Posted on by StudySelect Team

FEE-HELP

What is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme to help students pay all, or part, of their tuition fees. You can only access FEE-HELP if you’re planning to study at a university or other private higher education institution that has been approved to offer FEE-HELP to eligible students.

Am I eligible?

You must:

  • Be enrolled in an eligible unit of study, offered by an approved FEE-HELP provider, by the census date; AND
  • Be an Australian citizen undertaking one unit of study in Australia; OR
  • Be a permanent humanitarian visa holder, residing in Australia for the duration of your unit; OR
  • Be a permanent visa holder undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals, and residing in Australia for the duration of study.

When do I starting paying back my loan?

You’ll start repaying your HELP debt once your taxable income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold. This threshold is adjusted every year. The threshold for 2017-18 is $55,874.

How much can I borrow?

In 2017 you can borrow up to $100,879 under the FEE-HELP scheme. For students studying medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses, the FEE-HELP limit is $126,101.

Is there anything else I need to know?

  • There is a 25% FEE-HELP loan fee applied to undergraduate courses. This does not count towards your FEE-HELP limit, and is calculated for each individual unit you undertake.
  • Your HELP debt is indexed in March each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
  • The indexation rate for 2016-17 is 1.5%.
 
Disclaimer: This information is correct at the time of publishing, but is subject to change under the current government’s higher education reforms. The figures provided are applicable for the 2017-18 financial year only. For more information, visit StudyAssist [www.studyassist.gov.au].

The idea of studying now and paying later is certainly appealing, but exactly how much will you have to pay once your salary reaches the compulsory repayment threshold? The amount is calculated as a percentage of your income, so the more you earn, the higher your repayments will be.

2016-2017 repayment rates
2016-2017 Repayment ratesRepayment % rate
Below $55,874NIL
$55,874 – $62,2384.0%
$62,239 – $68,6024.5%
$68,603 – $72,2075.0%
$72,208 – $77,6185.5%
$77,619 – $84,0626.0%
$84,063 – $88,4866.5%
$88,487 – $97,3777.0%
$97,378 – $103,7657.5%
$103,766 and above8.0%

 

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At StudySelect, we’re passionate about learning. By offering students a simple way to find online and on-campus education in Australia, we make it easier to connect with the right course, from the right provider.

StudySelect Team

At StudySelect, we’re passionate about learning. By offering students a simple way to find online and on-campus education in Australia, we make it easier to connect with the right course, from the right provider.

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