HECS-HELP

Use a HECS-HELP loan to cover your student contribution

A HECS-HELP loan allows eligible students to borrow from the Commonwealth to cover some or all of their student contribution. It cannot be used for additional study cost such as accommodation or textbooks.

Students who receive HECS-HELP will have part or their entire student contribution amount paid to the University by the Commonwealth, and a HECS-HELP debt recorded for them with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Eligibility

To be eligible for HECS-HELP, you must be studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place. You must also be either:

• an Australian citizen residing in Australia for at least one course of study contributing to your program, or
• an eligible New Zealand special category visa holder residing in Australia for the duration of your unit(s) of study, or
• a permanent visa holder who held a NZ special category visa immediately prior to your permanent visa and you previously met the long-term residency requirements, or
• a permanent humanitarian visa holder or eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder residing in Australia for the duration of your course of study, or
• a pacific engagement visa holder.

You must also:

• provide your tax file number (TFN) or a certificate of application for a tax file number (available when you lodge in person at Australia Post), before the census date
• provide your Unique Student Identifier (USI) before enrolling
• have enough available HELP balance
• be assessed as a genuine student and as academically suitable for your unit of study
• maintain a reasonable study load of no more than two EFTSL per year unless approved by Adelaide University to study a higher load
• have read the Commonwealth Supported Places and HECS-HELP information booklet
• have submitted a valid CSP and HECS-HELP eCAF by the census date.

If you do not meet the above criteria, you are not eligible for HECS-HELP and must pay all student contributions to the University by the invoice due date.  

HECS-HELP eligible students may pay their student contribution in the following ways:

• pay the full amount to the University by the invoice due date
• pay some of the student contribution to the University by the invoice due date and receive a HECS-HELP loan, (if eligible) for the remainder of the student contribution
• receive a HECS-HELP loan (if eligible) for the full student contribution.

Applying

To apply for HECS-HELP, eligible students must complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF), as part of the University's checklist in the myEnrolment system that can be accessed via the student portal.

To update your eCAF in myEnrolment after you have completed the checklist:

1. select ‘myDetails’
2. select ‘CAF’
3. select the ‘Update’ button next to your program
4. follow the prompts, enter your tax file number (TFN) where required, and answer all questions on the form 
5. select ‘Save CAF’. 

If you're a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder, you’ll need to email proof of your eligibility to studentfinance@adelaideuni.edu.au at least five days before the census date for your study period. Once you're confirmed as eligible, you'll be able to access the HECS-HELP form in the ‘My Details’ section, as explained above.

Within 28 days of the census date, the University will send you a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) showing the amount of student contribution deferred to a HECS-HELP loan.

If you are a cross-institutional student and wish to access HECS-HELP at both institutions, you must complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) for each institution in which you are enrolled.

Combined HELP loan limit and balance

The combined HELP loan limit includes HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP. You can find the current HELP loan limits at Study Assist.

It is your responsibility to keep track of your HELP balance and to notify the University if there is insufficient HELP balance remaining to cover your Student Contribution amount. You can check your HELP balance on the Commonwealth Government’s myHELPbalance website.

Repayment

Repayment of a HECS-HELP debt is compulsory when your taxable income is above the minimum repayment threshold set by the Australian Government.

Any repayments you make on your HELP debt will credit your available HELP balance, up to your applicable HELP loan limit.

Learn more at Study Assist.

Tax file number (TFN)

If you wish to access HECS-HELP but don't yet have a tax file number, it is important that you apply for one early via the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).