What is the Difference Between HECS and Fee Help?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP are both loan schemes provided by the Australian Government to help students pay for their tuition fees. However, there are some key differences between the two:
- Eligibility: HECS-HELP is available for eligible Commonwealth Supported students studying at public universities, while FEE-HELP is for eligible domestic fee-paying students at both public universities and approved FEE-HELP providers.
- Assistance Type: HECS-HELP is an assistance to pay for student contributions as a Commonwealth Supported student, mainly for undergraduate programs. It can be either a loan or in the form of a discount. On the other hand, FEE-HELP is a loan for students who pay their full tuition fees.
- Fee-Paying Status: HECS-HELP is for students enrolled in Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), which are subsidized by the government, while FEE-HELP covers tuition fees for students who are not enrolled in CSP and have to pay their full tuition fees.
- Loan Limit: From January 1, 2020, the Department of Education introduced a combined HELP loan limit, which includes FEE-HELP and other HELP schemes such as HECS-HELP.
In summary, HECS-HELP is for students studying in Commonwealth Supported Places at public universities and can be either a loan or a discount, while FEE-HELP is a loan for domestic fee-paying students at both public universities and approved providers.
Comparative Table: HECS vs Fee Help
Here is a table comparing the differences between HECS and FEE-HELP:
| Feature | HECS-HELP | FEE-HELP |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Loan for eligible Commonwealth supported students studying at public universities (and some approved private higher education institutions) | Loan for eligible domestic fee-paying students |
| Interest | No interest charged | No interest charged |
| Repayment | Repayment is based on income thresholds and is required once a minimum income is reached | Repayment is based on income thresholds and is required once a minimum income is reached |
| Lifetime Limit | No lifetime limit for borrowing | Lifetime limit for borrowing |
| Course Level | Primarily for undergraduate courses | For postgraduate and undergraduate courses |
| Pass Rate Requirements | Students must pass at least 50% of their total attempted units to remain eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP | No 50% pass rate requirement found |
Please note that the information provided is based on available sources and may change over time. For the most up-to-date information, visit the official government websites.
Read more: