Higher Education Support Act 2003

Chapter 3 - Assistance to students  

PART 3-3 - FEE-HELP ASSISTANCE  

Division 104 - Who is entitled to FEE-HELP assistance?  

Subdivision 104-A - Basic rules  

SECTION 104-5   Citizenship or residency requirements  

104-5(1)    


A student meets the citizenship or residency requirements under this section in relation to a unit of study if:

(a)    the student is an Australian citizen; or

(b)    

the student:

(i) is a *permanent humanitarian visa holder, an *eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder or a *Pacific engagement visa holder; and

(ii) will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit; or

(c)    in the case of a student who is undertaking, or is to undertake, the unit as part of a *bridging course for overseas-trained professionals - the student is a *permanent visa holder who will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit.


104-5(2)    


In determining, for the purpose of subparagraph (1)(b)(ii) or paragraph (1)(c) , whether the student will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit, disregard any period of residence outside Australia that:

(a)    cannot reasonably be regarded as indicating an intention to reside outside Australia for the duration of the unit; or

(b)    is required for the purpose of completing a requirement of that unit.


104-5(2A)    


A student also meets the citizenship or residency requirements under this section in relation to a unit of study if the student:

(a)    

is a New Zealand citizen who will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit; and

(b)    

either:

(i) holds a special category visa under the Migration Act 1958 ; or

(ii) is a *permanent visa holder who, immediately before becoming a permanent visa holder, held a special category visa under the Migration Act 1958 ; and

(c)    both:


(i) first began to be usually resident in Australia at least 10 years before the day referred to in subsection (2B) (the test day ); and

(ii) was a *dependent child when he or she first began to be usually resident in Australia; and

(d)    has been in Australia for a period of, or for periods totalling, 8 years during the 10 years immediately before the test day; and

(e)    has been in Australia for a period of, or for periods totalling, 18 months during the 2 years immediately before the test day.


104-5(2AA)    


In determining, for the purpose of paragraph (2A)(a) , whether the student will be resident in Australia for the duration of the unit, disregard any period of residence outside Australia that:

(a)    cannot reasonably be regarded as indicating an intention to reside outside Australia for the duration of that unit; or

(b)    is required for the purpose of completing a requirement of that unit.


104-5(2B)    


For the purposes of subsection (2A) , the day is the earlier of:

(a)    if the student has previously made a successful *request for Commonwealth assistance under this Chapter for a unit that formed part of the same *course of study - the day the student first made such a request; or

(b)    otherwise - the day the student made the request for Commonwealth assistance in relation to the unit.


104-5(3)    


Despite subsections (1) , (2) and (2A) , a student does not meet the citizenship or residency requirements in relation to a unit of study if the provider reasonably expects that the student will not undertake in Australia any units of study contributing to the *course of study, or the *bridging course for overseas-trained professionals, of which the unit forms a part.

104-5(4)    


Despite subsections (1) , (2) and (2A) , a student does not meet the citizenship or residency requirements in relation to a unit of study to which access was provided by *Open Universities Australia if the student was not resident in Australia on the day the student gave the *request for Commonwealth assistance in relation to the unit as referred to in subparagraph 104-1(1)(i)(i) .



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