Future Students

Local or International Student?

LOCAL STUDENT
a citizen of Australia
a citizen of New Zealand
a dual citizen of Australia and any other country, or
a permanent resident of Australia*
* If you have an offer of permanent residency, but have not yet taken that offer up, then you should apply as an International Student. You are not considered a Local Student until you have a permanent residency stamp in your passport.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
a citizen of any country except Australia or New Zealand
a temporary resident of Australia (including student, refugee or diplomat)
a permanent resident of New Zealand, or
a dependent of any of the above

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is an interest free loan given to eligible fee-paying students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. A FEE-HELP loan can cover all or part of a student’s tuition fees. Students repay their loan through the tax system once their income is above the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment. A maximum of $50,000 in tuition fees may be paid using FEE-HELP over a student’s lifetime. This is the FEE-HELP limit. This limit is indexed each year. A loan fee of 20% applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses of study. The $50,000 FEE-HELP limit does not include the loan fee. No loan fee applies to FEE-HELP loans for postgraduate courses, bridging courses for overseas trained professionals, enabling courses or units of study undertaken directly with Open Universities Australia (formerly OLA). The Commonwealth pays the amount of the loan directly to the student’s provider.

HECS-HELP

HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible students enrolled in Commonwealth supported places (CSP). A HECS-HELP loan will cover all or part of the student contribution amount. If you receive a HECS-HELP loan, the Australian Government pays the loan amount directly to your higher education provider on your behalf and a HECS-HELP debt is recorded with the Tax Office. There are no loan fees charged on HECS-HELP loans.

Youth Allowance and Austudy

As a full-time student, you may be eligible for Youth Allowance or Austudy (an allowance for students aged 25 or older). It is important that you put in an application, even if you think you may not be eligible. Please contact your local Centrelink office for more information. The Centrelink enquiry line for both Youth Allowance and Austudy is: Phone:132 490. Youth Allowance and Austudy information, advice and advocacy are also available from SRC Welfare staff: Phone: (02) 9660 5222.

Financial Assistance Office

The Financial Assistance Office provides interest free loans and bursaries to students in financial need. Financial assistance is for essential living and study related expenses, not for tuition fees and HECS payments. It is not meant to provide ongoing income support but to supplement other income and to help in emergencies such as paying housing bond, rent, household bills, medical expenses and buying textbooks and equipment and helping with compulsory excursions. Interest free loans may be provided to postgraduate students to cover the travel and accommodation costs for conferences. Contact the Financial Assistance Office on (02) 9351 2416.

SRC Student Representative Council

The Students' Representative Council also offers interest-free loans of up to $750. Phone: +61 2 9660 5222.

Casual Employment Service

The Casual Employment Service helps enrolled degree students find casual and part-time work during their studies and in University vacations.

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