About HELP loans

Find out about the types of HELP loans such as HECS-HELP, if you’re eligible and the deadlines and limits.

HELP loans can help you pay for:

  • course fees
  • student services and amenities fee
  • expenses around studying overseas if you’re enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP).

If you aren’t an Australian citizen, find out about study assistance for non-Australian citizens on the StudyAssist website.

Types of HELP loans

There are five types of HELP loans.

Find out more about the different HELP loans and eligibility on the StudyAssist website. These links will take you away from myGov.

  • HECS-HELP

    A loan to help pay for your studies if you’re enrolled in a CSP, for example a bachelor’s degree at a university.

  • FEE-HELP

    A loan to help pay for your tuition fees in a full fee paying place, for example a master’s degree.

  • SA-HELP

    A loan to help pay a fee from your provider to cover services like food services and career advice.

  • OS-HELP

    A loan to help pay for expenses to do with overseas study, if you’re eligible and enrolled in a CSP.

  • STARTUP-HELP

    A loan to help pay for your studies when you participate in a Startup Year course.

Loan limits

There’s a limit on how much you can borrow from the Australian Government to pay your tuition fees.

You can find how much you have borrowed on the myHELPbalance website. You can also find out about the HELP loan limits on the StudyAssist website.

Loan deadlines

Each university or higher education provider has different deadlines to:

  • apply for a HELP loan
  • accept an offer in a course
  • formally withdraw from studies without incurring a HELP debt
  • make an upfront payment.

The deadline is called the census date. If you miss the census date you can’t get a HELP loan or you’ll be charged fees if you withdraw. Make sure you know the census date so you don’t run out of time.

Find out more about loan deadlines on the StudyAssist website.

Using your USI to apply

You need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) to apply for HELP loans and to graduate. If you’ve studied before, you might already have a USI.

A USI is a unique combination of numbers and letters that identifies each student.

Find out how you can get or find your USI on the USI website.

Page last updated: 23 November 2023