Financial assistance

Going to Uni

The Australian Government's 'Going to Uni' provides information about fees, loans and scholarships associated with study at university. It also contains information about higher education reforms that affect students.

HECS-HELP

Since 1 January 2005, Commonwealth-supported places have replaced HECS places. Eligible students have access to HECS-HELP assistance. This allows students to request a HECS-HELP loan and defer payments through the Australian Taxation Office, or to receive a HECS-HELP discount for upfront payments over $500.

Further information for Commonwealth-supported students is available at:

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme for eligible full-fee-paying domestic students. Under this scheme students can borrow up to the amount of the tuition fees being charged for units of study. Over a lifetime the FEE-HELP maximum limit is currently $85,062. Students who access FEE-HELP for a full-fee undergraduate place also incur a 20 per cent loan fee.

Further information on FEE-HELP is available at:

Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)

All Commonwealth-supported students and FEE-HELP students are issued with a Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN). The CHESSN is a unique identifier that tracks an individual's student learning entitlement and use of Commonwealth assistance (including HECS-HELP). As a condition of enrolment, students provide informed consent for the University to share their personal information with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations so that the University can comply with legislative requirements. The information provided by students is used to generate the CHESSN. The CHESSN stays with students for their academic life and provides them with a way to track their student learning entitlement and HELP loans.

Students can access their CHESSN information at:

OS-HELP

OS-HELP is a loan scheme that helps eligible Commonwealth-supported students undertake some of their study overseas. The scheme provides up to $5,523 (in 2010) per six-month study period for up to two study periods to help students with a range of expenses such as airfares and accommodation.

Further information on OS-HELP is available at:

Centrelink benefits

There are two main Australian Government benefits for tertiary students:

• Austudy — for students aged 25 and over when commencing a course
• Youth Allowance — for students up to 25 years old. Youth Allowance recipients may be eligible for a rent allowance.

Austudy and Youth Allowance are income and assets tested.

Further information on Austudy and Youth Allowance is available from the Student Services Unit's financial assistance service at:

Commonwealth legislation sets strict requirements for Austudy and Youth Allowance over which the University has no control. It is important that students make themselves aware of the requirements.

Students who receive Austudy or Youth Allowance and decide to drop subjects during the semester must be aware that to remain eligible they must be enrolled in a minimum of 18 credit points, or have a HECS liability for the semester of 0.375 equivalent full-time student load. Exceptions may be made for some students with disabilities that impact on their studies, students who are single supporting parents or, in exceptional cases, those who are required by the University to undertake a reduced study load.

Eligibility and registration details for all Centrelink benefits are available from Centrelink at:

www.centrelink.gov.au

All supporting documentation should be lodged as soon as possible with a Centrelink office. The first benefit payment for eligible applicants is backdated to the date of registration.

The financial assistance service may be able to assist students who are experiencing financial difficulties associated with eligibility for Centrelink benefits. Call for an appointment on:

Abstudy

Abstudy assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tertiary students by providing income support and other assistance.

Further information is available from Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at:

International loan schemes

International students are eligible to apply for government funded and private education loans. UTS International is able to assist students in relation to applying for education loans to fund their study. Further information is available at:

Students from Canada, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States are able to apply for education loans from government departments in their home countries. In addition, international students who have a co-borrower who is either a citizen or permanent resident of the United States can access private education loans.

UTS also accepts students who are eligible for a range of US Veteran's Educational Benefit Programs.

Further information on educational loans is available from the loans scheme coordinator: