Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan and how to apply.
You now need a Digital ID to log in to the myHELPbalance portal
The myHELPbalance portal is where you can view your remaining borrowing balance under the combined Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan limit. This includes HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans.
You now need a Digital ID to log in to the myHELPbalance portal.
The Australian Government’s Digital ID app is called myID. To set up your myID, visit the myID website and follow the instructions.
HECS-HELP is a loan from the Australian Government that you can use to pay your student contribution amount. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply.
Are you eligible for HECS-HELP?
You must be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and meet the citizenship requirements to apply.
For a full list of eligibility criteria, go to the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.
New Zealand students on a Special Category Visa (or former SCV holders)
If you’re an Australian Permanent Resident (Non-Humanitarian Visa holder) and/or New Zealand citizen, go to the Non-Australian citizens information on the Study Assist website for information about eligibility.
To assess your eligibility, RMIT requires a copy of your International Movement Record. You can request a copy of this document by visiting the Department of Home Affairs website. We recommend applying for this document immediately after enrolment to allow the department time to process the request, and RMIT to assess your eligibility before your first census date.
Please submit your documents via Student Connect at least 5 business days before your first census date for assessment of your eligibility and resubmission of your updated eCAF if deemed eligible.
Not eligible?
If you’re not eligible, or don't apply before your census date, you must pay your fees by the due date or your enrolment will be cancelled for failing to meet the government conditions of your CSP. If you are repeatedly cancelled for failing to pay by the due date, you may be prevented from re-enrolling and have to reapply to continue in your program.
Find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places
For more information about CSPs visit the Australian Government's Study Assist website.
Student Learning Entitlement and Commonwealth Supported Places
On 1 January 2022, the Australian Government implemented the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE allows students 7 years of full-time subsidised study in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Your total SLE amount will be reduced in accordance with your overall study load in a CSP. Once you have utilised all your SLE, you can no longer study in a CSP.
For more information about SLE, visit the Australian Government's Study Assist webpage.
How to apply
Follow the steps below to apply for HECS-HELP. You must submit your HECS-HELP application before the census date for the classes you want the loan to cover.
Complete the electronic Application for Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
You’ll be prompted to do this during the enrolment process in Enrolment Online. All students enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) must submit an eCAF, even if you are not eligible for, or don’t want, a HECS-HELP Loan.
1. Log in to the government eCAF portal
Once you have requested an eCAF, an email will be sent to your RMIT student email address from the Department of Education. The email contains a unique passkey that, together with your date of birth, is required to log in to the government's eCAF portal.
Read the email and follow the instructions to log in to the government’s eCAF portal and begin your application. If you can’t find your email, make sure to check your spam folder and search for messages from ecafsystem@education.gov.au.
2. Enter your Tax File Number (TFN)
Enter your TFN or certificate of application for a TFN on your eCAF to indicate that you want a HECS-HELP loan.
If you're using a Certificate of Application for a TFN, make sure you upload supporting evidence in your eCAF. If you have already received your TFN, enter it directly in the TFN field. Your TFN will be validated as part of your eCAF application with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If it does not validate, you'll receive a message advising that the validation was unsuccessful. If your TFN does not successfully validate with the Australian Taxation Office, your HECS-HELP loan will not be approved, and your student contribution (tuition fees) must then be paid in full to RMIT by the due date.
Can’t validate your TFN?
If you get an email advising of problems with your Tax File Number, immediately follow the instructions to validate your TFN.
3. Submit your application via the government's eCAF portal
Remember to submit your application before your first census date.
There are no provisions to backdate your loan application if you submit after your census date.
How to check your HECS-HELP loan is approved
Your loan is not approved unless you have been issued with a HECS-HELP loan approval letter.
Once you submit your eCAF, with a validated Tax File Number, it will be approved and a loan approval letter will be issued to you the next day.
Follow these steps to access your loan approval letter:
- Log in to Enrolment Online with your RMIT email address and password. Forgotten your password? Reset it
- Select Finances
- Select Commonwealth support
- Select Loan approval letter.
Starting a new program?
If you change your program and/or enrol in a new program, you’ll need to submit a new Request for Commonwealth Assistance and HECS-HELP assistance for that program following the steps above.
Know and track your loan
Your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)
Your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) outlines the HECS-HELP debt you've incurred and any upfront payments you've made towards your fees.
RMIT will issue you with a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) within 28 days of each class census date. A notification email will be sent to your RMIT student email account and your nominated personal email when your CAN is available.
If there are any discrepancies between your HECS-HELP debt and the amount you were expecting to pay, you have 14 days from the CAN issue date to submit a written request for a correction.
To view or print your Commonwealth Assistance Notice:
- Log in to Enrolment Online with your RMIT email address and password. Forgotten your password? Reset it
- Select Finances
- Select Commonwealth support
- Select Assistance notices (CANs).
HECS-HELP and your tax invoice
If your HECS-HELP loan is approved, your tuition fees will automatically defer to your loan shortly after each census date. You’ll still receive a tax invoice each time you vary your enrolment, to give you the option of making an upfront payment to reduce your overall loan amount.
HELP Loan limit
There's a combined limit to how much you can borrow under HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans. This is called your HELP loan limit.
If you’ve reached your combined HELP loan limit, you’ll need to pay your student contribution (tuition fees) before the census date. If you don’t pay your remaining fees, your enrolment will be cancelled after the census date for failing to meet the requirements of your CSP.
How to check your combined HELP loan limit
Go to the myHELP balance portal to find out your current HELP limit and how much of your HELP balance you have left to borrow. For more information about the combined HELP limit, go to Study Assist.
Remember to pay your non-tuition fees
Your HECS-HELP loan doesn’t cover the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) or other administrative fees. You may be eligible to apply for SA-HELP to cover SSAF. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay it upfront by the due date.
Changed your mind about HECS-HELP?
If you are eligible and didn't apply for a HECS-HELP loan while completing your eCAF, but would now like to access one, you can request a revision of your eCAF by contacting Student Connect.
Need help?
- For detailed information about HECS-HELP and other Commonwealth assistance loans, go to the Australian Government's Study Assist website.
- If you have questions about your application for HECS-HELP, contact Student Connect.
- If you do not want to obtain a loan, you can pay your fees instead.
- Tax invoices.
- Understand your fees.
