VET FEE-HELP

Current News VET FEE-HELP is now available for certain State Government subsidised students From 1 July 2009, the VET FEE-HELP Assistance Scheme is changing. More students will have access to VET FEE-HELP assistance, and more flexible credit transfer arrangements will be available in certain circumstances. These changes have been implemented through amendments to the VET FEE-HELP Guidelines and VET Provider Guidelines. You can find the new guidelines here: VET FEE-HELP Guidelines: PDF    (35.1 KB) | RTF    (98.3 KB) VET Provider Guidelines: PDF    (118.8 KB) | RTF    (398.7 KB) More information about how these changes to VET FEE-HELP apply to students and training organisations can be found in the Extension of VET FEE-HELP in Victoria Factsheet. VET FEE-HELP in Victoria Factsheet PDF    (53.3 KB) | RTF    (110.5 KB) Please note: the fact sheet should be read in conjunction with HESA and the VET FEE-HELP Guidelines, VET Provider Guidelines and the VET Administration Guidelines (‘the guidelines’).  To the extent of any inconsistency, the HESA and guidelines take precedence over the information in the fact sheet. For Registered Training Organisations (RTO)/Higher Education Providers: The VET FEE-HELP IT System (VITS) is available for registered training organisations seeking approval as a VET provider. Organisations must meet specific requirements under Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to receive approval as a VET provider before their current and future students can access VET FEE-HELP assistance. For Approved VET Providers: Approved VET providers are required to provide data to DEEWR containing student demographic and enrolment information. Compliance with the reporting requirements is a condition of continued approval as a VET provider under HESA. The full list of data requirements is now available. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Read the first edition of the VET FEE-HELP newsletter for approved VET providers : VET FEE-HELP newsletter For Students: Would you like to study a high level VET qualification but cannot afford the upfront tuition fees?  You may be interested in investigating a VET FEE-HELP loan which allows eligible students at approved VET providers to study now and pay later. For further information please view the students’ page. VET FEE-HELP Information 2009 Student Booklet (revised edition) - located at the bottom of the students' page.

Information for:

Students and Parents
Registered Training Organisations
Higher Education Providers
Approved VET Providers

The Australian Government is committed to increasing productivity, addressing skills shortages and assisting with the cost of studying by implementing a range of new measures over the next four years.  One of these measures is the introduction of the VET FEE-HELP loan scheme.

What is VET FEE-HELP?

VET FEE-HELP assists eligible full fee-paying students undertaking certain VET courses of study (diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate and graduate diploma courses) with an approved VET provider, to pay for all or part of their tuition costs.  Approved VET providers offering diploma or advanced diploma courses must have an approved credit transfer arrangement to a bachelor degree with a higher education provider.

VET FEE-HELP is an extension of FEE-HELP, part of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP).  In 2009, eligible students can borrow up to $83,313 (or $104,142 for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses that lead to registration as practitioners in those fields) over their lifetime.  There is a 20% loan fee that applies for all VET courses and the FEE-HELP limit does not include the loan fee.  Students repay the loan to the Australian Government through the tax system once a student reaches the minimum income threshold level for repayment, which for 2008-09 is $41,594.