FEE-HELP - What is it?

FEE-HELP is a loan programme that assists eligible fee paying students to pay their tuition fees at higher education providers. Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa are eligible for FEE-HELP. Holders of other permanent visas are not eligible for FEE-HELP unless they are undertaking a bridging course for overseas trained professionals.

The following courses are eligible for FEE-HELP:

accredited undergraduate award programs
accredited postgraduate award programs including higher degrees by research
bridging courses for overseas trained professionals to enable them to meet the requirements for entry into their profession in Australia
courses to enable students to meet the requirements for entry into an award programme
units of study made available by higher education providers, access to which was provided by Open Learning Australia

Eligible students can borrow up to the limit of the tuition fee charge by their higher education provider. The FEE-HELP limit is the maximum that a student can borrow under FEE-HELP over their lifetime. This limit excludes any loan fee.

The FEE-HELP limit in 2009 is

$83,313; and
$104,142 for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science students

A loan fee of 20% applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses of study only.