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Various Financial Options Available to You
Quality education and training can help to advance your career, but costs can sometimes be a barrier. We believe that education should be as accessible and affordable as possible - you should be able to study and gain your desired qualification without worrying about finances.
That's why most of our courses, including university courses and TAFE courses, offer FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP, which is a government loan available to Australian citizens. With FEE-HELP, you don't have to pay any course fees upfront - you only repay the loan when your income reaches a certain level. This means that you can start studying now and pay later.
In addition to FEE-HELP, you may also be eligible for other government incentives, such as Austudy / Abstudy, tax deductions and private financing, all of which can make study far more affordable.
Find out more about these financial options:
- FEE-HELP & VET FEE-HELP
- Tax Deductions
- Austudy/Abstudy/Youth Allowance
- Private Financing
- Employer-sponsored Study
FEE-HELP & VET FEE-HELP
What is FEE-HELP?
FEE-HELP is a loan given by the Australian Government to eligible students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees.
FEE-HELP applies to approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses, while VET FEE-HELP applies to approved vocational education and training (VET) courses.
Did You Know...
- Almost every Australian citizen is eligible
- Start studying now - pay nothing upfront
- Repay only when your income reaches a certain level
How does FEE-HELP work?
If you are eligible, you don't need to pay for your course upfront. Instead, you can borrow up to the total amount of the tuition fee charged. The Australian Government will pay the amount of the loan to the course provider on your behalf.
You only start repaying through the tax system once your income reaches the minimum repayment threshold. For the 2011-12 income year, this threshold is A$47,196.
Who is eligible for FEE-HELP?
Almost every Australian citizen is eligible for FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP. Only those who have reached their FEE-HELP lifetime limits are ineligible.
See the full list of courses eligible for FEE-HELP below.
Tax Deductions
You may be able to claim tax deductions for the cost of your studies if you're undertaking a course that's relevant to your current employment. Tax deductions can apply even if your course is paid for with FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP, or if you're a full-time student on Youth Allowance.
A tax deduction for your self-education expenses is available if you work and study at the same time and can satisfy any of these conditions:
- you are upgrading your qualifications for your current employment
- you are improving your skills or knowledge for your current employment
- you are employed as a trainee and you're undertaking a course that forms part of that traineeship
- you can show that at the time you were working and studying, your study led, or was very likely to lead to an increase in employment income
Expenses that you can claim for include course fees, textbooks, stationery and the depreciation of assets such as computers and printers used as part of your study.
Get more information on tax deductions for study expenses and your eligibility.
Austudy / Abstudy / Youth Allowance
Most SEEK Learning courses are Austudy, Abstudy and Youth Allowance-approved. These are fortnightly payments made by the government to support full-time students.
- Austudy: for full-time students aged 25 years or over
- Abstudy: financial assistance for indigenous Australians who undertake approved full and part-time study
- Youth Allowance: for full-time students aged 16 to 24 and people aged under 21 who are undertaking a job search or a combination of approved activities
Applications for these allowances are assessed by Centrelink, so you should contact your nearest Centrelink office to discuss your eligibility.
Get more information on Austudy, Abstudy and Youth Allowance.
Private Financing
SEEK Learning can provide you with a 12-month interest-free payment plan through our finance partner.
For more information about this option, contact a SEEK Learning consultant.
Employer-sponsored Study
If you undertake study that's related to your current job, you may be able to convince your employer to pay for part or even all of your fees. This will be easier if your workplace has a budget set aside for employee training.
But even if such funding isn't readily available, you may still be able to persuade your employer to invest in you by emphasising how your new skills and knowledge will benefit the company.
For more information about any of these options, contact a SEEK Learning consultant.
The courses below are eligible for FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP
Where to Now?
Talk to a SEEK Learning consultant
Discuss your career options and outcomes you can expect from doing these courses with a SEEK Learning consultant.
Not sure which course is for you
to get more information or enrol
Free Call 0800 170 252
9am - 5.30pm AEST Mon - Fri to speak to a SEEK Learning consultant
Need help deciding?
Our learning consultants are experts in helping you find the right course.
Top 5 Courses Eligible for
FEE-HELP
Flexible Study
SEEK Learning offers courses through different delivery methods to suit your study needs. Many of our courses are available online or by correspondence, making them suitable for people with busy lifestyles.
