OS-HELP is a government-funded loan available to students seeking assistance in paying for a study overseas program, whilst also being enrolled in a commonwealth supported place. It can be used for a range of expenses such as airfares, accommodation, and other travel or study expenses.
Find out moreFind out about the Australian Government’s OS-HELP loan which can help eligible students with some of the costs associated with studying overseas.
To be considered for an OS-HELP loan you must:
Be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) at UOW.
Be either:
An Australian citizen, OR
A permanent humanitarian visa holder or eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder, OR
A Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) holder (eligible from 1 February 2024), OR
A New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder or eligible former SCV holder (meeting residency requirements).
Have completed at least 1 EFTSL (one year full-time study) that counts toward your UOW course.
Have at least 0.125 EFTSL (one unit) left to complete on return from overseas.
Be undertaking full-time overseas study that counts towards your UOW course.
Have not received more than one OS-HELP loan previously (you can receive up to two in total, but not within the same six-month period).
Submit an OS-HELP debt confirmation form (eCAF) to UOW.
Have read and agreed to the 2025 OS-HELP Statement of Terms and Conditions.
Provide your Tax File Number (TFN) and Unique Student Identifier (USI).
Important notes:
Your overseas study must commence within six months of OS-HELP approval.
Maximum loan amounts for a six-month study period in 2025 are:
$8,245 for destinations outside Asia.
$9,893 for destinations in Asia.
An additional $1,314 is available if you are undertaking approved Asian language study in preparation for study in Asia.
The amount you can borrow using an OS-Help loan is determined by your provider in accordance with their OS-Help policy, the OS-Help Guidelines and the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
Please visit Study Assist for the current maximum amount you are able to borrow.
Your provider will tell you how much OS-HELP you can borrow.
To apply you must first submit your Exchange, Study Abroad, or Short Course/Internship application within Student Mobility Online.
Once you have completed and submitted your application, an option to apply for OS-Help will appear in your Student Mobility Online dashboard. If you are deemed eligible you will receive an “OS-Help Offer Letter” detailing your loan offer. To accept the offer for your loan you must submit your Financial Details and Debt Confirmation form within Student Mobility Online when prompted. All students must meet the eligibility requirements set by the Australian Government in order to be successful in obtaining an OS-Help loan. Your loan application is not complete until you have submitted your online Debt Confirmation form.
Please note: It can take up to 8 weeks to process your loan at the time you submit your eligibility check. No loans can be paid after the completion of your overseas program.
Giving false or misleading information regarding your OS-Help application is a serious offense under the criminal code act of 1995. If we suspect you have provided misleading information you may be reported to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
Find out more from the Australian Government about how OS-Help loans work and the general OS-Help eligibility criteria.