VET-FEE Help

What is VET-FEE Help?

Courses Direct is proud to partner with Conwal Institute to offer our Australian students VET FEE HELP on selected courses via online (distance) delivery.

VET FEE-HELP is a student loan scheme for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector that is part of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP).

VET FEE-HELP assists eligible students undertaking certain VET courses of study (diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate and graduate diploma courses) with an approved VET provider, to pay for all or part of their tuition costs. A VET provider is a registered training organisation who has been approved by the Australian Government to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to their students. Students that enrol via Courses Direct using this VET FEE-HELP program will be studying with Conwal Institute.

Am I Eligible for VET-FEE Help?

If you can't afford the expense of study right away, you may be eligible for VET FEE HELP, a student loan program (for eligible students) that enables you to defer payment of tuition fees until you've finished studying. The great thing is that you don't have to make any repayments until you have a job and your income reaches a certain level, which is $51,309 for the 2013/14 income year. The loans are then repaid effortlessly through the tax system.

Use the checklist below to determine if this funding may be available to you. In summary, if you are an Australian Citizen, have a tax file number (TFN) and you have not already exceeded the FEE-HELP loan limit, you should be eligible for this funding. If you'd like more information on VET-FEE Help, feel free to contact one of our friendly course advisors for all the details. Phone 1800 663 989 or click here to send us a message.

You are eligible for VET FEE-HELP if you:

• are an Australian citizen OR permanent humanitarian visa holder (resident in Australia for the duration of the unit);

AND

• are a full fee-paying / fee for service student studying a diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate or graduate diploma level course at an approved VET FEE-HELP provider; OR are a student subsidised by the Victorian or South Australian State Government studying a diploma or advanced diploma course;

AND

• have not exceeded the FEE-HELP limit (see below);

AND

• meet the tax file number (TFN) requirements after you have applied for a TFN OR if you don't have a TFN you can give your provider a Certificate of application for a TFN. This certificate is available from the Australian Taxation Office after you have applied for a TFN;

AND

• submitted a completed, signed Request for VET FEE-HELP Assistance Form to your VET provider prior to the census date.

How do you apply for VET FEE-HELP with Courses Direct?

If you are eligible for VET FEE-HELP assistance and would like to obtain a VET FEE-HELP loan for your course, then please contact our team 1800 663 989. We will assist you in applying by confirming your eligibility and providing you with the VET FEE-HELP Information booklet and Request for VET FEE-HELP assistance form.

You must read the Information booklet before completing and signing the form, when completing the form, you must tick all relevant boxes and sign the declaration. Return the form to the our team on or before the census date (or the earlier date set by Conwal Institute) for the first unit of study for which you wish to obtain VET FEE-HELP assistance.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our friendly staff.

If you have not submitted a completed Request for VET FEE-HELP assistance form on or before the census date for the unit, you will not be entitled to VET FEE-HELP assistance for that unit. 

How much can I borrow?

Eligible students can borrow up to the FEE-HELP limit to pay their tuition fees. The FEE-HELP limit is the total amount available to eligible students under both the VET FEE-HELP and FEE-HELP loan schemes. This means that any amount you borrow under either VET FEE-HELP or FEE-HELP will reduce your FEE-HELP balance (the amount of FEE-HELP you have left to use) until you have reached the FEE-HELP limit.

For 2013, the FEE-HELP limit is $116,507 for students undertaking medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses (as defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003), and $93,204 for all other students.

The FEE-HELP limit is a lifetime limit and is not reset or 'topped up' by any repayments that you make. 

What are the Fees and Charges?

No application fees are charged for requesting VET FEE-HELP assistance.

A 20% loan fee applies to full fee-paying students receiving VET FEE-HELP assistance. The loan fee is included in your VET FEE-HELP debt and will not decrease your FEE-HELP loan limit. Students in a Reform State or Territory will not incur a loan fee. Victoria is the only Reform State or Territory for the purposes of VET FEE-HELP.

No interest is charged to your VET FEE-HELP debt, however, your debt is indexed annually by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to maintain its real value. If you do not have a Tax File Number (TFN) you can request one from the Australian Taxation Office www.ato.gov.au

For more information about VET FEE-HELP debts visit the HELP debts and repayments page.

Click on links above to view our course fees and schedules. 

What are the Repayments?

VET FEE-HELP debts become part of your accumulated HELP debt. You must start repaying your accumulated HELP debt when your repayment income is above the minimum repayment threshold for compulsory repayments. The minimum repayment threshold for compulsory repayment for the 2012-13 income year is $49,095 ($51,309 for the 2013/14 income year). The repayment thresholds are adjusted each year to reflect any changes in average weekly earnings.

You can make voluntary repayments to reduce your HELP debt at any time and for any amount. Making a voluntary payment will reduce your debt immediately and can attract a bonus. If you make a voluntary repayment of $500 or more, you will receive a bonus of 5% of the payment you make.

Policies and Procedures.