Bond University is an approved private higher education provider that offers Commonwealth assistance via FEE-HELP. Like HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP is an interest-free loan provided by the Australian Government that helps eligible students pay their tuition fees.
The accumulated tuition HELP debt is indexed according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). FEE-HELP applies to undergraduate study and postgraduate coursework and research study.
FEE-HELP is one of the four HELP loans available to eligible students. It is an interest-free loan that helps students to pay for their tuition fees.
To apply for FEE-HELP you’ll need to have:
If you have received an offer from Bond University and have your Student Identification Number (SID), you can submit a FEE-HELP application online using your eStudent account as follows:
Application forms must be completed by Friday, Week 2 of the semester of commencement. A new form must be submitted if you change your program of study.
If you have an Australian passport, you can apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online using myGovID. Details of how to apply are available here. Otherwise, if you are an Australian resident, the most common way to apply for a TFN is at a participating Australia Post outlet. The various options are outlined here.
You should ensure that you apply for a TFN well before Census Date. It can take up to 28 days from when you lodge your application to receive your TFN and you will not be able to access FEE-HELP if you have not provided us with your TFN by Census Date.
On 1 January, 2020, the FEE-HELP loan limits became the HELP loan limits. Any existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans will count towards your HELP loan limit. Any HECS-HELP borrowed from 1 January, 2020 onwards will also count towards your HELP loan limit.
On 1 January, 2020, your FEE-HELP balance became your HELP balance.
In 2024 the combined HELP loan limit is $121,844 for most students. The limit for students in Bond’s Medical Program is $174,998.
If you have reached the limit of your HELP loan – or if your total tuition fees for a program exceed the HELP loan available to you - you must pay the outstanding amount upfront to your provider. This means once the limit is reached, you will pay for the semester’s subjects directly to Bond at the start of the semester.
If you have previously accessed a HELP loan to fund your studies, you may be able to access FEE-HELP again provided you haven't reached the combined HELP limit. The combined HELP loan limit includes HECS-HELP from 1 January 2020, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP (closed on 31 December 2016) and VET Student Loans.
Your HELP loan limit is not a lifetime limit. Repayments made after 1 July 2019 towards your accumulated HELP debt will credit your HELP balance and can be re-borrowed in the future, up to the current HELP limit.
Each semester you are emailed a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN). This is emailed within 28 days of the Census date, and you have 14 days to request any possible correction. It is important that you keep a record of all CANs that are sent to you, to ensure that you do not exceed the HELP loan limit.
You can view your available HELP balance through the myHELPbalance website. You will need your USI or CHESSN (located on your CAN), your student ID number and personal details to login to the website.
You will need to start repaying your HELP debt when your income reaches a certain level, which in 2023-24 is an annual income of $51,550. The repayment % rate (commencing at a rate of 1%) is calculated by the tax office each year. Once out in the workforce, you should let your employer know you have a HELP debt so they can withhold money from your taxable salary to cover your repayments.
Your rate of repayment increases as your annual income increases. There is a 10% repayment rate for those with an income greater than $151,200, so higher income earners can repay their loans faster.
Your HELP loan limit is not a lifetime limit. Repayments made after 1 July 2019 towards your accumulated HELP debt will credit your HELP balance and can be re-borrowed in the future, up to the current HELP limit.
The repayment rates are available on the Study Assist website.
If you have withdrawn from a subject or your studies after census date due to special circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for a refund of tuition fees deferred through FEE-HELP.
To apply for a re-credit, you can submit a Withdrawal Without Academic and Financial Penalty Form via your eStudent portal.
For your application to be successful, you will need to demonstrate that you have been impacted by special circumstances and provide supporting documentation with your application. To demonstrate that you meet the criteria under special circumstances, you must demonstrate that your circumstances meet following criteria:
For further information please refer to Withdrawal without academic and/or financial penalty.
No, the FEE-HELP loan fee does not apply to undergraduate study if you are enrolled at a Table B provider (with a census date on or after 1 January 2019). Bond University is a Table B provider. The loan fee does not apply to postgraduate study.
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Press play to watch our Domestic Regional Manager and resident expert, Sean, explain the process of applying for FEE-HELP.
