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Home>Australia>Students>Financial Aid

Financial Aid for Australian Citizens

FEE-HELP loans

Australian citizens (and holders of permanent humanitarian visas) studying in Australia may apply for FEE-HELP, a loan given to eligible fee-paying students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. Over your lifetime, you may borrow through FEE-HELP an amount up to the FEE-HELP limit (AUD$80,000 as at 1 January 2007) to pay your tuition fees. There is no interest charged on a FEE-HELP debt. However, debt is indexed annually by the Tax Office to maintain its real value. Income and assets do not affect eligibility for FEE-HELP.

The Australian Government pays the amount of the loan direct to the University. Students repay their loans through the Australian taxation system once their repayment income is above the minimum repayment threshold for compulsory repayment (AUD$38,149 in FY 2006-07). Voluntary repayments may be made at any time, regardless of income.

The Graduate Program Manager can provide you with information on obtaining FEE-HELP assistance. Email to irinaf@cmu.edu.au or telephone (08) 8110 9904.

For more information, visit the FEE-HELP Web site maintained by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). Alternatively you may wish to call the DEST student enquiry line on 1800 020 108.

The Tax Office can explain what happens once you have a Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) debt, including how compulsory repayments are calculated and how indexation works. Visit the ATO Web site or get the booklet Repaying your HELP debts by phoning 1300 720 092.

Monitoring your FEE-HELP account

As a Commonwealth assisted student, you will be allocated a Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN). The number appears on your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN), issued to you by the University within 28 days of a census date lapsing. You should keep a record of all Commonwealth Assistance Notices that are sent to you.

The CHESSN is a unique identifier that remains with you. You can use your CHESSN to check the Commonwealth assistance you have received since 1 January 2005, including your FEE-HELP loan balance by accessing myUniAssist.

The Tax Office will send you an information statement in June each year if you have been incurring debts or making payments to your account in the previous 15 months. Of no activity, other than indexation, has occurred, you will not be issued with an activity statement.

Your information statement is sent to the latest possible address shown in Tax Office records. If your postal address changes, you must notify the Tax Office. The Tax Office can tell you the balance of your account, or provide you with a statement, if you phone the Tax Office on 13 28 61

FEE-HELP decision appeal process

If you withdraw your enrolment in a unit of study (class) after the census date, or have not completed the requirements for a unit, as a result of special circumstances you may apply to the University to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited. Your FEE-HELP balance can only be re-credited in special circumstances.