HECS-HELP

Student Fees and Contribution Rates

HECS-HELP assists eligible Commonwealth Supported Students to pay their Student Contribution Amount. Students eligible for HECS-HELP are able to pay their student contribution amount up-front for which they would receive a discount of 10%; make a partial up-front payment of $500 or more and receive a 10% discount; defer all of their Student Contribution amount and make repayments through tax once a person reaches the repayment threshold for compuslsory repayments.

HECS-HELP will affect students differently depending on when they first commenced their current course of study.

Pre-2008 Commonwealth Supported Students¹

As part of the 2007-08 Budget, the Australian Government deemed that the set contribution amounts for units of study in accounting, administration, economics and commerce will increase to the same maximum amount as applies under Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) for law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science i.e the units of study will move from Student Contribution Band 2 to Student Contribution Band 3. The increased maximum student contribution amount can affect only students who commence their course of study at a higher education provider after 1 January 2008 or who have not studied as a Commonwealth Supported student prior to 1 January 2008.

The transitional arrangements relating to pre-2008 students end on 31 December 2012. From 1 January 2013, pre-2008 students will be liable for the same maximum indexed student contribution amounts as applicable under HESA for 2013.

Generally, you will be considered a pre-2008 HECS-HELP student if you:

  • Commenced a course of study with a provider before 1 January 2008 and you were a Commonwealth Supported student in relation to a unit of study in that course;
  • AND you had not completed the course in which you were enrolled by 31 December 2007, or if you had completed the course, it was an enabling course undertaken in 2007; or the related course for an honours course of study and you are undertaking the honours course of study;
  • AND the period over which you are undertaking the unit of study ends on or before 31 December 2012;
  • AND you are not a pre-2005 HECS student in 2008;
  • AND the unit of study would have been in the accounting, administration, economics or commerce funding cluster repealed by Schedule 2 of the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007.

You will not be considered eligible if you:

  • Deferred your enrolment or withdrew from all units before the end of the first census date for a unit in your course of study before 1 January 2008;
  • Studied as a HECS student prior to 1 January 2005 but have not undertaken any study between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2007.

Pre-2009 Commonwealth Supported Students¹

As part of the 2008-09 Budget, the Australian Government are providing incentives for students to study mathematics and science. The Higher Education Support Act 2003 has been amended to reduce the maximum annual student contribution amount for students studying mathematics (including statistics) or science units of study from $7,412 a year to the lowest national priority rate of $4,162 in 2009 for an equivalent full-time student load. The reduction applies to all units of study in mathematics, statistics and science for commencing students regardless of their course of study (and existing students who transfer from a course of study that is not in the natural and physical sciences to one that is) from 1 January 2009. Existing students, (other than 'transferring' students as above) will continue under current arrangements and are classified pre-2009 students for this purpose.

You are a pre-2009 student if:

you commenced a study program before 1 January 2009 and were a Commonwealth supported student in that program; and

  • you didn't complete the study program before 31 December 2008 (or if you did complete your study program it was an enabling study program or a study program related to a current honours study program); and
  • you are undertaking a course of study in mathematics, statistics or science.

If I am a pre-2009 student, what student contribution do I pay?

If you are a pre-2009 student, the maximum student contribution amount per EFTSL , in 2009, for a course of study in mathematics, statistics or science is the same as it would be had the Australian Government not reduced the maximum. In 2011, this is $7,756 (indexed for later years).

Pre-2010 Commonwealth Supported Students¹

Policy changes announced in the 2009 Australian Government budget resulted in the Education and Nursing subject areas being re-classified as Band 1 effective from 1 January 2010.  The Government advised that pre-2010 students will continue to pay the National Priority rate for topics in these subject areas.

If you are a pre-2010 student enrolling in topics in the Education and Nursing subject areas you wil be charged at the National Priority rate.

You will be eligible for pre-2010 status if you satisfy one of the conditions below :

  • you are returning to study in the same course in 2011 for which you were enrolled as a Commonwealth supported student prior to 2010;
  • you were a Commonwealth supported student in another course that commenced prior to 2010 and have not completed the requirements of that course; or
  • you were a Commonwealth supported student in a course that commenced prior to 2010 and are now commencing a related honours course.

If you have not studied at University before, or do not meet the criteria for pre-2010 status, you will be charged at the Band 1 rates for Education and Nursing subject areas.

Eligibility for a Commonwealth Supported Place

Generally, you will be eligible to be a Commonwealth Supported Student for a unit of study if you:

  • Meet the citizenship or residency requirements; and have sufficient Student Learning Entitlement² to cover the unit in which you are enrolling;
  • Enrol in the unit on or before the Census date;
  • Submit a valid 'Request for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP' form on or before the Census
    date;

Please note that eligibility for a Commonwealth Supported place does not guarantee that you will be offered one. Higher Education Providers must allocate Commonwealth Supported places to applicants based on merit and will advise you if have been offered one.

Australian citizens and holders of permanent humanitarian visas who are offered a Commonwealth Supported place are generally eligible to apply for HECS-HELP assistance.

 

Holders of permanent visas (other than permanent humanitarian visa) and New Zealand citizens are generally required to pay their student contrbution amount up-front, in full, by the end of Week 1 for the relevant study period . These students are not eligible for HECS-HELP assistance.

 

Request for Commonwealth Assistance and HECS-HELP

New students who commence their course with a Commonwealth supported place are required to submit a 'Request for Commonwealth Assistance and HECS-HELP' application form to the University by the end of week 1 of their first teaching period of enrolment. Once this form has been submitted a student is not required to submit another form unless they change their current course.


HECS-HELP Up Front Payment Option

Eligible students who make an up front payment will receive a 10% discount on their liability for the relevant teaching period. Up-front payments are due by the end of the first week of each teaching period. A late penalty charge may be imposed if a payment is made after the stipulated dates.

HECS-HELP Deferred Option

Eligible students who apply for a HECS-HELP loan must supply the University with a valid Tax File Number (TFN) prior to the relevant Census date for the teaching period. Under this option, a student is required to commence repaying their HELP debt via the taxation system once they reach the minimum repayment threshold for compulsory repayment as stipulated by the Federal Government.

HECS Partial Up-Front Payment Option

Students who choose this option must:

  • Pay at least $500 which attracts a 10% discount. (Please refer to the 'Information for Commonwealth Supported Students' booklet for more detailed information. A copy of this booklet may be obtained from the Student Centre).
  • Complete a 'Request for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP' application form quoting the Tax File Number and completing the relevant sections indicating that they wish to make a partial up-front payment. The balance will be reported to the Australian Taxation Office and will be repaid through tax once the repayment threshold for compulsory repayment is reached.
  • Make a partial up-front payment by the end of Week 1 of the teaching period.

Once a 'Request for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP' application form has been submitted, a student is not required to submit another form unless they change their current course. Any student wishing to change their HECS-HELP assistance option must either; submit their Tax File Number to the University (for students requesting a HECS-HELP loan), or make the full up front payment (for students who wish to change to the up-front option) . This must be done PRIOR to the Census date for the relevant teaching period.

New Zealand Citizens and Permanent Residents

New Zealand Citizens and holders of a permanent visa (other than a permanent humanitarian visa) are required to pay their student contribution amount up front, in full, to the University by the end of Week 1 of the relevant teaching period. New Zealand Citizens and holders of a permanent visa are not eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

 

Extensions for Payment of Fees

No extensions for the payment of fees will be granted.

Please Note - According to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA), all enrolment and payment arrangements must be finalised by the Census Date. If you have outstanding fees after the relevant census date, your enrolment will be discontinued in accordance with the HESA legislation.

Voluntary Re-payments and Accumulated HECS Debt Details

If you wish to make a voluntary repayment towards your deferred accumulated HELP (previously HECS) debt or want to find out the balance of your debt you should contact the Australian Tax Office on 13 28 61 or via the Internet at http://www.ato.gov.au/hecs.

Commonwealth Assistance Notices (previously Statements of Liability):

A Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) will be issued to all Commonwealth Supported students, detailing their liability for each teaching period. If the student considers that the information on the notice is incorrect, they should submit a written appeal to the Academic Registrar, Student and Academic Services clearly stating the reason why the record is incorrect. Appeals must reach the University within 14 days of issue of the original notice.

Remission of HELP Loan and Student Learning Entitlement²

Students who withdraw from a course/unit(s) prior to the Census date do not incur a HECS-HELP liability.

Students who apply for a HECS-HELP loan and who withdraw from a course/unit(s) after the relevant teaching periods' Census date may apply for remission of their HECS-HELP loan and Student Learning Entitlement² through the University's Enrolments and Fees Office. For further information see the Refunds page.

Refunds of Up Front Student Contribution Payments

Students who withdraw from a course/unit(s) before the Census date are entitled to a full refund of their Up-front payments. Students should request a refund of their Up-front payments in writing by lodging an Enrolment Amendment form. The form is available electronically at http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-services/forms.

Students who withdraw from a course/unit(s) after the Census date may be able to apply for a refund. Consideration may be given to cases where there are special or exceptional circumstances. Applications, together with supporting documentation must be lodged with the University by the dates stipulated by the University. For further information see the Refunds page. 

All applications will only be approved if exceptional circumstances can be proven to exist. Supporting documentation must be submitted with applications before they will be assessed.

 

¹If you believe that the pre-2008, pre-2009 or pre-2010 HECS-HELP rate applies to you, please conatct the Student Centre on 1300 301 727.

²Please refer to the following link regarding the SLE changes that will be introduced from 1 January 2012 - http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-services/fees/student-learning-entitlement-sle. 

Further Information

For further information on Student Fees or Contribution Rates please visit our web-site at http://www.canberra.edu.au/student-services/fees

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