When and how can I apply?
An eligible student can apply for VET FEE-HELP assistance if the registered training organisation they are enrolled with has been formally approved as a VET provider. They will have the appropriate information and forms for students after they receive their approval.
What is an eligible student?
An eligible student (for the purpose of VET FEE-HELP):
- is an Australian citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder who will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit of study in which they are seeking VET FEE-HELP assistance;
- is a full fee-paying student enrolled on or before the census date in an eligible unit of study through an approved VET provider and remains enrolled in the unit at the end of the census date;
- is undertaking study in a training place which is subsidised by a State/Territory Government* and is enrolled on or before the census date in an eligible unit of study through an approved VET provider and remains enrolled in the unit at the end of the census date;
- meets the tax file number requirements;
- has completed, signed and submitted a valid request for VET FEE-HELP assistance form for the unit or the course of which the unit forms a part, on or before the census date; and
- has not exceeded the FEE-HELP limit.
* you should contact your VET provider to determine whether students enrolled in a publically supported training place in your State/Territory are eligible for VET FEE-HELP assistance.
How do I find out who is an approved VET Provider?
A current list of the approved VET providers is available on this website. Approved VET providers with an asterisk (*) are still in their disallowance period.
What is the disallowance period and what does it mean if I am accessing, or thinking of accessing, VET FEE-HELP assistance to pay my tuition fees at a VET provider currently marked with an asterisk on the approved VET providers list?
All VET provider approvals are subject to a disallowance period. Following approval by the Minister for Education, each notice of approval is subject to a disallowance period of 15 sitting days in both Houses of Parliament. Previously, approved VET providers have not been able to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to their students during this disallowance period. A recent change to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 means that providers can now offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to students during the disallowance period.
If you are a student accessing, or thinking of accessing, VET FEE-HELP assistance to pay your tuition fees at an approved VET provider who is marked with an asterisk to indicate that they are in the disallowance period, you should be aware that if your provider becomes subject to disallowance by Parliament, you will be unable to access VET FEE-HELP for the remainder of the course in which you are enrolled. You can only incur a VET FEE-HELP debt for units with a census date prior to any disallowance motions being passed. Your provider must advise you they are in the disallowance period before you enrol. For more information about exactly how this may effect you, please contact your VET provider.
Are only full-time students able to apply for VET FEE-HELP?
No. Eligible full-time and part-time students will be able to apply for VET FEE-HELP.
Can I apply for VET FEE-HELP part-way through studying a VET course?
You can if the following conditions are met:
• your RTO is an approved VET provider for the course you are studying; and
• the census date of the unit of study has not passed.
What is a HELP debt?
An accumulated HELP debt is a consolidated debt that can include debts incurred under the following income contingent loan schemes:
- VET FEE-HELP
- FEE-HELP
- HECS-HELP
- OS-HELP.
VET FEE-HELP, FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP and OS-HELP – what’s the difference?
VET FEE-HELP assistance can only be offered to eligible full fee-paying students from an approved VET provider for certain VET accredited diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate and graduate diploma courses. VET FEE-HELP is an extension of the higher education FEE-HELP arrangements.
FEE-HELP assistance can be offered to eligible fee-paying students from a higher education provider for an accredited higher education course. Irrespective of whether a student receives a loan under VET FEE-HELP or FEE-HELP, the same FEE-HELP loan limit applies.
HECS-HELP is only available to eligible students in a Commonwealth supported place studying a higher education qualification. HECS-HELP does not contribute to a student’s FEE-HELP limit.
OS-HELP loans assist eligible students, based in Australia, in a Commonwealth supported place, who have completed the first year of their course of study at their higher education provider, to undertake some of their study overseas. OS-HELP loans do not contribute to a student’s FEE-HELP limit.
What is the VET FEE-HELP loan limit?
Over a student’s lifetime, whether they receive a loan under VET FEE-HELP for VET studies or FEE-HELP for higher education studies, the same FEE-HELP loan limit applies. In 2009, the FEE-HELP loan limit is $83,313 for most courses and $104,142 for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses that lead to registration as practitioners in those fields. This amount is indexed each year. There is a 20% loan fee that applies for all VET courses. The VET FEE-HELP loan limit does not include the loan fee.
How do I repay the loan?
Eligible students who are approved to receive VET FEE-HELP assistance to help pay for all or part of their tuition fees will effectively have a loan with the Australian Government.
The Australian Government pays the VET provider, on behalf of the student, the debt the student has incurred for tuition fees for each unit of study in which the student is enrolled at the time the census date is reached.
Students repay their VET FEE-HELP debt to the Australian Government through the tax system once they reach the minimum income threshold level for repayment, which for 2009-10 is $43,150
What if I already have a HELP debt?
An accumulated HELP debt is a consolidated debt that can include debts incurred under the following income contingent loan schemes:
- VET FEE-HELP
- FEE-HELP
- HECS-HELP
- OS-HELP.
HECS-HELP is only available to students in a Commonwealth Supported place studying a higher education qualification. If you currently access HECS-HELP, and wish to access VET FEE-HELP assistance you will need to apply for VET FEE-HELP through an approved VET provider.
If you are currently accessing FEE-HELP, or have in the past, you will still need to apply for VET FEE-HELP assistance with an approved VET provider. However, you should be aware that over a student’s lifetime, whether receiving a loan under VET FEE-HELP for VET studies or FEE-HELP for higher education studies, the same FEE-HELP loan limit applies. In 2009, the FEE-HELP loan limit is $83,313 for most courses and $104,142 for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses that lead to registration as practitioners in those fields
As a student uses VET FEE-HELP to pay tuition fees, the amount they may borrow in future is reduced. Once a person has borrowed an amount equal to the FEE-HELP limit (the indexed amount at that time), they will not be able to receive VET FEE-HELP (or FEE-HELP) to pay tuition fees. This applies even if a person has partially or fully repaid their VET FEE-HELP (or FEE-HELP) loan.
If you have a FEE-HELP debt you would have been issued with a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN). You should refer to your CAN for the most up-to-date information when working out your FEE-HELP balance. You can also access the myUniAssist website for a summary of your personal details regarding HELP assistance through the www.goingtouni.gov.au entry point.
How can I find out my FEE-HELP balance?
Within 28 days following the census date for your unit of study, your provider(s) will send you a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) for that unit. The CAN will provide you with information on your FEE–HELP (or VET FEE- HELP) debt for that unit, including any loan fee you may have incurred for that unit. The notice may cover more than one unit.
You should keep a record of all CANs sent to you. You need to be aware of the total amount of tuition fees that have been paid on your behalf using VET FEE–HELP (and FEE–HELP if applicable). Your FEE–HELP balance is the amount of the FEE–HELP limit less the amount of any VET FEE-HELP loan you have requested for tuition fees which the Commonwealth has paid to your provider on your behalf using VET FEE–HELP (and FEE–HELP if you have accessed this for higher education study).
It is your responsibility to be aware of your FEE–HELP balance.
You MUST advise your provider if your FEE–HELP balance is less than the tuition fees you are required to pay to your provider. If you enrol in a unit of study and the tuition fee exceeds your FEE–HELP balance, you will receive VET FEE–HELP assistance only for an amount equal to your FEE–HELP balance. You will need to pay the remainder of your tuition fee up-front to your provider. If you do not do this, your provider may cancel your enrolment as some of your tuition fees will remain unpaid.
You can access the myUniAssist website, for a summary of your personal details regarding HELP assistance through the www.goingtouni.gov.au entry point.
VET FEE-HELP Student Information Booklet
The VET FEE-HELP Information student booklet is designed to assist students to understand VET FEE-HELP, and their rights and responsibilities when accessing VET FEE-HELP assistance.
Students must read the booklet before they sign and submit the Request for VET FEE-HELP assistance form. By signing the form a student is declaring they have read the booklet and are aware of their obligations under VET FEE-HELP.
The information in this booklet is valid for 2009 only. A copy should be kept for reference for this period.
VET FEE-HELP Information 2009 Student Booklet (revised edition) PDF 
(317.9 KB) | RTF 
(4.0 MB)
Where can I get a Request for VET FEE-HELP assistance form?
Your VET provider will be able to give you the Request for VET FEE-HELP assistance form. When you sign the form, you declare that you have read the VET FEE-HELP student booklet and that you are aware of your obligations under VET FEE-HELP. You must fill out a Request for VET FEE-HELP assistance form for each course of study for which you wish to obtain VET FEE-HELP assistance.
Related Links
Further, general information can be found at: Vocational education & training
Approved higher education providers: Higher education providers at a glance
Information about student loan repayments for VET FEE-HELP and higher education FEE-HELP: Compulsory and voluntary
Information about obtaining a tax file number: http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/41612.htm
Australian Taxation Office: http://www.ato.gov.au/
Going to Uni website: www.goingtouni.gov.au
Contact Us
For general enquiries about VET FEE-HELP, please email your enquiry to VETFEEHELP@deewr.gov.au
Contact the Helpline: 13 38 73