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Higher Education Loan Program

The Commonwealth Government offers a number of loans called HELP - Higher Education Loan Program. HELP loans are very different from loans available from commercial lenders. You don't require a deposit, an employment history, assets, income or guarantor.

There are 3 types of HELP loans:

  1. HECS-HELP  assists eligible Commonwealth supported students to defer their Student Contribution Charge.
  2. FEE-HELP  available to students in fee-paying places who are Australian citizens or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa. (transitional arrangements are in place for pre-2005 students)
  3. OS-HELP  available to Undergraduate Commonwealth supported students wishing to study overseas who need help with general costs.
  4. All HELP loans are repaid via the taxation system once your income reaches a certain level.

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

HECS-HELP provides eligible Commonwealth supported students with assistance in paying their Student Contribution Charge. It provides a loan to cover their Student Contribution and/or a discount if they choose to pay all or at least $500 of their Student Contribution up-front before the Census Date of the semester.

Not all Commonwealth supported student are eligible for HECS-HELP.

 

Pre-2005 students  eligibility for HECS-HELP

The student must be:

  • classified as a pre-2005 student**
  • an Australian citizen
  • a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia
  • a Australian permanent resident**

The student must complete by the Census date:

  • a Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP pre-2005 form; and
  • provide their Tax File Number (TFN)

**If you are unsure of your pre-2005 status, please contact Student Administration to discuss.

##Permanent residents are subject to certain residency requirements.

Transitional arrangements for pre- 2005 students will remain in place until 31 December 2008.

　

Students commencing in 2006 ?eligibility for HECS-HELP

  • The student must be:a Commonwealth supported student
  • an Australian citizen, or
  • the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa

The student must also complete by the Census date:

  • a Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form; and
  • provide their Tax File Number (TFN)

New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place are not eligible for HECS-HELP. They must pay their total Student Contribution Charge by the Census date and do not receive a discount.

　

HECS-HELP payment options:

  • pay 80% of the Student Contribution Charge by the Census date and receive 20% discount, or
  • defer the entire Student Contribution Charge by taking up a HECS-HELP loan by the Census date, or
  • make a partial payment of $500 or more and defer the balance by taking up a HECS-HELP loan. You will receive 20% discount on any payment made by the Census date.

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP provides a loan to eligible fee-paying undergraduate or postgraduate students.

Students may borrow for their tuition fees only. Over their lifetime, a student will be able to borrow a maximum of $50,000, indexed by the CPI. The 2006 indexed amount is $50,950.

Eligibility requirements for FEE-HELP depends on whether a student is classified as a pre-2005 student or whether they commenced in either 2005 or 2006.

　

Pre-2005 students  eligibility for FEE-HELP

The student must be:

  • enrolled in a postgraduate program and have incurred a PELS debt before January 1 2005
  • an Australian citizen
  • a Australian permanent resident**

The student must also complete by the Census date:

  • a Request for FEE-HELP assistance pre-2005 form; and
  • provide their Tax File Number (TFN)
**Permanent residents are subject to certain residency requirements. Please contact your Student Centre to discuss.

A 20% loan fee applies to FEE-HELP loans taken out by undergraduate fee-paying students (there is no loan fee for postgraduate students). This means that if you are an undergraduate student, and you borrow $10,000, you will owe the Commonwealth Government $12,000. The loan fee does not count towards the borrowing limit of $50,000.

Transitional arrangements for pre-2005 students will remain in place until 31 December 2008.

　

Students commencing in 2006 ?eligibility for FEE-HELP

The student must be:

  • an Australian citizen, or
  • a holder of a permanent humanitarian visa

The student must also complete by the Census date:

  • a Request for FEE-HELP assistance form; and
  • provide their Tax File Number (TFN)

Students commencing in 2006 who are New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents are not eligible for FEE-HELP.

Eligibility For OS-HELP

OS-HELP provides financial assistance to eligible undergraduate Commonwealth supported students who undertake part of their study overseas.

For further information on OS-HELP please contact the Griffith University International Office.

Going to Uni website - Keeping a track of your Help Loan balances

The Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) is introducing a student website which will enable students to monitor their HELP loan balance. It is called Going to Uni www.goingtouni.gov.au

The Going to Uni website is the responsibility of DEST, not your university. All enquiries relating to either Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) or HELP loans should be directed to DEST.