Did you finish Year 12, and are you considering a move from regional or remote Australia to continue your studies? You might be eligible for a payment of up to $5,000 from the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP).
About the TAP
The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a non-indexed, means-tested payment to school-leavers from regional or remote areas who need to relocate for full-time, higher-level tertiary education (Certificate IV and above) at an education provider located at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home.
Am I eligible?
You need to be an eligible student from a regional or remote area, moving away from home to study at a tertiary education provider.
To get this payment you must meet all of the following things:
- meet Australian resident meeting residence rules
- come from an inner regional, outer regional or remote area as defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard - Remoteness Area classification
- move to study at a tertiary education provider that's at least 90 minutes away from your family home location by public transport
- have completed year 12 or equivalent and commenced your first year of study in a qualifying tertiary course
- enrolled in at least 75 per cent of your course’s normal full-time study load, or an approved concessional study load
- studying a tertiary course at certificate IV or above
- studying face to face, or in dual delivery method, for at least part of the course,
- are 22 or younger on the day you start your tertiary course
- have parents or guardians whose income is under the current combined parental income limit of $250,000 if you are a dependent.
If you finished school in 2024 and meet the eligibility rules, you can claim TAP at any time between 1 January and 31 December 2025.
If it’s more than 12 months since you finished school, you can’t claim right now. Services Australia are updating their systems to take your claim. They expect this to be complete by mid to late June 2025.
You can read more about expanded eligibility for TAP on the Department of Education website.
How do I apply?
Students relocating to study at a university, non-university higher education provider (NUHEP) or a vocational education and training (VET) provider must apply through Services Australia within their first year of tertiary studies and have completed Year 12 (or equivalent).