Settlement Guide: Five Loans to Assist Students

In Australia, 90 per cent of eligible students take up a loan to pay for university study. The federal government administers different loans schemes to assist students with their fees.

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Published 14 March 2016 3:08pm

Updated 12 August 2022 4:01pm

By Ronald Manila, Ildiko Dauda

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The Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) consists of five loan schemes:

1. HECS-HELP is a loan scheme to help eligible Commonwealth supported students to pay their student contribution amounts through a loan.

(Image: Study HELP - Australian Government)

2. FEE-HELP is a loan to help eligible fee paying students to pay their tuition fees.

(Image: The University of Sydney – Jason James CC BY 2.1)

3. SA-HELP is a loan that assists eligible students to pay for all or part of their student services and amenities fee.

(Image: Student amenities – AAP)

4. OS-HELP is a loan to help eligible Commonwealth supported students pay their overseas study expenses.

(Image: Sorbonne University – Courtesy of Sorbonne)

5. VET FEE-HELP is a loan to help eligible students enrolled in higher-level vocational education and training courses at approved VET providers to pay their tuition fees.

(Image: Carpenter – AAP)

For more information about Australia's universities visit: www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au