More than 3 million Australians now hold a student HELP debt — and the rules changed again this year.
Lost in the jargon? You’re not alone. We hear from students every week who are unsure about HELP loan types, the new repayment thresholds, indexation, and who actually qualifies.
Our promise: At PickMyUni, we make HELP loan Australia rules plain-English so you can choose courses and providers with your eyes open. If you decide to switch or need a second opinion, we’ll help you map the smartest path.
Quick take: The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) lets eligible students defer certain study costs and repay later through the tax system.
Under the higher education loan program HELP, there are several separate loans:
HECS-HELP (for student contribution amounts in a Commonwealth Supported Place).
FEE-HELP (a fee help loan for eligible tuition fees in fee-paying places).
OS-HELP (an os help loan for some overseas study costs while you remain enrolled in Australia).
SA-HELP (an sa-help loan that can cover the Student Services and Amenities Fee under the sa-help loan scheme).
VET FEE-HELP (legacy only; replaced in 2017 by VET Student Loans).
SA-HELP, in plain terms: It can pay some or all of your SSAF, which funds things like careers advice, sport, childcare and financial counselling on campus. In 2025, providers can charge up to $365 total for the year; SA-HELP can cover it.
OS-HELP snapshot (2025): You can borrow up to $8,245 for a six-month period outside Asia, $9,893 for study in Asia, plus $1,314 extra for approved Asian-language study. Your uni pays it to you once you’re selected. OS-HELP does not count toward your combined HELP limit.
Eligibility depends on your citizenship/visa status, residency, course type and provider.
Australian citizens: Generally eligible if your course and provider are approved; you must complete at least one unit in Australia during your course.
New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holders: Some qualify if they meet long-term residency rules (first became usually resident 10+ years ago as a dependent child, plus time-in-Australia tests).
Former permanent humanitarian visa holders: Eligible for CSPs and HELP from 1 Jan 2022.
Australian permanent residents (non-humanitarian): Can get a CSP but not a HELP loan for student contributions.
Temporary visa holders / international students: Not eligible for CSPs or HELP loans.
From our work at PickMyUni:
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Big changes for 2025–26: Repayments now start at a higher threshold, and they’re calculated only on the income above that threshold.
Compulsory repayments kick in once your repayment income exceeds $67,000 (2025–26). Your employer can withhold PAYG amounts if you tell them you have a HELP debt; the ATO finalises the exact amount after you lodge your tax return.
New method: Repayments are now marginal — only the portion of income over $67,000 counts. This replaces the old system that charged a percentage of your total income once you crossed a bracket.
New brackets & rates (proposed then legislated via the 2025 Bill):
Indexation (aka “help loan interest”): HELP debts don’t charge interest like a bank; they are indexed on 1 June to maintain real value. From 2024 onward, indexation is capped at the lower of CPI or the Wage Price Index (WPI) and the Government back-dated credits for 2023 and 2024. The 2023 indexation was revised to 3.2% (from 7.1%) and 2024 to 4.0% (from 4.7%).
Infographic: HELP loan repayment thresholds & rates (2025–26)
What you can borrow overall:
General HELP loan limit: $126,839
Higher cap (medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and some aviation): $182,172
What counts: HECS-HELP (since 1 Jan 2020), FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans count toward your combined limit. OS-HELP and SA-HELP do not.
What if you hit the cap? You can’t defer more eligible fees via HELP until your available HELP balance increases (for example, after repayments). You can check your balance at myHELPbalance.
Example — HECS-HELP vs FEE-HELP:
A CSP student deferring $10,000 per year via HECS-HELP uses up their combined limit (it counts).
A fee-paying student deferring $15,000 via FEE-HELP also draws down the same combined limit.
If either student takes OS-HELP for exchange, those amounts don’t reduce the combined limit.
Upside:
No upfront payment for eligible fees; income-contingent repayments via the ATO.
Fairer indexation rules and a higher threshold in 2025–26 ease pressure for many borrowers.
Trade-offs:
Indexation still grows the balance each 1 June (now at the lower of CPI/WPI).
Long repayment horizon if your income sits near the threshold.
Borrowing caps can limit your ability to defer if you load up over multiple courses.
Expert note (PickMyUni): Based on our analysis of 1000s of student fee plans, many underestimate how long small balances can hang around when income hovers near the threshold. A few hundred dollars of voluntary repayment before 1 June can also reduce the amount indexed that year. |
HELP vs private loans: Private loans charge real interest and may require a credit check; HELP is income-contingent and has no credit score requirement.
Scholarships: Free money beats any loan. Check university, government and industry awards.
Studying overseas: OS-HELP can cover flights, Australia visas and on-ground costs for approved overseas study counting toward your Australian degree.
🧠Pro tip: Our team at PickMyUni curates fresh scholarship leads and compares course fees across providers — a fast way to shave thousands off your bill.
Ready to make a smart move?
Review universities that offer CSPs and publish clear HELP info.
Get 1:1 guidance from PickMyUni if you’re thinking about transferring to a provider with better financial support or lower out-of-pocket costs.Compare courses with lower student contributions or fee caps.
