FEE-HELP

Page last updated on 19 August, 2009

1. Loan description
2. Applying for FEE-HELP
3. Repayment Thresholds
4. Where can I get more information?

1. Loan description

FEE–HELP is an Australian Federal Government loan scheme by which eligible fee–paying students have their tuition fees at eligible higher education providers paid by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as a loan.  This loan is then re-paid through the tax system.

To be entitled to FEE-HELP, you must be:

• an Australian citizen;     
  OR
• the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa who will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit;
  OR
• the holder of a permanent visa who is undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals and will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit.

FEE–HELP can apply to all courses taken through the Institute for Christian Spirituality and Pastoral Formation (ICSPF). From 1 January 2009, FEE–HELP students can borrow up to a maximum of $83,313 (indexed upwards each year) over their lifetime.

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2. Applying for FEE-HELP

If you wish to apply for FEE-HELP, please contact the ICSPF Office, 175 Royal Parade, Parkville:

Phone: (03) 9341 5886
Email:  helen@jtc.edu.au

and ask that
(i) a Request for FEE–HELP assistance form and
(ii) FEE-HELP information booklet be mailed to you.

Your completed Request for FEE–HELP assistance form normally needs to be sent back to the office of the Institute for Christian Spirituality and Pastoral Formation (ICSPF) with your completed Application Form for your course of study.  Once these two forms have been checked by the Dean of ICSPF they will be forwarded to the Melbourne College of Divinity.

IMPORTANT!
If you wish to take out a FEE-HELP loan, you must complete a Request for FEE–HELP assistance form on or before the Census date (mid-March and mid-August for regular semester units). Failure to do so will result in you not being eligible for FEE–HELP assistance. Before you sign the form, you must read the FEE–HELP information booklet so that you are aware of your obligations under the scheme. If you change your course of study at ICSPF you will need to submit a new Request for FEE-HELP assistance form.

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3. Repayment thresholds

The minimum repayment threshold for compulsory repayment of a FEE-HELP loan is $41,595 (2008-2009), indexed upwards each year. You will not be required to start repaying your debt through the tax system until your income is above this level, which is indexed upwards each June. 

4. Where can I get more information?

Read the FEE–HELP information booklet

DEEWR can provide general information on FEE-HELP:

• Visit the Going to Uni website at: www.goingtouni.gov.au
• Call the Student Enquiry Line on 1800 020 108;
• Log on to myUniAssist for the balance of your entitlements at: www.goingtouni.gov.au or
• Visit the Course Information System at: www.goingtouni.gov.au

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