page.
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Scholarships
As well as the HELP scheme, there are a number of Commonwealth and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to eligible students to assist with the costs associated with undertaking higher education.
See also:
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General citizenship and residency rules
Access to Commonwealth assistance for higher education, which includes Commonwealth supported places and HELP loans, is dependent on your citizenship or residency status.
See also: Being eligible and Student Learning Entitlement
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Commonwealth assistance available
The following table outlines the Commonwealth assistance options available to Commonwealth supported, fee paying and overseas students, based on citizenship or residency status.
|
Citizenship /
residency status |
Commonwealth pays |
Student
pays |
Payment options
(including loans) |
| Commonwealth supported students |
Australian citizens and
Permanent humanitarian visa holders |
Commonwealth contribution
20 per cent HECS-HELP discount for:
- full up front payments, or
- partial up front payments of $500 or more.
|
Student contribution |
Three payment options:
- HECS-HELP loan
- full up front payment (inc. 20 per cent discount)
- partial up front payment (inc. 20 per cent discount for payment of $500 or more) and
HECS-HELP loan
OS-HELP loan for overseas study.
See also:
HECS-HELP
OS-HELP
|
|
New Zealand citizens and
Other permanent visa holders |
Commonwealth contribution |
Student contribution |
No loans - full up front payment only.
See also:
Payment options and HECS-HELP
|
| Fee paying (non-Commonwealth supported) students |
Australian citizens and
Permanent humanitarian visa holders
|
No contribution |
Tuition fees |
- FEE-HELP loan
- Full or partial up front payment
|
New Zealand citizens and
Other permanent visa holders
|
No contribution |
Tuition fees |
No loans - full up front payment only.
Eligible permanent visa holders may receive a FEE-HELP loan for bridging study for overseas-trained professionals.
See also: FEE-HELP |
| Overseas students |
Foreign citizens who do not hold an Australian permanent visa
Temporary visa holders
Provisional visa holders
|
No contribution |
Overseas student fees |
No loans.
See also: Overseas students |
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