Understanding FEE-HELP

As a recognized Higher Education Provider (HEP), LTCA gives eligible students the opportunity to access the FEE-HELP loan scheme.

International fees

View fees and payment information for international students here.

What is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is an Australian government loan scheme

Students interested in FEE-HELP should read the 'FEE-HELP Information Booklet' and 'Request for FEE-HELP Assistance Application' available from La Trobe College Australia and also refer to the Australian Government's Study Assist Website.

For 2020, the HELP loan limit is $106,319. If you plan to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary science leading to initial registration, or eligible aviation courses the HELP loan limit is $152,700. A student can elect to pay a portion of fees directly to La Trobe College Australia, and the remaining debt will be registered as a loan through the Australian Taxation Office.

The FEE-HELP limit is indexed annually (as measured by the CPI index). A loan fee of 25% applies to FEE-HELP loans. Indexation and the loan fee do not count towards your FEE-HELP limit.

The Government pays the amount of the loan directly to the student's higher education provider.

Note: FEE-HELP loan policy requires students to maintain a minimum pass rate, relevant to the number of units they are enrolled in (not their academic pass rate), to continue using FEE-HELP for their studies. Please contact Student Services if you have any questions.

FEE-HELP FAQ

Find answers to your FEE-HELP questions using the dropdown menu below

To be entitled to FEE-HELP, students must be one of the following:

  • an Australian citizen
  • the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of the unit
  • New Zealand citizens who are Special Category Visa (SCV) holders and meet the requisite criteria.

You pay back your HELP debt through the tax system once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold. The compulsory repayment threshold is different each year. The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2019-20 income year is $45,881.

La Trobe College Australia sets the tuition fee(s) for students unit(s) of study. If students are eligible for FEE-HELP, they may choose to pay their tuition fee in three ways:

  • pay the full tuition fee up-front to La Trobe College Australia
  • pay some of the tuition fee up-front and request a FEE-HELP loan for the remainder of the tuition fee
  • request a FEE-HELP loan for the full tuition fee.

Eligible students who wish to pay for part or all of their tuition fees through FEE-HELP must fully complete a 'Request for FEE-HELP assistance' form available at La Trobe College Australia. Students must complete and sign the form and return it to La Trobe College Australia by the relevant census date for the units of study that they are undertaking, including the provision of a tax file number.

Eligible students who fail to pay their tuition fees in full or who do not apply for FEE-HELP (and provide a tax file number) will be at risk of having their enrolment invalidated.

The census date will be at the end of the fourth week of a semester. See dates below.

2021

Commences

Finishes

Census Date

Trimester 1 (March 2021)

01 March

28 May

26 March

Trimester 2 (June 2021)

21 June

10 September

16 July

Trimester 3 (October 2021)

11 October

14 January 2022

05 November 2021

La Trobe College Australia fee schedule outlines units of study, study periods, census dates and tuition fees. Should you have any questions about your individual requirements, please contact your subject coordinator.

View FEE-HELP Fees Schedule 2022

Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)

Within 28 days of the census date La Trobe College Australia will provide students with a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN). This will be forwarded to their local address. The notice will provide students with information on the unit(s) for which they have received FEE-HELP assistance and their FEE-HELP debt, including any loan fee amount they may have incurred for those units.

If students believe the notice to be incorrect they should contact the La Trobe College Australia FEE-HELP Officer (in writing) within 14 days of the date of their Commonwealth Assistance Notice. Disputes not lodged within 14 days will not be considered.

Failure to dispute an incorrect Commonwealth Assistance Notice results in this fee liability being reported to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)

The CAN notice will provide students with their Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN). Students' CHESSN is unique and will enable them to access information on their FEE-HELP balance on the myUniAssist website.

To withdraw from a unit(s) of study a student may make changes to their original enrolment/unit selection on-line through the La Trobe College Australia student portal. After on-line enrolment is closed, students who want to make an enrolment change will be required to complete the appropriate 'Enrolment Variation' form and submit to La Trobe College Australia reception on or before the census date.

Students who correctly withdraw from any unit on or before the census date will not incur a FEE-HELP debt for that unit.

Students who have requested FEE-HELP assistance and withdraw after the census date, will have a debt with the Commonwealth that they are legally required to repay. Students cannot withdraw after the census date without incurring a FEE-HELP debt.

If however, after the census date, students become seriously ill or other special circumstances occur and they are unable to continue their studies, then they can apply to La Trobe College Australia to have their FEE-HELP balance re-credited and their FEE-HELP debt removed. Note that there are time limits for applying.

Students interested in FEE-HELP should read the 'FEE-HELP Information Booklet' and 'Request for Fee-Help Assistance Application' available from La Trobe College Australia. Further information can be found on the Australian Government's Study Assist website.

The Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2017 was introduced into the Australian Parliament on 1 June 2017 and passed through the Parliament on 10 August 2017. As part of the Bill all students will have to maintain a minimum pass rate, relevant to the number of units they are enrolled in (not their academic pass rate), to continue using FEE‑HELP for their studies.

La Trobe College Australia has grievance policies and procedures, both in relation to prospective students and enrolled students on academic and non-academic matters.

  • Student Grievance Procedures
  • Students should also be familiar with La Trobe College Australia's other policies and procedures