FAQ Sheet 1
What is the cost of university fees? Does the government offer any assistance to pay fees?
A place in a university course is either a government subsidised place (known as a Commonwealth Supported Place or CSP) or a fee-paying place (known as a Domestic Fee-Paying Place or DFEE or Non-Commonwealth Supported Place). Most undergraduate university places are Commonwealth Supported Places.
The type of government loan you may be entitled to to help pay your fees will be determined by whether you are enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported place or a fee-paying place.
Government Subsidised Places (Commonwealth Supported Places or CSP)
Government subsidised places are paid for in part by the government. The student is also required to pay a contribution towards the cost of the university place (known as the Student Contribution Amount). You can pay the Student Contribution Amount upfront when you enrol or defer the payment using a government loan.
The amount of the Student Contribution depends on the type of course and university you are enrolled in, whether you study full or part-time and whether you pay upfront. The Student Contribution Amount is determined by each university. However the amount must be within a maximum limit set by the government. See the DEEWR website for more information on Commonwealth Supported Places.
HECS-HELP
HECS-HELP (Higher Education Contribution Scheme–Higher Education Loan Program) is a government loan that allows you to defer your Student Contribution Amount until you are earning a higher income. HECS-HELP only applies to students enrolled in Commonwealth Supported Places.
Students deferring their Student Contribution Amount via HECS-HELP pay 20% more than those paying upfront. Repayments are made through the tax system in accordance with the amount that you earn. To access a HECS-HELP loan you must meet Commonwealth eligibility criteria and submit an application form by the closing date for loan applications. See the HECS-HELP section of the DEEWR website for more information on the Higher Education Contribution Scheme-Higher Education Loan Program.
Fee-paying Places (Domestic Fee-Paying Places or DFEE or non-Commonwealth Places)
A fee-paying place means that the student pays the full cost of each course unit with no government subsidy. These places are more expensive than Commonwealth Subsidised Places in the same course but require a lower Australian Tertiary Admission Rank score for entry.
The Commonwealth Government announced that fee-paying places for undergraduate study will be phased out from the 1st January 2009, however there are some exceptions, including arrangements for continuing and deferred students, for students who enrol in employer served places and for students who have consumed their Student Learning Entitlement. Fee paying courses for domestic students are available for some post-graduate study. See the UAC website for listing of universities offering Fee-paying places.
FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP (Higher Education Loan Program for Domestic Fee-paying Places) is a government loan that assists you to pay for part or all of the tuition fee for a Fee-paying Place. You may borrow up to the full amount of the tuition fee being charged by the university.
However there is a limit to how much you can borrow over your lifetime. In 2007, The FEE-HELP limit is $80,000-$100,000, depending on the course. This amount is indexed each year.
A 20% loan fee applies to FEE-HELP for undergraduates (not included in the FEE-HELP limit).
Repayments are made once you are earning a higher income. HELP loans are repaid through the tax system in accordance with the amount that you earn. To access a FEE-HELP loan you must meet Commonwealth eligibility criteria and submit an application form by the closing date for loan applications. See the FEE-HELP section of the DEEWR website for more information on the Fees Help Loan Scheme.
HECS-HELP Benefit
In 2009 the Australian Government introduced the HECS-HELP benefit which made changes to HELP repayments and maximum contributions for some students. The benefit aims to encourage graduates to study or take up employment in related occupations, and in some areas of study to encourage graduates to work in specified locations.
Eligible mathematics and science graduates (who graduate from second semester 2008 onwards) and eligible early childhood education teachers who work in particular areas of need will be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP benefit which will reduce their Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) repayments and/or debt. See the HECS-HELP Benefit section of the DEEWR website for more information on the HECS-HELP Benefit.