Financial help for domestic students while studying

This page includes information for domestic university students related to the financial support available when studying.

For domestic student fees, please visit Domestic student fees.

For international student fees, please visit International fees.

For VET Program fees, please visit  VET fees and census dates.

Government help to pay for your studies

• HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP

  The Australian Government helps students pay for their studies through two schemes: HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP. If you’re eligible, you’ll be able to defer the payment of your fees and pay them back (plus indexation) once you’re employed and earning over the threshold.

  Who’s eligible for HECS-HELP?

  • Be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place.
  • Be an Australian citizen and meet the residency requirements (you must study at least part of your course in Australia),

  or,

  • Be a New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder or permanent humanitarian visa holder and meet the residency requirements.
  • Submit the Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form to your provider by the census date.

  Who’s eligible for FEE-HELP:

  • Be enrolled in a non-CSP place
  • Be an Australian citizen and study at least part of your course in Australia,

  or,

  • Be a New Zealand Special Category visa (SCV) holder or permanent humanitarian visa holder and meet certain residency requirements.
  • Submit the Request for FEE-HELP form to your provider by the census date.

  How do I apply?

  If you are eligible you can apply for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP using an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF).

  For more information about HECS, including current repayment thresholds and loan limits, please visit  www.studyassist.gov.au.

• Commonwealth Supported Places

  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at university where the government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back.

  This subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  Who’s eligible?

  CSPs are offered to eligible undergraduate students within certain programs. Most post-graduate places are non-CSP places, however, a limited number of CSPs are available in select post-graduate courses.

  To be eligible for a CSP, you must be one of the following:

  • An Australian citizen, who will live and study in Australia for some of the course; or
  • A New Zealand citizen, who will live and study in Australia for the whole course; or
  • A permanent visa holder, who will live and study in Australia for the whole course AND
  • Be considered a genuine student. This requirement sets broad expectations in terms of students’ engagement with their course and associated administrative requirements including:
    • Engaging with study
    • Completing assessment tasks
    • Maintaining current and accurate details with their provider

  How to apply

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you don’t need to apply.

• eCAF

  To defer payment of your tuition fees through HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP you’ll need to complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF), even if you’re paying your fees upfront. An invitation to complete an eCAF will be emailed to you after you’ve accepted your offer.

  Head to the Fees and payments page for more details.

Financial help for students while studying

• Austudy/Abstudy/Youth allowance

  The government provides financial payments to help students while studying.

  There are eligibility requirements you’ll need to meet including meeting residency rules, income and asset tests and completing an approved course.

  To learn more about whether you’re eligible, contact Centrelink on 13 10 21 or visit the website for further information.

• Financial hardship support

  For information on financial hardship support, including the Student Hardship Assistance Fund, see the Financial hardship support page.