Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)

The Australian Commonwealth Government have introduced a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) which provides eligible students who commenced studies from 2005, with a loan to help pay their course tuition fees.

You have to start repaying your HELP debt through the taxation system once your repayment income is above the compulsory repayment threshold, even if you are still studying. 

The compulsory repayment threshold is adjusted each year. For the 2013-14 income year, the compulsory repayment threshold is $51,309.

Repayment income is calculated from the amounts given on your income tax return

There are four main types:

HECS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth Supported Students
FEE-HELP for eligible Fee Paying Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students
OS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth Supported Students who want to study overseas (Exchanges and Study Abroad).
SA-HELP for eligible Commonwealth Supported Students