OS-HELP

OS-HELP is a Commonwealth Government loan scheme to assist eligible undergraduate, Commonwealth supported students to undertake part of their course of study overseas. University of Adelaide students can use the scheme to study in an overseas institution, and have that study count towards their University of Adelaide degree. Most, but not all, overseas study is through student exchange.

Eligible students can receive two OS-HELP loans over their lifetime. Each loan relates to a given six month period. You can receive OS-HELP for overseas study periods of less than six months but you cannot receive an OS-HELP loan more than once in a given six month period. Your six month period is taken to commence on the first day that you commence your overseas study and end six months from the commencement date

Loan Amount

OS-HELP can be used for expenses such as airfares, accommodation, and other travel or study expenses.

The maximum OS-HELP loan amount in 2010 was $5,523.

Loan Fee

From 2010 students receiving OS-HELP will no longer be required to pay the loan fee of 20%.

Loan Repayment

Your OS-HELP debt is added to any accumulated HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP debt and can be repaid through:

• the tax system when your repayment income exceeds the minimum repayment threshold
• voluntary repayments direct to the Australian Taxation Office.

[Source: the Commonwealth Government’s Going to Uni website.]

Eligibility

Commonwealth Government Requirements

A number of eligibility requirements are strictly specified by the Commonwealth Government.

[Source: the Commonwealth Government’s Going to Uni website]

University of Adelaide Requirements

In addition to these requirements, students planning to study overseas on a student exchange must meet the University’s criteria for its Adelaide Abroad student exchange program, as set out on the Adelaide Abroad website, and be selected for that program. Students studying overseas under other arrangements will need to meet the entry requirements of the overseas institution.

Selection for a student exchange is based on academic merit, with a minimum credit average required, and an evaluation of your reasons for wanting to participate in the exchange program.

Applying for OS-HELP

The University’s Policy on OS-HELP is set out below. [Compliance requirement, OS-HELP Guidelines, s.2.5]

Application Procedure

For students in University of Adelaide exchange programs

1. Initiate your application for an OS-HELP loan to support your Adelaide Abroad study by checking the relevant box on the Adelaide Abroad application form.
2. If you are selected as an Adelaide Abroad student, the University, through its International Office, will check that you meet the Australian Government’s eligibility criteria for OS-HELP assistance.
3. Subject to the availability of loans, if the University determines that you meet all the provisions for entitlement to OS-HELP assistance, it will approve the loan. If the number of OS-HELP applications received by the specified application date exceeds the number of loans available, the University will allocate the loans on the basis of academic merit.
   (Note: to date, the number of applications has never exceeded the number of loans available.)
4. If you are selected, the University’s International Office will provide you with the Australian Government’s OS-HELP Debt Confirmation form, assist you to obtain the necessary Faculty or School statements that your overseas study will count towards your University of Adelaide academic program, and assist with processing the loan.
5. You must then complete the OS-HELP Debt Confirmation form, including providing your Tax File Number (as issued by the Australian Taxation Office) and return it to the International Office or the Student Centre.

For students engaging in a non-exchange program of study overseas

1. Obtain an OS-HELP Debt Confirmation Form from the Student Centre, level 4, Wills Building.
2. Return the completed form to the International Office, level 5, Oliphant Building.
3. Subject to the availability of loans, if the University determines that you meet all the provisions for entitlement to OS-HELP assistance, it will approve the loan. If the number of OS-HELP applications received by the specified application date exceeds the number of loans available, the University will allocate the loans on the basis of academic merit. (Note: to date, the number of applications has never exceeded the number of loans available.)

If you are selected, the University’s International Office will assist you to obtain the necessary Faculty or School statements that your overseas study will count towards your University of Adelaide academic program, and assist with processing the loan.

Receiving the Loan

Payment

Loans cannot be paid to approved applicants earlier than six weeks before the commencement of the study period. Payment will be made into your nominated bank account as soon as possible after your application has been approved within this six-week timeframe.

You are deemed to have incurred an OS-HELP debt  on the day that you receive your loan.

In general, the University will not finalise the payment of your loan until it receives confirmation that you have been accepted into the overseas institution.

Withdrawing from the Loan

Before you are Paid

If you no longer meet the eligibility criteria for an OS-HELP loan after your OS-HELP application is approved but before you are paid, the University will withdraw your loan approval. Not meeting the eligibility criteria includes not being accepted into an overseas institution or changing your mind about studying overseas.

If it is determined that you have provided false or misleading information in respect of your OS-HELP application before you are paid, the University will withdraw your loan approval.

After you have been Paid

If you no longer meet the eligibility criteria after your OS-HELP application is approved and after you are paid: the debt has already been incurred and you can only repay this through the Australian Taxation Office. Not meeting the eligibility criteria includes not being accepted into an overseas institution or changing your mind about studying overseas.

If it is determined that you have provided false or misleading information after your OS-HELP application is approved and after you are paid, the University must notify the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations immediately.

Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)

Once you have received an OS-HELP loan, your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) will include information about this loan, as well as your

• Student Learning Entitlement usage
• Student Contributions
• HECS-HELP assistance.

Grievances about University OS-HELP decisions

Students may raise grievances about OS-HELP decisions in accord with the Student Complaints Policy.

[This page is compliant with the Commonwealth Government’s OS-HELP Guidelines 2009.]