HELP loan schemes: what does it mean?

HELP Loan Schemes Explained: Your 2025 Guide to HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP

Thinking about study but unsure how you’ll afford the tuition? The Australian Government offers a range of financial support options under the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), including HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP. These loan schemes allow eligible students to study now and pay later—helping remove financial barriers to higher education.

If you’ve ever felt confused by terms like CSP, indexation, or census dates—you’re not alone. This guide explains how HELP loans work in 2025, who qualifies, and what you need to know to get started.

Explore HELP-supported courses on CourseFinder.

HECS-HELP: For Commonwealth Supported Students

HECS-HELP is a loan scheme available to students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) at a public university. These are partially subsidised by the government, meaning you only need to cover the “student contribution” amount—and HECS-HELP helps you defer that cost until you’re earning enough to repay it.

Eligibility for HECS-HELP (2025)

You must:

• Be enrolled in a CSP at an approved Australian university or higher education provider.
• Be an Australian citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa and reside in Australia during study.
• Submit a valid Request for HECS-HELP form by the census date.
• Have a Tax File Number (TFN) and a Unique Student Identifier (USI).

How Repayment Works

You begin repaying your HELP debt once your repayment income reaches the compulsory threshold. For the 2025–26 financial year, this is $56,156.

Repayments are processed through the tax system and increase progressively with your income.

Additional HECS-HELP Notes

• There is no interest charged on your HECS-HELP loan.
• Your debt is indexed annually on 1 June in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The 2025 indexation rate is 3.2%.

More on HECS-HELP from StudyAssist

FEE-HELP: For Full Fee-Paying Students

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme for students who are not in a Commonwealth Supported Place and are paying full tuition fees. It’s available for courses at private higher education providers and universities that are approved under the HELP system.

Eligibility for FEE-HELP (2025)

You must:

• Be enrolled in an eligible course with an approved FEE-HELP provider by the census date.
• Be an Australian citizen studying at least one unit in Australia, OR
• Be a permanent humanitarian visa holder residing in Australia, OR
• Be a permanent visa holder undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals in Australia.

FEE-HELP Loan Limits

For 2025, the FEE-HELP loan limit is:

• $121,844 for most students.
• $174,998 for students in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science.

This cap applies across all HELP loan types (FEE-HELP, VET Student Loans, HECS-HELP). Indexation applies annually to unpaid balances.

Loan Fees and Repayments

• A 20% loan fee applies to undergraduate FEE-HELP loans. This fee does not count toward your HELP limit.
• Repayment begins when your repayment income reaches $56,156 (same as HECS-HELP).
• Like HECS-HELP, your debt is indexed annually in line with CPI (3.2% in 2025).

More on FEE-HELP from StudyAssist

HELP Repayment Rates for 2025-26

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%

Where to Next?

Whether you’re enrolling in your first degree or exploring new career opportunities through further study, the HELP loan schemes can make your goals financially achievable.

Get started by checking your eligibility via the official StudyAssist Eligibility Tool and find the right course for your career journey.

Browse our range of government-supported online courses and take the first step with confidence.