HECS-HELP loans
Update on the unit pass rate requirement
As of 1 January 2024, the 50 per cent pass rate rule has been removed. For current and previous rules, see our page on unit pass rate requirement.
HECS-HELP is a government loan program to help eligible students in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) pay their fees. CSP students pay a lower amount, called the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).
When taking out a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer your SCA payment to a later date or make part payments of SCA and take out a HECS-HELP loan to cover the rest.
Eligibility for HECS-HELP
Of those eligible for a CSP, only the following are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan:
- Australian citizens
- Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders
- former Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders who now hold a permanent resident visa subclass 155 or 157
- some New Zealand citizens.
You’ll also need to provide your Tax File Number (TFN) and your Unique Student Identifier (USI) to receive government support.
You’ll need to make sure your personal details are the same in our records and in the USI Registry System – otherwise you’ll encounter problems when you apply for a HECS-HELP loan.
Your payment options and level of support depend on where you live while studying. To see what you're eligible for, see Commonwealth assistance residency requirements.
Not eligible for HECS-HELP
Permanent visa holders (non-humanitarian) and most New Zealand citizens can't get HECS-HELP loans.
If you're not eligible for HECS-HELP, you'll need to agree to pay your SCA upfront when you accept your Commonwealth supported place. This must be paid upfront and in full by 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date. You must also:
- provide us with a copy of your passport and visa if you're a permanent resident
- live in Australia during your studies (or else pay full fees).
New Zealand citizens
If you meet all the eligibility criteria for a HELP loan and submit a HECS-HELP application before 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date, then you're eligible for the same payment options as an Australian citizen (details below).
See HELP loans for New Zealand citizens for eligibility and application instructions.
Once your documents are assessed and you're found to be eligible for HECS-HELP, you'll be advised to complete your HELP form through the Web Enrolment System (WES).
Australian citizens and permanent humanitarian visa holders
When completing a request for a Commonwealth supported place and a HECS-HELP loan in WES, you must select whether you plan to either:
- make a full upfront payment of your SCA, or
- take out a HECS-HELP loan for all or part of your SCA.
If you decide to make a partial payment upfront towards your student contribution amount, you need to pay it before 11.59pm on your census date, using one of the fee payment methods.
From 1 January 2023, you’ll no longer receive a 10% discount when you make an upfront payment of $500 or more on your HECS-HELP loan. However, you’ll still be able to receive the HECS-HELP up-front discount for any unit with a census date in 2021 or 2022.
Tax file number (TFN)
If you don't have a tax file number (TFN), you can only select the upfront SCA payment option in WES. You can change this option in WES before 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date by providing your TFN, or proof that you’ve applied for one.
If you provide your TFN (or proof that you've applied for one) by 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date, the loan offer remains open to you, even if you choose not to use it.
To prove you’ve applied, request a Certificate of Application for a TFN from the ATO and submit the certificate through MoVA. Alternatively, if you applied online and visited Australia Post, submit your Australia Post receipt along with your Application Summary.
Enrolment cancelled for overdue upfront payments
You'll be asked to provide your Tax File Number (TFN) when you enrol in your course.
If you don't provide your Tax File Number (TFN), you can't get HECS-HELP and you must pay your SCA up front. If you don't pay your fees by 11.59pm on the census date (Melbourne time), your enrolment will be cancelled and you can't apply for reinstatement until the following semester.
If you provide your TFN and choose to pay up front, you’ll need to pay your fees by 11.59pm on the census date (Melbourne time). Otherwise:
- your enrolment will be cancelled, if you’re not eligible for HECS-HELP
- your Student Contribution Amount (SCA) will be automatically deferred to a loan, if you are eligible for HECS-HELP.
If you change your mind about studying some units or your entire course, you need to withdraw from the units or discontinue your course by the census date to avoid financial penalties.
If you don't have a TFN
We recommend you apply for a TFN before 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on your first census date. If you have an Australian passport, it’s best to apply with myGovID – that way you should receive your TFN straight away. If you don’t have a passport, there are other ways you can apply, just take a look at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for instructions. It could take up to 28 days to receive your TFN if you used an application method other than myGovID.
In the meantime, provide Monash Connect with proof you’ve applied. If you applied online and visited Australia Post, you can submit your Australia Post receipt along with your Application Summary. Alternatively, you can request a Certificate of Application for a TFN from the ATO. Submit your proof of application through MoVA.
Once you receive your TFN, go to the CSP HECS_HELP section in WES and complete these fields:
- section 8A – enter your TFN here
- section 11 – change your payment option to deferred.
Your HELP loan responsibilities
From 2022 to 2023, the unit pass rate requirement applied. Starting 1 January 2024, it is no longer in effect. For past and current rules, see our page on unit pass rate requirement.
See HELP loans balance and limits for information about:
- your HELP debt
- the combined HELP loan limit
- the renewable HELP balance
- repaying your debt to the Australian Taxation Office
- moving overseas with a HELP debt.
Your debt will remain even if you don't complete your course. However, in special circumstances, you can apply to have the debt removed. See remission of debt for more information.
HECS-HELP for Australian citizens and permanent humanitarian visa holders
From 1 January 2023, you'll no longer receive a 10% discount when you make an upfront payment of $500 or more on your HECS-HELP loan. However, you’ll still be able to receive the HECS-HELP up-front discount for any unit with a census date in 2021 or 2022.
| SCA payment option | Accrue loan debt | 10% discount (payments of $500 or more) | Must provide TFN by the census date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Full upfront SCA payment (Pay 100% of full SCA) | No | Yes, for units with a census date in 2021 or 2022 | No, but if you don't provide your TFN and no payment is made by 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date, your enrolment will be cancelled |
|
Partial upfront payment with part HECS-HELP loan (Pay less than 100% of SCA) | Yes | Yes, for units with a census date in 2021 or 2022 | Yes |
|
Full HECS-HELP loan with no upfront payment (Pay 0% of SCA) | Yes | No | Yes |