From 1 January 2005, the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) was introduced, replacing the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). HELP comprises the following three schemes:
HECS-HELP – for eligible students enrolled in Commonwealth supported places. A HECS-HELP loan will cover all or part of their student contribution.
FEE-HELP – for eligible fee-paying students enrolled at an eligible higher education provider or Open Universities Australia. FEE-HELP provides students with a loan to cover up to the full amount of their tuition fees to a maximum of $50,950 (2006 indexed figure) over their lifetime.
OS-HELP – for eligible Commonwealth supported students who wish to study overseas. OS-HELP provides students with a cash loan to cover expenses such as accommodation and travel.
HELP is administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), the Tax Office, and higher education providers. The Tax Office is responsible for collecting HELP debts through the tax system.
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