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 104-1   Entitlement to FEE-HELP assistance  

104-1(1)    


Subject to this section and sections 104-1AA , 104-2 , 104-3 and 104-4 , a student is entitled to *FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study if:

(a)    the student meets the citizenship or residency requirements under section 104-5 ; and

(ab)    

(Repealed by No 93 of 2020)

(ac)    

the student has been assessed by the higher education provider as academically suited to undertake the unit concerned; and

(b)    

the student ' s *HELP balance is greater than zero; and

(c)    the *census date for the unit is on or after 1 January 2005; and

(d)    the student is not a *Commonwealth supported student in relation to the unit; and

(e)    the unit meets the course requirements under section 104-10 ; and

(f)    

the unit:

(i) is, or is to be, undertaken as part of a *course of study; or

(ii) is a unit access to which was provided by *Open Universities Australia; or

(iii) is part of a *bridging course for overseas-trained professionals; and

(g)    the student:


(i) enrolled in the unit on or before the census date for the unit; and

(ii) at the end of the census date, remained so enrolled; and

(ga)    

if:

(i) subparagraph (f)(i) applies, the census date for the unit is on or after 1 January 2021 and before 1 January 2023 and the student commenced the course of study on or after 1 January 2021; or

(ii) subparagraph (f)(i) , (ii) or (iii) applies and the census date for the unit is on or after 1 January 2023;
the student meets the *student identifier requirements under subsection (5) ; and

(h)    the student *meets the tax file number requirements (see section 187-1 ); and

(i)    

the student has, on or before the census date:

(i) if access to the unit was provided by Open Universities Australia - completed, signed and given to an *appropriate officer of Open Universities Australia a *request for Commonwealth assistance in relation to the unit; or

(ii) in any other case - completed, signed and given to an appropriate officer of the higher education provider a request for Commonwealth assistance in relation to the unit or, where the course of study of which the unit forms a part is, or is to be, undertaken with the provider, in relation to the course of study.

104-1(1A)    
(Repealed by No 93 of 2020)


104-1(1AA)    


A student is not entitled to *FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study if the *Secretary determines that the student is not a genuine student in relation to the unit.

104-1(1AB)    


In determining whether a student is a genuine student for the purposes of subsection (1AA) , the *Secretary must have regard to the matters (if any) specified in the Higher Education Provider Guidelines.

104-1(1AC)    


If a determination under subsection (1AA) is made in writing, the determination is not a legislative instrument.

104-1(1B)    


The assessment for the purposes of paragraph (1)(ac) must be done in accordance with any requirements specified in the Higher Education Provider Guidelines made for the purposes of section 19-42 .

104-1(2)    


A student is not entitled to *FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study if:

(a)    the unit forms a part of a *course of study; and

(b)    the course of study is, or is to be, undertaken by the student primarily at an overseas campus.


104-1(3)    


A student is not entitled to *FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study provided, or to be provided, by a higher education provider if:

(a)    a limit on the total number of students entitled to FEE-HELP assistance, or on the total amount of FEE-HELP assistance payable to the provider, applies to the provider; and

(b)    provision of FEE-HELP assistance to the student would exceed that limit.


104-1(4)    


A student is not entitled to *FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study with a higher education provider if the higher education provider completes any part of the *request for Commonwealth assistance in relation to the unit that the student is required to complete.

When a student meets the student identifier requirements

104-1(5)    


A student meets the *student identifier requirements under this subsection if:

(a)    the student has a student identifier immediately before the census date; and

(b)    before the census date, the student notifies the student ' s student identifier to:


(i) an *appropriate officer of the higher education provider; and

(ii) the *Secretary.

104-1(6)    


A notification under paragraph (5)(b) may be included in a *request for Commonwealth assistance that the student has given to the higher education provider in relation to:

(a)    the unit of study for which the assistance is sought; or

(b)    the *course of study of which the unit forms a part; or

(c)    any other unit of study forming part of that course.





This information is provided by CCH Australia Limited Link opens in new window. View the disclaimer and notice of copyright.