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FEE-HELP

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What is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme to assist eligible full fee paying students to pay their tuition fees in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. A loan fee of 20% is applied by the Commonwealth to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses of study. There is no loan fee for FEE-HELP loans for postgraduate courses. Students can choose to apply for a loan for all or part of the cost of the fee-paying course.

Students who are eligible for FEE-HELP will have three options for payment:

  • Pay the full tuition fee up-front
  • Pay part of the tuition fee up-front and request a FEE-HELP loan for the remainder of the tuition fee
  • Request a FEE-HELP loan for the full tuition fee

However, there is a maximum amount (the FEE HELP limit) that students may borrow over their lifetime through the FEE-HELP scheme. See How much can I borrow below.

Loans through the FEE-HELP scheme can only be used for tuition fees. FEE-HELP does not cover any administrative fees, accommodation or living expenses.

 

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Am I entitled to FEE-HELP?

You are entitled to FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study if you:

  • Are undertaking study at an approved higher education provider or Open Universities Australia;
  • Meet the citizenship or residency requirements
  • Are enrolled in an eligible unit of study on or before the census date for the unit and remain registered for the unit at the end of the census date;
  • Are not Commonwealth supported in relation to that unit;
  • Meet the tax file number (TFN) requirements
  • Have completed, signed and submitted a valid Request for FEE-HELP assistance form for the unit of study or the course of study of which the unit forms a part, on or before the census date and have not exceeded the FEE-HELP limit.

 

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What is an eligible unit of study?

An eligible unit of study is a subject or unit which:

  • Is part of a course of study leading to a higher education award with an approved higher education provider;
  • Is made available by a higher education provider,
  • is provided through Open Universities Australia;
  • or is part of bridging studies for overseas-trained professionals

 

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How much can I borrow?

The FEE-HELP limit places a cap on the amount that a student may borrow over their lifetime through the FEE-HELP scheme. This amount is indexed each year. From 1 January 2009 all eligible students may borrow up to $80,313 from the Commonwealth to pay their tuition fees.

 

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How do I request a FEE-HELP loan?

If you are eligible for FEE-HELP assistance, you should obtain a Request for FEE-HELP assistance form from your Faculty Administration Office. You must complete and sign the Request for FEE-HELP assistance form and return it to your Faculty Administration Office on or before the census date.

 

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What happens if I withdraw or I don't complete my studies?

Students who have completed and submitted the Request for FEE-HELP assistance form and then withdraw before the census date will not incur a FEE-HELP debt for those units you withdraw from. If you do not formally withdraw from a unit on or before the census date and you have applied for FEE-HELP, you will incur a debt with the Commonwealth for the unpaid portion of your tuition fee.

 

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When do I start repaying my FEE-HELP loan?

You will begin repaying your loan through the taxation system once your repayment income reaches the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment.

 

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Bridging study for overseas trained professionals (previously BOTPLS)

From 1 January 2005, the Bridging for Overseas-Trained Professional Loan Scheme (BOTPLS) has been replaced by FEE-HELP which provides a loan to overseas-trained professionals who are undertaking a bridging course to enable them to meet the requirements for entry to their profession in Australia.

To be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan, an overseas trained professional must:

  • Meet certain citizenship/residency requirements; and
  • Obtain an assessment statement from a relevant assessing body;and
  • Enrol in a course that relates to the assessment statement

 

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Open Universities Australia (OUA) Students

Eligible OUA students will be able to access FEE-HELP for up to the full amount of their tuition fees. No loan fee applies to FEE-HELP loans for individual units of study that are directly undertaken through OUA. However, if you are undertaking units with OUA you are not entitled to FEE-HELP if you have completed 8 or more units of study with OUA and have failed 50% or more of those units.

Eligible students undertaking studies through Open Universities Australia must complete a Request for FEE-HELP assistance Open Universities Australia (OUA) form which is available from OUA. Once completed and signed, it must be returned to OUA.

 

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Further Information

Department of Employment Education and Workplace Relations

DEEWR Enquiry line: 1800 020 108
Further information on FEE-HELP may be obtained from the Department of Employment Education and Workplace Relations.

 

Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

ATO Information line: 13 28 61
Further information about your debt and repayments may be obtained from the Australian Taxation Office.
HELA Enquiry Line: 1300 650 225
Call the Higher Education Loan Accounts (HELA) Unit for specific queries on your FEE-HELP account.

 

Qualifications Recognition

AEI-NOOSR Enquiry line: 1300 363 079
For information on matters relating specifically to the recognition of professional qualifications for overseas trained professionals.