Information for New & Commencing Students After 2005

1. Types of Students
2. Payment Options
3. Repaying a HELP Loan

1. Types of Students

Please Note - Domestic students are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent visa. All other students are considered overseas students.

Commonwealth Supported Students

On average, the Australian Government contributes about three-quarters of the total funding for educational costs provided for Commonwealth supported students; these students pay a "student contribution".

The Federal Government has outlined that the University of Wollongong and other higher education providers are responsible for setting its own student contributions for each unit of study. This means that student contributions will vary between providers and courses. These student contributions must be within a range set by the government (see Table 1 and Table 2 below):

Table 1 - Students commencing courses on or after 1st January 2005:

* course costs will depend on the individual subjects chosen. These maximum student contributions are for full-time students for a full year.

Table 2 – Students commencing courses on or after 1st January 2008:

*course costs will depend on the individual subjects chosen. These maximum student contributions are for full-time students for a full year.

Information on Student Contributions Amounts and Tuition Fees is now available.

Each domestic student studying at the University of Wollongong will receive a "Student Learning Entitlement" (SLE) of 7 years equivalent full time study when they commence study as a Commonwealth supported student. SLE is provided in terms of study load, so that students who study part-time will not be disadvantaged. Students gradually consume their SLE as they undertake units of study as a Commonwealth supported student. Students can only be Commonwealth supported students while they have available SLE. Additional SLE will be provided to students enrolled in certain courses, including those undertaking undergraduate degrees longer than six years and those undertaking an honours course.

Fee Paying Students

The University of Wollongong will set its own tuition fees for each course, as well as all other higher education providers. The government will outline a minimum limit on tuition fees, and tuition fees will not be less than the student contributions paid by Commonwealth supported students in the same course.

Information on Tuition fees is now available.

2. Payment Options

Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa may pay their student contribution or tuition fee up front when studying at the University of Wollongong or they may request a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan.

There are two main types of HELP loans:

1. HECS-HELP - which is available for eligible Commonwealth supported students to pay their student contribution; and
2. FEE-HELP - which is available for eligible fee paying students to pay their tuition fees.

University of Wollongong students wanting to access a HELP loan will need to provide their Tax File Number.

New Zealand citizens and holders of other permanent visas studying at the University of Wollongong, do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.

HECS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth supported students

Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa in a Commonwealth supported place at the University of Wollongong may pay their student contribution in three different ways:

1. pay all of their student contribution up front;
2. receive a HECS-HELP loan for the full student contribution; or
3. pay some of the student contribution up front and receive a HECS-HELP loan for the remainder of the student contribution.

If a student receives a HECS-HELP loan, then the government pays the loan amount directly to us here at the University of Wollongong on the student’s behalf and a HECS-HELP debt is recorded for the student with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

If an Australian citizen or holder of a permanent humanitarian visa pays all, or at least $500 of their student contribution up front, then they will receive a 20% discount on the amount paid up front.

There are no fees charged on HECS-HELP loans.

FEE-HELP for eligible fee paying students

Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa in a fee paying place at the University of Wollongong, may pay their tuition fee in three different ways:

1. pay the full tuition fee up front;
2. receive a FEE-HELP loan for the full tuition fee; or
3. pay some of the tuition fee up front and receive a FEE-HELP loan for the remainder of the tuition fee.

If a student receives a FEE-HELP loan, then the government pays the loan amount directly to us here at the University of Wollongong on the student’s behalf and a FEE-HELP debt is recorded for the student with the ATO.

Students may borrow up to $81,600 in tuition fees under FEE-HELP (this limit excludes the loan fee).

There are no discounts if a student pays any of their tuition fees up front.

3. Repaying a HELP loan

Compulsory repayments are made through income tax assessments.

People with a HELP debt must make compulsory repayments when their income reaches a minimum threshold, which is $35,000 for an income year (in the 2004-05 income year).

The amount of any compulsory repayment to be made depends on the person's income each income year. For information about repayments, see "HELP Repayments" information on the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) page.

If a person has a HELP debt and earns more than the minimum repayment threshold their employer will withhold additional tax from their pay under the pay as you go (PAYG) withholding income tax arrangements to cover their anticipated compulsory repayment.

People can also make voluntary repayments to reduce their HELP debts.

Voluntary repayments are made direct to the ATO. Voluntary repayments of $500 or more attract a 10% bonus. For example, if a voluntary repayment of $500 is made then the outstanding HELP debt is reduced by $550.

Last reviewed: 14 February, 2008