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FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that helps eligible fee paying students pay their tuition fee. There are three ways students may pay tuition fees:
- pay the full tuition fee up front
- receive a FEE-HELP loan for the full tuition fee
- pay some of the tuition fee up front and receive a FEE-HELP loan for the remainder of the tuition fee.
You can borrow up to the amount of the tuition fee charged for your unit of study. However, over your lifetime you can borrow only up to the FEE-HELP limit. In 2012, the FEE-HELP limit is A$112,134 for medicine, dentisty and veterinary science students. For all other students the FEE-HELP limit is A$89,706. This amount is indexed each year.
Eligible students must submit a Request for FEE-HELP assistance form for each program in which they wish to access a FEE-HELP loan. Forms are available from Student Administration.
From 1 January 2011 a 25 percent loan fee applies to undergraduate courses deferred to a FEE-HELP loan. This loan fee was previously 20 percent. Students who submit or have already submitted a Request for FEE-HELP Assistance form indicating the 20 percent loan fee will be considered to have completed a valid form and will be subject to the increased percentage.
FEE-HELP loans are included in accumulated HELP debts and repayments start when your repayment income is above the minimum compulsory threshold. This threshold is adjusted each year and in 2012 is $47,195. Details on repaying your accumulated HELP debt is available in FEE-HELP information booklets available from Student Administration and electronic versions are available on the study assist website.
Who is eligible?
Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa enrolled in an accredited postgraduate award program are eligible for FEE-HELP assistance.
FEE-HELP is not available to New Zealand citizens and holders of other permanent visas. These students must pay their program fees up front.
More information
Detailed information on FEE-HELP is available on the study assist website.