Study loans, government loans, student loans... whatever you call them, they’re here to help. Get to know the interest-free loans available to higher education students.
Not sure where to begin?
Talk to a student advisor to get one-on-one advice.
Book a free consultationIntroducing the Australian Government's Higher Education Loan Program—HELP
Access the same funding support as on-campus students. The Australian Government's Higher Education Loan Program, also known as “HELP”.
HELP gives eligible students a loan to pay all or part of their tuition fees. When you study through OUA, there’s two HELP loans that might apply to you: HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP.
- HECS-HELP: if you’re considering an undergraduate degree, you might have access to a HECS-HELP loan. These loans are for Commonwealth supported place (CSP) students.
- FEE-HELP: if you’re considering studying only a couple of subjects, you might have access to a FEE-HELP loan. They're also great for postgraduate study.
Answers to your questions about student loans
How can I pay for my studies?
You can pay upfront with your credit card or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
What do student loans pay for?
These student loans are here to help you pay for your tuition fees.
Keep in mind that they don’t cover additional costs like textbooks, stationery, admin fees for making changes like withdrawing from subjects, or study preparation courses.
Are student loans unlimited?
These loans are not unlimited. But, the good news is, if you reach the limit, you can top-up by making repayments.
Once you’ve reduced your debt, you’ll be able to re-borrow when you’re ready to continue your studies.
Will I have to pay interest?
Unlike bank loans, HELP loans are interest-free. But, HELP loans are affected by indexation. Indexation is like interest and it can be applied to your HELP debt under certain conditions. For more information, check Study Assist’s indexation and loan increases page.
HECS-HELP
Student loans for undergraduate degrees.
If you're eligible, the Australian Government pays for some of your studies, and gives you a loan to pay for the rest.
You’ll repay your HECS-HELP loan through the tax system when you’re working full-time and earning over a certain amount. Visit Study Assist to find out more about repaying your loan. To help you understand what your repayments might be after your income is over the threshold, use the ATO’s Study and training support loans repayment calculator.
HECS-HELP eligibility
To be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you must:
- Be enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place.
- Be an Australian citizen who will study part of their course in Australia,
OR be an eligible New Zealand Special Category Visa holder or a permanent humanitarian visa holder (or eligible former) and will live in Australia for the entire course. - Be enrolled correctly and submit your HECS-HELP form by the census date.
- Have a tax file number (TFN) or have applied for one.
Do you have questions about your eligibility for a HELP loan? Visit StudyAssist for more information.
HECS-HELP applications
If you want to apply for HECS-HELP, the process begins online when you’re applying for your degree. You’ll need to make sure you choose to apply for your degree as a Commonwealth supported place student, instead of just studying a single subject. Make sure you’ve met your degree's application requirements before the close of application date.
Commonwealth supported places are available for many undergraduate degrees through OUA. However, make sure you check entry requirements on the degree detail page as they can vary for different degrees.
More information
- Contact a student advisor.
- Visit Study Assist.
- Explore our Finances and Centrelink FAQ.
- Download the HECS-HELP information booklet or fact sheet.
FEE-HELP
Student loans for postgraduate degrees, as well as single subjects.
If you're eligible, the Australian Government will offer you a loan to cover the cost of your postgraduate course, or single subjects if you're not studying a full degree. FEE-HELP is the funding option to consider if you're studying an undergraduate subject or two, or applying for postgraduate study.
You’ll repay your FEE-HELP loan through the tax system when you’re working full-time and earning over a certain amount. Visit StudyAssist to find out more about repaying your loan. To help you understand what your repayments might be after your income is over the threshold, use the ATO’s Study and training support loans repayment calculator.
FEE-HELP eligibility
To be eligible for FEE-HELP, you must:
- Be an Australian who studies some of their course while living in Australia,
OR be an eligible New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder and will live in Australia for the entire course,
OR be a permanent humanitarian visa holder (or eligible former) and will live in Australia for the entire course,
OR be a permanent resident who is undertaking approved bridging studies and will live in Australia for the study. - Undertake an approved course, at a FEE-HELP approved provider.
- Enrol and submit the FEE-HELP form (known as an eCAF) by the census date.
- Have a tax file number (TFN) or have applied for one.
You’ll also need to stick to a 50% pass rate to remain eligible for FEE-HELP once you’ve undertaken eight or more subjects.
Do you have questions about your eligibility for a HELP loan? Visit StudyAssist for more information.
FEE-HELP applications
If you want to apply for FEE-HELP, the process begins when you enrol in your subjects.
If you're an Australian citizen with a tax file number, you can apply for FEE-HELP online. If you don’t have a TFN or you’re not an Australian citizen, you’ll need to fill out a hard-copy FEE-HELP form and provide supporting documentation—for example, a copy of your visa.
If you can’t complete an online FEE-HELP application, ask a student advisor to send a form in the mail.
Commonwealth Assistance Notices (CAN)
If you use FEE-HELP to cover all or part of your subject fees, you’ll receive a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN). Your CAN statement is issued electronically within 28 days of the census date, and contains info about your enrolment and use of FEE-HELP. Visit our Finances and Centrelink FAQ to find out more about these notices.
More information
- Contact a student advisor.
- Visit StudyAssist.
- Explore our Finances and Centrelink FAQ.
- Download the FEE-HELP information booklet or fact sheet.
Advice and insights on the costs of study
How does HECS work? The ultimate guide
If you’re thinking about enrolling in a uni course, you’ve no doubt considered getting a HECS-HELP loan. But how the HECS does the scheme actually work? Here's everything you need to know.
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We're here to guide you there
Our student advisors can assist you with enrolment, help you plan your studies, and answer questions about how studying through Open Universities Australia can get you from where you are today, to where you want to be tomorrow.