Financial assistance

Going to Uni

The Australian Government's 'Going to Uni' website 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 $86,422. Students who access FEE-HELP for a full-fee undergraduate place also incur a 20 per cent loan fee (this is currently under review by the Australian Government and may increase to 25 per cent).

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 $5,611 (in 2011) 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

The Australian Government's benefits for tertiary students are administered by Centrelink and are income and assets tested:

• Austudy (for students aged 23 and over on 1 January 2011)
• Dependent Youth Allowance (assessed on the parents' income and assets; for students up to 23 years who have not met the 'independence' criteria)
• Independent Youth Allowance (for students up to 23 years, who have satisfied the 'independence' criteria).
• Abstudy (see below).

In 2010 significant changes to the eligibility requirements and payment schedules were introduced, and further changes will be made over the next two years.

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

Registering students need to provide supporting documents to Centrelink as soon as possible. The first benefit payment for an eligible full-time student is backdated to the date of registration with Centrelink.

Commonwealth legislation sets strict requirements for Austudy and Youth Allowance over which the University has no control.

Students receiving Austudy or Youth Allowance must be enrolled in a minimum of 18 credit points a semester. They need to advise Centrelink if they drop subjects during semester, and with less than 18 credit points they are no longer eligible for the benefits. Exceptions may be made for students with disabilities or ongoing illnesses 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.

The financial assistance service at UTS provides a guide to Centrelink benefits for students at:

The financial assistance service may also be able to assist students who are experiencing financial difficulties associated with eligibility for Centrelink benefits. Contact the service at:

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:

The finalcial assistance service provides a guide to Abstudy at:

International loan schemes

International students from some countries may apply for government funded and private education loans to support their stuides in Australia. UTS International can provide documentation and advice to eligible students. Further information is available at:

Students from Canada, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States may apply for education loans from government departments in their home countries. International students who have the support of 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: