FEE-HELP explained

If you’re planning to study at a private higher education institution or in a full-fee-paying course at university, the cost of tuition can be a hurdle. That’s where FEE-HELP comes in—a government-backed loan that allows eligible students to defer their tuition costs and repay them once they’re earning above a set threshold.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about FEE-HELP for the 2025–26 financial year, including eligibility, loan limits, repayment thresholds, and more. Whether you’re pursuing a career change, postgraduate qualification or professional advancement, understanding your funding options is an essential first step.

What Is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that helps eligible students pay part or all of their tuition fees for higher education courses offered by approved providers. Unlike HECS-HELP (which covers subsidised courses), FEE-HELP is designed for full-fee-paying students enrolled in non-subsidised places at universities, private colleges or other approved institutions.

It does not cover additional costs such as accommodation, textbooks, or student services and amenities fees.

Learn more about Fee-Help.

Am I Eligible for FEE-HELP?

To access FEE-HELP in 2025–26, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in an eligible course with an approved FEE-HELP provider by the census date
• Be one of the following:
  • An Australian citizen; OR
  • A permanent humanitarian visa holder residing in Australia for the duration of your course; OR
  • A New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder who meets specific long-term residency criteria
  • A permanent visa holder undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals
• Have a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI)
• Submit a completed Request for FEE-HELP form by your course’s census date

How Much Can I Borrow With FEE-HELP?

The **2025–26 FEE-HELP loan limit** is set according to the type of course you’re studying:

• $121,844 for most courses
• $174,998 for medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science courses

This is a lifetime limit that includes all HELP loans you may have previously accessed (HECS-HELP, VET Student Loans, etc.).

Diploma of Emergency Health Care

Are There Any Loan Fees?

Yes. A **20% loan fee** applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses at non-university providers. This fee is calculated based on the amount of the loan you use for each unit of study and is added to your overall HELP debt. It does not count towards your FEE-HELP borrowing limit.

No loan fee applies to postgraduate courses or those offered by public universities.

How Does Repayment Work?

You won’t need to start repaying your FEE-HELP loan until your repayment income exceeds the compulsory threshold. For the 2025–26 financial year, that threshold is $56,156. Once your income surpasses this, a percentage will be withheld through the tax system and used to repay your debt.

2025-26 HELP Repayment Rates

Repayment income (RI) thresholds	Repayment rate (% of repayment income)
Below $56,156	Nil
$56,156–$64,837	1.0%
$64,838–$68,726	2.0%
$68,727–$72,851	2.5%
$72,852–$77,222	3.0%
$77,223–$81,855	3.5%
$81,856–$86,766	4.0%
$86,767–$91,973	4.5%
$91,974–$97,491	5.0%
$97,492–$103,341	5.5%
$103,342–$109,542	6.0%
$109,543–$116,115	6.5%
$116,116–$123,081	7.0%
$123,082–$130,466	7.5%
$130,467–$138,294	8.0%
$138,295–$146,593	8.5%
$146,594–$155,388	9.0%
$155,389–$164,711	9.5%
$164,712 and above	10%

Will My FEE-HELP Debt Accrue Interest?

FEE-HELP loans don’t accrue interest, but they are indexed annually to keep pace with inflation. Indexation is applied on 1 June each year. For 2025, the indexation rate is 3.2%.

To stay up to date with changes to indexation, visit StudyAssist: Loan Indexation.

How Do I Apply for FEE-HELP?

Once you’ve enrolled in an eligible course with a FEE-HELP provider, your institution will provide instructions on submitting your Request for FEE-HELP form. You’ll also need to supply your Tax File Number and USI before your course’s census date.

Make sure to meet all deadlines—missing the census date may mean you’re unable to access the loan.

More on loan repayments at StudyAssist

Need Help Choosing the Right Course?

Understanding how to fund your studies is just one part of your education journey. At StudySelect, you can compare business, health, technology and leadership courses from leading providers—many of which are FEE-HELP eligible.

Start your journey toward a flexible, future-focused career today.