Financial support: FEE-HELP, CSPs and higher education loan schemes

Updated on 19/12/2024

The government offers a range of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) schemes to support Australian students pursuing higher education.

Applying for a HELP loan to defer your tuition fees is a great way to cover the upfront costs of a university course.

Some universities and approved higher education providers also have a number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), where the Australian Government covers a portion of your tuition fees.

Here's what prospective students need to know about the available HELP schemes, including eligibility and how to apply.

What are the government-supported schemes?

HECS-HELP – To help Commonwealth-supported students cover their student contribution.
FEE-HELP – To help full fee-paying students cover their fees.
SA-HELP – To pay for student services and amenities.
OS-HELP – For Commonwealth-supported students studying overseas.

What is FEE-HELP?

Provided by the Australian Government, FEE-HELP is a loan scheme for eligible higher education students to pay for part or all of their tuition fees.

How does FEE-HELP work?

FEE-HELP loans can only be used to pay for tuition fees. You cannot use a FEE-HELP loan to cover other costs associated with studying such as accommodation, textbooks or laptops.

For most students in 2024, the highest amount that can be borrowed under any HELP loan scheme is $121,844. If you have previously used a HELP scheme to pay for previous study, such as an undergraduate degree, check your available balance to see if you can take out another loan.

FEE-HELP repayment

You will start paying back your HELP loan through the taxation system when you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold. For the 2024-25 income year, the threshold is $54,435. The more income you earn, the higher your repayment will be. You can make voluntary repayments at any time to reduce the balance of your HELP loan in addition to your compulsory repayments.

Who is eligible for FEE-HELP?

You must meet the citizenship and residency requirements to get FEE-HELP. This means you must either be:

an Australian citizen completing at least one unit of your course in Australia
a New Zealand SVC holder who meets the long-term residency requirements and resides in Australia for the duration of your study
a permanent visa holder undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals who reside in Australia for the duration of your study
a permanent humanitarian visa holder or eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder who resides in Australia for the duration of your study

You must also:

meet the TFN (tax file number) requirements
have available HELP balance
be correctly enrolled in your course before the census date

How to apply for a FEE-HELP loan

Your university provider will give you instructions to submit your eCAF (electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form) for a FEE-HELP loan before the census date. You will submit the eCAF directly to your university and give them details, including your TFN, Unique Student Identifier (USI), name, date of birth and address. The details you provide on your application must match the information available to the ATO and USI Registry System so your loan can be approved.

FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP can both be accessed by students to defer tuition fees. Which loan you are eligible for depends on your chosen university and course. FEE-HELP loans are available for courses where you have a domestic fee-paying place (DFP) whereas you can get a HECS-HELP loan if you are enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP). The main difference is that FEE-HELP loans are mostly relevant for postgraduate students. They are not subsidised by the government and tuition fees are set by universities. HECS-HELP loans are subsidised by the government so students, usually undergraduates, pay a student contribution for the units completed.

Commonwealth supported places

What is a Commonwealth supported place?

A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is a government-subsidised place at an Australian university or higher education provider, where the government pays part of your program fees, reducing the overall cost to you. Importantly, it is not a loan, so there’s nothing to repay.

However, the subsidy does not cover the entire course cost. The remaining portion, known as the ‘student contribution amount’, is your responsibility. You can either pay this amount upfront to your institution by the census date or apply for a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan by the same deadline.

Are CSPs applicable to postgraduate degrees?

Most Commonwealth supported places are available for undergraduate courses, whereas postgraduate programs typically incur full-paying fees. However, some Australian institutions do have a set number of CSPs available for postgraduate courses and the number of places varies each year. CSPs may only be available for specific courses, such as coursework master's degrees and are not available for postgraduate research degrees or doctorates. Each provider determines the distribution of CSPs across its postgraduate courses, so it’s helpful to check with your institution and desired course to see if there are CSPs applicable.

Explore our university partners’ range of CSP-subsidised postgraduate courses:

University of Canberra

Bachelor of Nursing - University of Canberra
Bachelor of Science in Psychology - University of Canberra
Graduate Certificate in Health Research - University of Canberra
Graduate Certificate in Ultrasound Studies - University of Canberra
Master of Public Health - University of Canberra

Victoria University

Graduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health - Victoria University
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health - Victoria University
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing - Victoria University
Graduate Certificate in Nursing - Victoria University
Graduate Certificate in Public Health - Victoria University

Who is eligible for a Commonwealth supported place?

Your provider will evaluate your CSP eligibility based on course requirements, citizenship and residency status.

It's important to note that the criteria for a CSP differ from those for a HELP loan. You might qualify for a CSP but not a HELP loan. Importantly, your eligibility for a CSP does not automatically mean you'll be offered one.

Course requirements

Enrolment decisions from higher education providers are merit-based, following an evaluation of whether you meet their academic and entry requirements. Your provider assesses your application and notifies you of your offer for a Commonwealth supported place.

Citizenship and residency requirements

You must also meet specific citizenship and residency requirements to be eligible for a CSP. This means you must either be:

an Australian citizen, studying at least one unit of your course while residing in Australia
a New Zealand citizen, completing the entire course while living in Australia
hold an Australian permanent visa, studying the entire course while residing in Australia
a former permanent humanitarian visa holder eligible to complete the entire course while living in Australia, or
hold a Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV), studying the entire course while residing in Australia.

How to apply for a CSP

Applying for a CSP is a straightforward process. Simply fill out an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) request and submit it to your university or higher education provider before the course census date.

What’s the difference between a CSP and HELP loan?

A CSP offers a subsidised place at an Australian university or an approved higher education provider, where the government covers a portion of the tuition fees. This subsidy does not require repayment. A HECS-HELP loan is used to pay the remaining fees. This is also known as the student contribution amount and must be repaid.

Course prices for 2025

Ready to start a postgraduate degree in 2025? Browse our course catalogue to find a course that interests you and kickstart a new education journey.

Ready to take the next step in your study journey?

Make use of the various Australian government financial support schemes and advance your career with postgraduate study.

GlobalHealth Education’s university partners offer healthcare courses in a range of fields, including social work, public health, counselling, nursing, psychology, leadership and mental health. Speak to our Student Enrolment Advisor for further support on the enrolment process and for information on FEE-HELP and CSP-subsidised postgraduate courses.

Financial support: FEE-HELP, CSPs and higher education loan schemes