How to apply
Special Circumstances
Time limits for applying
If you withdraw your enrolment in a unit of study after the census date, or have not completed the requirements for a unit, as a result of special circumstances you may apply to your provider to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited. Your FEE-HELP balance can only be re-credited in special circumstances.
If your FEE-HELP balance for a unit of study is re-credited, any FEE-HELP debt you have incurred for that unit will automatically be removed.
It is important to note that if you have successfully completed a unit of study, you are not eligible to apply to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited or your debt removed for that unit.
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How to apply
You need to apply to your provider to have your FEE-HELP balance for your unit(s) of study re-credited. Open Universities Australia students must apply to Open Universities Australia to have their FEE-HELP balance re-credited. Do not apply to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) or the Tax Office.
Your application must indicate the units of study for which you are seeking to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited. It must also detail the special circumstances that you believe made it impractical for you to complete those units. You should contact your provider (or Open Universities Australia) to find out how to apply.
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Special Circumstances
Your provider will re-credit your FEE-HELP balance if it is satisfied that special circumstances applied to you that:
- were beyond your control;
- did not make their full impact until on or after the census date; and
- were such that they made it impracticable for you to complete your unit(s) of study requirements.
Your provider will decide whether to re-credit your FEE-HELP balance in accordance with the requirements of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and guidelines made under that Act.
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Time limits for applying
You must make your application to your higher education provider within twelve months after your withdrawal day. Your withdrawal day is the day specified by your provider as the day your application for withdrawal of your enrolment takes effect. If you have not withdrawn your enrolment, your withdrawal day is the last day of the period in which you undertook or were to undertake the unit.
Your provider may waive the time limit for making your application to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited and your FEE-HELP debt removed if it is satisfied that it was not possible for you to apply within the time limit.
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