Determining your eligibility for FEE-HELP

Am I eligible for FEE-HELP?

Answer ID 147 | Last updated on 29/11/2023 03.17 PM

To be eligible for  a FEE-HELP loan, you must:

  • be one of the following:
    • an Australian citizen who will study at least one unit of your course of study in Australia; or
    • a New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder who meets the long term residency requirements and who studies the entire course while living in Australia; or
    • a permanent humanitarian visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia
    • an Australian permanent resident can get FEE-HELP for approved bridging studies
  • be enrolled in a fee-paying place at a provider that offers FEE-HELP loans
  • be enrolled in an eligible course at your provider by the census date (your provider can tell you if your course is eligible)
  • submit the Request for FEE-HELP loan form to your provider by the census date
  • have an available HELP balance
  • have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) prior to the first census date (for new enrolments from 1 January 2021)
  • maintain a completion rate of 50 per cent or above:
    • to continue to be eligible for FEE-HELP if you are studying at a non-university higher education provider
    • to be eligible for FEE-HELP if you are commencing study in a new course at an Australian university from 1 January 2022
  • not undertake more than 2 years' worth of higher education study in the last 12 months (unless your provider has approved a higher study load.

You will need to provide your Tax File Number (TFN) on your FEE-HELP form.

Further information about FEE-HELP eligibility is available from the Study Assist website.

Was this answer helpful?