What is a student loan?
A HELP Loan or VET Student Loan (VSL) is an Australian Government loan that helps pay part or all of the cost of your studies. If you are eligible and have provided your Tax File Number (TFN) and a verified Unique Student Identifier (USI), your fees will defer to a loan after each census date. You begin to pay your loan back through the tax system once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold or you can make voluntary repayments to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) at any time.
Am I eligible?
Your eligibility depends on criteria such as your citizenship status, and whether you're studying an undergraduate, postgraduate or vocational education unit. To find out what government assistance is available to you, visit Study Assist.
| Student citizenship status | Eligibility | Please refer to additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Citizen | Yes with conditions | Learn more |
| Australian Permanent Resident | No | |
| Humanitarian Visa Holder | Yes with conditions | Learn more |
| New Zealand Citizen | To confirm eligibility, please contact Student Central | Learn more |
| Pacific Engagement Visa Holder | Yes with conditions | Learn more |
| International student/Temporary Visa Holder | No |
How do I apply for a loan?
To find out further information select a type of loan from below.
HECS-HELP
HECS-HELP loan to cover Commonwealth supported place (CSP) student contribution amounts.
FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP loan to cover Full Fee-Paying Place tuition.
SA-HELP
SA-HELP loan to cover Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
OS-HELP
OS-HELP loan to cover study abroad or exchange course expenses.
VET Student Loan
VET Student Loan to help pay tuition fees for approved TAFE units.
Managing your HELP loan
Your HELP debt and your available HELP balance are different.
Check your HELP debt
Your HELP debt is the total amount of your HELP loans to date and what you must repay. To check how much you owe and see any repayments made to your HELP loan:
- log in to your myGov account and navigate to the Australian Taxation Office site
- select Tax, then Accounts, then Loan accounts.
Available HELP balance
Your HELP balance is the amount you have available to borrow through HELP loans. See your available HELP balance using the steps below.
- Go to the myHELPbalance portal and sign in with your myID (also used to access your myGov account).
- The first time you sign in to the portal, you will be asked to link your student record to your digital ID. Have your student details ready and your Unique Student Identifier (USI) or Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN).
If you don't have a digital ID, you can set up your myID. Make sure to boost your identity strength to at least Standard ID strength to access most online government services, including myGov and myHELPbalance.
Please note that the myHELPbalance portal does not:
- show how much you owe
- show loan fees or indexation on your debt
- include any debts incurred before 2005.
Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)
A CAN will be issued to students within 28 days of the census date. This notice will detail the units you are enrolled in for the study period and any Commonwealth Assistance you accessed, either through a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or a HELP loan. You can use the CAN to verify the amounts listed against your HELP debt to ensure accuracy. A CAN is issued when students:
- are enrolled in a CSP, regardless of whether you choose to pay upfront or take out a loan or
- elect to take out a FEE-HELP, SA-HELP or VET Student Loan.
The University is legally obligated to provide you with a CAN.