What is FEE-HELP?
FEE-HELP is a government loan given to eligible fee-paying students to help pay part or all of your tuition fees.
FEE-HELP Limit
You can borrow up to the amount of the tuition fee being charged by AMPA for your course. If you have already utilized FEE-HELP for previous studies, it is important to note the FEE-HELP limit (how much you can borrow) is indexed each year.
A loan fee of 25% applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses of study. The FEE-HELP limit does not include the loan fee. No loan fee applies to FEE-HELP loans for postgraduate courses.
The Australian Government pays the amount of the loan directly to the student's provider. Students repay their loan through the tax system once their income is above the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment. Compulsory repayments are made when you lodge your tax return and your HELP repayment income is above the minimum threshold, eg. $49,095 in 2012-13. Students are also able to contibute voluntary payments for HELP debts.
FEE-HELP is available to commencing students who are either Australian Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents with a humanitarian visa, and some continuing students. FEE-HELP is not available to students who are not Australian citizens (except for those in possession of a PR humanitarian visa).
Further information on FEE-HELP loans can be found by contacting our office or visiting the Study Assist website.
Tuition Assurance
Tuition assurance protects students in the event a course of study provided by an approved HELP provider ceases to be provided after it starts but before it is completed. From 1 January, 2018, AMPA will be exempted from the the requirement to meet the tuition assurance requirements and, instead, will need to comply with interim arrangements which ensure similar tuition assurance protection is provided to students. For further details, please see AMPA's Statement of Tutition Assurance Exemption
