Government Financial Help for Study in 2025: Your Guide to Hecs Help and Fee Help

Thinking about upskilling or going to university but worried about the cost? Australia’s Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) makes study more affordable, with options like HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP that let you study now and repay later through the tax system.

Here’s everything you need to know about these loan schemes—who’s eligible, how repayment works, and what’s changed in 2025.

What Is HECS-HELP?

HECS-HELP is a government loan that helps eligible students enrolled in Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) pay their student contribution amounts.

Who’s Eligible?

• You must be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
• You must be an Australian citizen, a New Zealand Special Category visa holder, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa.
• You must submit a valid Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form by the census date.

How and When Do You Repay?

Repayments begin once your income crosses the repayment threshold, which for 2024–25 is $51,550 (indexed annually).

Learn more about HECS-HELP on StudyAssist.

What Is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is a loan for eligible full-fee paying students studying at approved higher education providers. It covers all or part of your tuition fees for undergraduate or postgraduate study.

Who’s Eligible?

• You must be enrolled in an approved course with a FEE-HELP provider.
• You must be an Australian citizen, or an eligible permanent humanitarian visa holder.
• You must submit the FEE-HELP form by the census date.

How Much Can You Borrow?

As of 2025, the FEE-HELP loan cap is indexed annually and currently sits at:

• $121,844 for most students
• $162,336 for students in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science

Repayment Threshold and Rate

You’ll start repaying your FEE-HELP loan once your income reaches the threshold. Repayment is based on your income level and starts at 1% and rises to 10% for high earners. Here’s the current 2025–26 scale:

2025-26 HELP Repayment Rates

Repayment income (RI) thresholds	Repayment rate (% of repayment income)
Below $56,156	Nil
$56,156–$64,837	1.0%
$64,838–$68,726	2.0%
$68,727–$72,851	2.5%
$72,852–$77,222	3.0%
$77,223–$81,855	3.5%
$81,856–$86,766	4.0%
$86,767–$91,973	4.5%
$91,974–$97,491	5.0%
$97,492–$103,341	5.5%
$103,342–$109,542	6.0%
$109,543–$116,115	6.5%
$116,116–$123,081	7.0%
$123,082–$130,466	7.5%
$130,467–$138,294	8.0%
$138,295–$146,593	8.5%
$146,594–$155,388	9.0%
$155,389–$164,711	9.5%
$164,712 and above	10%

Loan repayments are automatically deducted through the ATO once you reach the threshold.

Find out more about FEE-HELP here.

Is There Interest on HELP Loans?

HELP loans don’t accrue interest, but they are indexed annually to reflect inflation. In June 2023, the indexation rate was unusually high at 7.1%, which prompted widespread discussions. For 2024, the rate has dropped, but borrowers are encouraged to monitor ATO updates each year.

Need Help Applying?

Applications are managed through your university or education provider. Make sure to submit your HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP application by your course’s census date to avoid paying upfront.

To check if your course is eligible, browse our guide to HELP-supported online courses.

Helpful Resources

• StudyAssist.gov.au – Official source for all HELP loan details
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO) – Repayment info and thresholds
• Explore online courses eligible for government financial assistance