HECS-HELP

Deferring payment of the Student Contribution

Eligible Commonwealth-supported students are able to defer payment of their Student Contribution by obtaining a Commonwealth Government HECS-HELP loan. When your Student Contribution is deferred to a HECS-HELP loan it will be recorded as a HELP debt with the Australian Taxation Office.

Only domestic students who are Australian citizens or holders of a permanent humanitarian visa are eligible for HECS-HELP.

Repayment of a HELP debt is compulsory when your taxable income is above the minimum repayment threshold set by the Australian Government. Compulsory repayment of your HELP debt to the Australian Taxation Office is made through the Australian taxation system. The repayment thresholds can be found on the Commonwealth Government’s www.studyassist.gov.au website.

The Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form is available as part of the University’s online enrolment process. Hard copies are also available from the Information Services, Hub Central.

If you are a cross-institutional student (i.e. a student enrolled in an award program in one institution but studying a course or courses in another institution that will count towards that award), and wish to access HECS-HELP at both institutions, you must complete a Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form for each institution in which you are enrolled.

If you are a New Zealand citizen, or the holder of a Permanent Visa that is not a Permanent Humanitarian Visa, you must pay 100% of your Student Contribution for all enrolled courses on or before the due date. You are not eligible for a HECS-HELP loan and are not able to change your payment option unless you become an Australian citizen.