What loans are available?
You may be eligible for a government loan to help you cover the cost of your tuition fees. Depending on your course, the loan scheme you're eligible for might change. Make sure you check your fees information when you enrol.
Government loans are not available for international students.
HECS-HELP
HECS-HELP is a loan scheme that can help you pay the fees for most of our undergraduate courses, and postgraduate courses where you're offered a Commonwealth-supported place.
FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that can help you pay for the fees for most of our postgraduate courses, and undergraduate courses where you're studying over the summer period.
SA-HELP
An SA-HELP loan can cover the student services and amenities fees. It’s subject to the same conditions as HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP.
You don’t need to have taken out any other kind of HELP loan to be eligible for SA-HELP. If you do have another HELP loan, the SA-HELP amount will be added to your total HELP debt.
StudyAssist
Government advice on HELP loans and your eligibility, including a new 24/7 chatbot.
What loans are available?
Students may be eligible for a government loan to help them cover the cost of their tuition fees. Depending on their course, the loan scheme they're eligible for might change. Make sure to check the fees information when they enrol.
HECS-HELP
HECS-HELP is a loan scheme that can help students pay the fees for most of our undergraduate courses, and postgraduate courses where they're offered a Commonwealth-supported place.
FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that can help students pay the fees for most of our postgraduate courses, and undergraduate courses where they're studying over the summer period.
SA-HELP
An SA-HELP loan can cover the student services and amenities fees. It’s subject to the same conditions as HECS-HELP.
Students don’t need to have taken out any other kind of HELP loan to be eligible for SA-HELP. If they do have another HELP loan, the SA-HELP amount will be added to their total HELP debt.
Find out more about SA-HELP loans via the StudyAssist website
Study Assist
Government advice on HELP loans and your eligibility, including a new 24/7 chatbot.
What loans are available?
You may be eligible for a government loan to help you cover the cost of your tuition fees. Depending on your course, the loan scheme you're eligible for might change. Make sure you check your fees information when you enrol.
Government loans are not available for international students.
HECS-HELP
HECS-HELP is a loan scheme that can help you pay the fees for most of our undergraduate courses, and postgraduate courses where you're offered a Commonwealth-supported place.
FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that can help you pay for the fees for most of our postgraduate courses, and undergraduate courses where you're studying over the summer period.
SA-HELP
An SA-HELP loan can cover the student services and amenities fees. It’s subject to the same conditions as HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP.
You don’t need to have taken out any other kind of HELP loan to be eligible for SA-HELP. If you do have another HELP loan, the SA-HELP amount will be added to your total HELP debt.
Find out more about SA-HELP loans via the StudyAssist website
How does it work?
You can choose to:
- take out a loan that covers all your fees
- pay part of your fees and take a loan for the rest
- not take out a loan and pay all of your fees upfront.
You pay each semester for the units you’re enrolled in.
You don’t have to repay your HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP or SA-SELP loan until your income reaches a certain level. As your income increases, you pay a larger percentage of your income towards your debt. The amount you have to pay is calculated by the Australian Tax Office each year.
How does it work?
You can choose to:
- take out a loan that covers all your fees
- pay part of your fees and take a loan for the rest
- not take out a loan and pay all of your fees upfront.
You pay each semester for the units you’re enrolled in.
You don’t have to repay your HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan until your income reaches a certain level. As your income increases, you pay a larger percentage of your income towards your debt. The amount you have to pay is calculated by the Australian Tax Office each year.
How does it work?
You can choose to:
- take out a loan that covers all your fees
- pay part of your fees and take a loan for the rest
- not take out a loan and pay all of your fees upfront.
You pay each semester for the units you’re enrolled in.
You don’t have to repay your HELP loan until your income reaches a certain level. As your income increases, you pay a larger percentage of your income towards your debt. The amount you have to pay is calculated by the Australian Tax Office each year.
How does it work?
Students can choose to:
- take out a loan that covers all their fees
- pay part of their fees and take a loan for the rest
- not take out a loan and pay all of their fees upfront.
They must pay each semester for the units they’re enrolled in.
Students don’t have to repay a HELP loan until their income reaches a certain level. As their income increases, they then pay a larger percentage of their income towards the debt. The amount they have to pay is calculated by the Australian Tax Office each year.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible, you must have accepted either a:
- Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
- full-fee tuition place in any university course.
You must also be either an Australian citizen, hold a permanent humanitarian visa or hold a Pacific Engagement Visa (from 1 February 2024) and be living in Australia for the duration of your course.
I’m from New Zealand
If you hold a special category visa, you might be able to apply for a HELP loan if you meet the eligibility requirements. Find out more about HELP loans for New Zealand students via StudyAssist.
Do I have a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)?
All of our undergraduate bachelor degrees offer CSP for domestic students. Some of our postgraduate courses also offer CSP for domestic students. You can check your course’s fees and costs to make sure.
A CSP means that the government pays part of the cost of your course, and you pay the rest (either up-front or deferred via a HECS-HELP loan). The part that you pay is available on your course’s fees and costs information. We call this your ‘student contribution.’
Do I have a full-fee tuition place?
Most of our postgraduate courses are full-fee tuition courses. That means that you pay the full cost of your course (either up-front or deferred via a FEE-HELP loan). You can check your course fees information to make sure.
Unique Student Identifier (USI)
From 1 January 2023, to be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place, HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, SA-HELP or OS-HELP (Commonwealth assistance), all higher education students, including those who commenced prior to 2021, will need to provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI). New students will need to provide their USI on their Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF). Current students can provide their USI to QUT by submitting a Unique Student Identifier form.
Students can apply for a USI online at the Australian Government website. It is free and quick to apply but you will need to provide proof of identity.
The USI is a reference number that creates an online record of all your Australian training and qualifications. It stays with students for life and gives them access to an online record of your nationally recognised training in the form of a USI Transcript. Students may already have a USI if you have undertaken any nationally recognised training, for example a Certificate or Diploma through TAFE.
By 2023, all tertiary students, including international students, will need to have a USI to be able to graduate from university.
Am I a domestic student?
Domestic students include:
- Australian citizens
- permanent visa holders (including permanent humanitarian visas and Pacific Engagement Visas [from 1 February 2024])
- New Zealand citizens (including Pasifika peoples who came to Australia as New Zealand citizens).
Am I eligible?
To be eligible, you must have accepted either a:
- Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
- full-fee tuition place in any university course.
You must also be either an Australian citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa and be living in Australia for the duration of your course.
I’m from New Zealand
If you hold a special category visa, you might be able to apply for a HELP loan if you meet the eligibility requirements. Find out more about HELP loans for New Zealand students via StudyAssist.
Do I have a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)?
All of our undergraduate bachelor degrees offer CSP for domestic students. Some of our postgraduate courses also offer CSP for domestic students. You can check your course’s fees and costs to make sure.
A CSP means that the government pays part of the cost of your course, and you pay the rest (either up-front or deferred via a HECS-HELP loan). The part that you pay is available on your course’s fees and costs information. We call this your ‘student contribution.’
Do I have a full-fee tuition place?
Most of our postgraduate courses are full-fee tuition courses. That means that you pay the full cost of your course (either up-front or deferred via a FEE-HELP loan). You can check your course fees information to make sure.
Unique Student Identifier (USI)
From 1 January 2023, to be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place, HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, SA-HELP or OS-HELP (Commonwealth assistance), all higher education students, including those who commenced prior to 2021, will need to provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI). New students will need to provide their USI on their Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF). Current students can provide their USI to QUT by submitting a Unique Student Identifier form.
Students can apply for a USI online at the Australian Government website. It is free and quick to apply but you will need to provide proof of identity.
The USI is a reference number that creates an online record of all your Australian training and qualifications. It stays with students for life and gives them access to an online record of your nationally recognised training in the form of a USI Transcript. Students may already have a USI if you have undertaken any nationally recognised training, for example a Certificate or Diploma through TAFE.
By 2023, all tertiary students, including international students, will need to have a USI to be able to graduate from university.
Am I a domestic student?
Domestic students include:
- Australian citizens
- permanent visa holders (including permanent humanitarian visas)
- New Zealand citizens (including Pasifika peoples who came to Australia as New Zealand citizens).
Am I eligible?
To be eligible, you must have accepted a Commonwealth supported place (CSP). You must also be either an Australian citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa and be living in Australia for the duration of your course.
I’m from New Zealand
If you hold a special category visa, you might be able to apply for a HELP loan if you meet the eligibility requirements. Find out more about HELP loans for New Zealand students via StudyAssist.
Do I have a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)?
All of our undergraduate bachelor degrees offer CSP for domestic students. You can check your course’s fees and costs to make sure.
A CSP means that the government pays part of the cost of your course, and you pay the rest (either up-front or deferred via a HECS-HELP loan). The part that you pay is available on your course’s fees and costs information. We call this your ‘student contribution.’
Do I have a full-fee tuition place?
Most of our postgraduate courses are full-fee tuition courses. That means that you pay the full cost of your course (either up-front or deferred via a FEE-HELP loan). You can check your course fees information to make sure.
Unique Student Identifier (USI)
From 1 January 2023, to be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place, HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, SA-HELP or OS-HELP (Commonwealth assistance), all higher education students, including those who commenced prior to 2021, will need to provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI). New students will need to provide their USI on their Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF). Current students can provide their USI to QUT by submitting a Unique Student Identifier form.
Students can apply for a USI online at the Australian Government website. It is free and quick to apply but you will need to provide proof of identity.
The USI is a reference number that creates an online record of all your Australian training and qualifications. It stays with students for life and gives them access to an online record of your nationally recognised training in the form of a USI Transcript. Students may already have a USI if you have undertaken any nationally recognised training, for example a Certificate or Diploma through TAFE.
By 2023, all tertiary students, including international students, will need to have a USI to be able to graduate from university.
Am I a domestic student?
Domestic students include:
- Australian citizens
- permanent visa holders (including permanent humanitarian visas)
- New Zealand citizens (including Pasifika peoples who came to Australia as New Zealand citizens).
Eligibility
To be eligible, students must have accepted a Commonwealth supported place (CSP). They must also be either an Australian citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa and be living in Australia for the duration of the course.
Students from New Zealand
If New Zealand students hold a special category visa, they might be able to apply for a HELP loan if they meet the eligibility requirements. Find out more about HELP loans for New Zealand students via StudyAssist.
Commonwealth supported places (CSP)
All of our undergraduate bachelor degrees offer CSP for domestic students. Check a course’s fees and costs to make sure.
A CSP means that the government pays part of the cost of a course, and the students pays the rest (either up-front or deferred via a HECS-HELP loan). The part that students pay is available on the course’s fees and costs information. We call this a ‘student contribution.’
Full-fee tuition placement
Most of our postgraduate courses are full-fee tuition courses. That means that students pay the full cost of their course (either up-front or deferred via a FEE-HELP loan). Students can check their course fees information to make sure.
Unique Student Identifier (USI)
From 1 January 2023, to be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place, HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, SA-HELP or OS-HELP (Commonwealth assistance), all higher education students, including those who commenced prior to 2021, will need to provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI). New students will need to provide their USI on their Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF). Current students can provide their USI to QUT by submitting a Unique Student Identifier form.
Students can apply for a USI online at the Australian Government website. It is free and quick to apply but you will need to provide proof of identity.
The USI is a reference number that creates an online record of all your Australian training and qualifications. It stays with students for life and gives them access to an online record of your nationally recognised training in the form of a USI Transcript. Students may already have a USI if you have undertaken any nationally recognised training, for example a Certificate or Diploma through TAFE.
By 2023, all tertiary students, including international students, will need to have a USI to be able to graduate from university.
What is a domestic student?
Domestic students include:
- Australian citizens
- permanent visa holders (including permanent humanitarian visas)
- New Zealand citizens (including Pasifika peoples who came to Australia as New Zealand citizens).
How do I apply for a loan?
You can apply for HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP or SA-HELP once you’ve been offered a place in your course and accepted.
I’ve had a HELP loan before
There is a limit to the amount you can borrow under the combined HELP scheme. You must make sure that you have enough balance left for your new course. You can check your HELP balance through the myHELPbalance portal.
Legislation changes that affect HELP loans
The 2018 Student Loan Sustainability Act changes the arrangements for all Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans.
Combined HELP loan limit
From 1 January 2020, a combined HELP loan limit will replace the FEE-HELP limit and will include HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans.
Only new HECS-HELP debts incurred from 1 January 2020 will be counted towards the limit.
Any existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans taken out before 2020 will count towards your new HELP balance.
Renewable HELP balance
From 1 January 2020, you can top up your HELP balance by making repayments on your debt.
Repayments starting from the 2019-20 income year will top up your HELP balance. When the Australian Taxation Office checks your tax return and issues you with a notice of assessment, they will inform the department of any repayments you made on your HELP debt. These repayments will credit your HELP balance and can be re-borrowed in the future, up to the current HELP loan limit of $108,232 for most students ($109,206 in 2022).
How do I apply for a loan?
You can apply for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP once you’ve been offered a place in your course and accepted.
I’ve had a FEE-HELP loan before
There is a limit to the amount you can borrow under the FEE-HELP scheme. You must make sure that you have enough balance left for your new course. You can check your FEE-HELP balance through myUniAssist.
Legislation changes that affect HELP loans
The 2018 Student Loan Sustainability Act changes the arrangements for all Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans.
Combined HELP loan limit
From 1 January 2020, a combined HELP loan limit will replace the FEE-HELP limit and will include HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans.
Only new HECS-HELP debts incurred from 1 January 2020 will be counted towards the limit.
Any existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans taken out before 2020 will count towards your new HELP balance.
Renewable HELP balance
From 1 January 2020, you can top up your HELP balance by making repayments on your debt.
Repayments starting from the 2019-20 income year will top up your HELP balance. When the Australian Taxation Office checks your tax return and issues you with a notice of assessment, they will inform the department of any repayments you made on your HELP debt. These repayments will credit your HELP balance and can be re-borrowed in the future, up to the current HELP loan limit of $108,232 for most students ($109,206 in 2022).
How do I apply for a loan?
You can apply for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP once you’ve been offered a place in your course and accepted.
You'll get instructions on how to apply for a loan once you've accepted your offer.
Legislation changes that affect HELP loans
The 2018 Student Loan Sustainability Act changes the arrangements for all Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans.
Combined HELP loan limit
From 1 January 2020, a combined HELP loan limit will replace the FEE-HELP limit and will include HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans.
Only new HECS-HELP debts incurred from 1 January 2020 will be counted towards the limit.
Any existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans taken out before 2020 will count towards your new HELP balance.
Renewable HELP balance
From 1 January 2020, you can top up your HELP balance by making repayments on your debt.
Repayments starting from the 2019-20 income year will top up your HELP balance. When the Australian Taxation Office checks your tax return and issues you with a notice of assessment, they will inform the department of any repayments you made on your HELP debt. These repayments will credit your HELP balance and can be re-borrowed in the future, up to the current HELP loan limit of $108,232 for most students ($109,206 in 2022).
How do students apply for a loan?
Students can apply for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP once they’ve been offered a place in a course and accepted.
Students will receive instructions on how to apply for a loan once they've accepted their offer.
Legislation changes that affect HELP loans
The 2018 Student Loan Sustainability Act changes the arrangements for all Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans.
Combined HELP loan limit
From 1 January 2020, a combined HELP loan limit will replace the FEE-HELP limit and will include HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans.
Only new HECS-HELP debts incurred from 1 January 2020 will be counted towards the limit.
Any existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans taken out before 2020 will count towards your new HELP balance.
Renewable HELP balance
From 1 January 2020, you can top up your HELP balance by making repayments on your debt.
Repayments starting from the 2019-20 income year will top up your HELP balance. When the Australian Taxation Office checks your tax return and issues you with a notice of assessment, they will inform the department of any repayments you made on your HELP debt. These repayments will credit your HELP balance and can be re-borrowed in the future, up to the current HELP loan limit of $108,232 for most students ($109,206 in 2022).