Higher education enrolment guide

You must have the following documents and information to enrol.

1. Passport, birth certificate or citizenship certificate

You'll use your current Australian/New Zealand passport (preferred), Australian citizenship certificate, birth certificate or other approved documentation to verify your citizenship.

2. Program code

Find your program code in your RMIT enrolment email.

3. RMIT ID 

Your RMIT ID (also referred to as your student number) is in your RMIT enrolment email.

4. Tax File Number

You'll need your Tax File Number (TFN) if eligible to apply for a HELP loan. Your TFN must validate on your loan application, so confirm your details with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) now.

If you don’t have a TFN, you can still apply for a HELP loan when you enrol and provide your TFN later, as long as it’s before the census date.

It’s easy to apply for a TFN online, but it can take up to 30 days, so apply now if you don’t have one.

The USI is a reference number that will give you access to an online record of all of your recognised training and qualifications.

It’s a government requirement that you have a USI to enrol in a higher education program.

1. Get your ID ready

You’ll need ID such as a current passport, full birth certificate or driver’s license. You must use the same ID when you verify your citizenship and identity.

2. How to get a USI 

Create your USI

Make a note of your USI because you’ll need to provide it when you enrol.

1. Log in to the Enrolment Online system

Log in to Enrolment Online

Please note: All steps in this section are completed in Enrolment Online.

2. Find your login details

RMIT ID

Your RMIT ID (username) is the letter 's' followed by your student number (excluding any additional letters), eg: s1234567.  

Password

Your temporary password is the letter ‘p’ followed by your date of birth backwards and an exclamation mark (example: p19920428!)

You should change your temporary password as soon as possible to make sure your student account is secure. You can use your new password to access all RMIT systems, including your student email account.

3. Select the Enrol button next to your program

1. Accept RMIT’s terms and conditions

2. Verify your citizenship

If you have a current Australian/New Zealand passport or Australian citizenship certificate or birth certificate, you can verify your citizenship online instantly. 

If you use other documentation, you’ll be asked to email a scanned copy or photo of your document using your RMIT student email account. You’ll receive an email when you can continue to enrol - usually this will take up to 48 hours. 

Tip: If you used a different name to apply to RMIT, i.e. not your full legal name as it appears on your document, update your details now in Enrolment Online.  

Preferred name

At RMIT we recognise that some students may choose to use a name that affirms their gender. Although citizenship verification requires you to use the name stated on your legal documentation, we can support you to ensure that you’re addressed by the correct pronouns and name while studying at RMIT.  Please contact a Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at inclusion@rmit.edu.au for advice.

3. Fill in your personal details

4. Provide statistical information

If you're enrolling into a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) you'll be prompted to submit an Application for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP form in the government’s eCAF portal when you enrol. If you're eligible for HECS-HELP, you need to add your validated Tax File Number (TFN) to your HECS-HELP application to access the loan. If you're not eligible, or don’t apply for HECS-HELP, you must pay your fees by the census date or your enrolment will be cancelled.

Full-fee paying students may be eligible to access FEE-HELP and SA-HELP.

Read more about be eligibility and how to apply for one of three types of HELP loan: 

• HECS-HELP
• FEE-HELP
• SA-HELP

Before you apply for a loan

1. Check your eligibility on the government’s Study Assist website.
2. Make sure your citizenship status has been verified by RMIT.
3. Read the relevant HELP loan information booklet.
4. Have your Tax File Number (TFN) or 'Certificate of application for a TFN'  ready to enter on your application.

How to apply for HECS-HELP 

If you’ve been offered a Commonwealth supported place, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to pay your fees. If so, you’ll be prompted in Enrolment Online to complete a Request for a Commonwealth supported place and a HECS-HELP loan form via the government eCAF website.

Have your Tax File Number (TFN) or 'Certificate of application for a TFN'  ready to enter on your application.

If you don’t provide a validated TFN by the census date, you can’t access HECS-HELP. You’ll need to pay your fees by the census date or your enrolment will be cancelled.

How to apply for FEE-HELP and SA-HELP

If eligible, you’ll be prompted in Enrolment Online to opt-in or opt-out of a FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan. 

If you opt-in, you’ll then need to submit a form via the government eCAF website to complete your loan application. 

If you opt-in to FEE-HELP or SA-HELP

1. The Department of Education will send an email to your RMIT student email account with the information you need to complete your application.
2. Submit your application, ​with your Tax File Number or 'Certificate of application for a TFN', via the government eCAF website before the census date for classes you want the loan to cover.

Validate your Tax File Number

When your Tax File Number (TFN) is submitted on your eCAF, it's validated with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If your TFN can't be validated with the ATO, your loan will NOT be approved and you'll need to take action to validate your TFN before your census date, or pay your fees to RMIT.

1. Select your semester

Enrol in both Semester 1 and 2. If you're not planning to study in one or both semesters, you must apply for a leave of absence.

Classes may also be offered at other times during the year, including in the Spring, Summer or flexible terms. These may be part of your program’s structure or University Electives. If you have any questions about whether you should enrol in a Spring or Summer semester or flexible term, contact your school or college.

Have you been granted credit exceptions?

If your offer letter states that you've been granted credit exemptions for some classes, you don't need to add these to your enrolment.  

2. Select 'Show classes'

3. Follow the instructions to select your classes for each semester

The Status column indicates the availability of classes. These will change as you enrol. See the key below.

4. Select 'Add selected classes' 

The classes you're enrolled in will now be displayed.

5. Finished enrolling?

Select Exit and check the pop-up summary of your enrolment to ensure all details are correct.

You can change your enrolment in Enrolment Online up until the last day to add or drop a class. See Important dates for details.

If you need proof of your enrolment, e.g. for Centrelink, your official Statement of Enrolment (SoE) will be available in Enrolment Online the day after you enrol. 

Congratulations! You’re now officially an RMIT student!