Eligibility and application process for HECS-HELP loans

HECS-HELP is available to Commonwealth supported students to assist with the costs of units of study, subject to eligibility requirements.

Students will need to provide their Tax File Number (TFN) by the census date before they can defer their fees via HECS-HELP.

Eligibility

To get a HECS-HELP loan, you must:

  • be studying in a Commonwealth supported place
  • be an Australian citizen and meet the residency requirements (you must study at least part of your course in Australia)
  • be a New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder or permanent humanitarian visa holder and meet the residency requirements
  • submit the 'Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP' form to Macquarie by the census date
  • be enrolled in each unit/subject at Macquarie by the census date
  • have available HELP balance.

Apply

All students who are admitted into a Commonwealth Supported program must complete a HECS‐HELP eCAF form online via eStudent by the relevant census date. You will not be able to enrol in units until this form has been submitted and approved.

  1. Log into eStudent
  2. Click on the 'My Offer' tab or 'My Finances' tab
  3. Click on – Submit Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
  4. Choose the course you are currently “Admitted” into. If you are not Admitted then choose the most recently “Offered” course.
    • If you have already completed an eCAF and need to submit a new one, select the “Add New” button.
  5. Once lodging the appropriate form, you should check the 'status' box. It should automatically say “approved”. If it says “submitted by student” there is some error with the form and you will need to complete a new form.

More information

For further information about the HECS-HELP loan: