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.

Steps on how to complete this form in eStudent can be found at on the Completing an eCAF page.

More information

For further information about the HECS-HELP loan: