Fees, study costs and student debt

Related article:

• Fee refunds

Research fees: Research Training Program scholarships

Domestic and international students undertaking a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) can apply for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. RTP scholarships are competitively awarded. If you are unsuccessful in your initial application, you are encouraged to reapply if your academic situation changes throughout your candidature. This could include publishing an article or undertaking other activities that advance your professional experience.

International HDR students who have been awarded an RTP scholarship will automatically be allocated a Research Training Program Fee Offset scholarship. The scholarship may be held for up to 14 research periods for a PhD, or up to 7 research periods for a master’s degree by research.

Domestic coursework fees: Commonwealth Supported Places

Some courses offer a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). The course fees for CSPs are partly subsidised by the Australian government and partly covered by you in the form of a student contribution. CSPs are highly competitive and awarded based on merit.

You don’t need to apply for a CSP. You will be automatically assessed, and your letter of offer will outline whether you have been offered a CSP or a full-fee-paying place. 

To find out whether your course offers CSPs, check the University’s course search.

Higher Education Loans Programs

Students with Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan. HECS stands for Higher Education Contribution Scheme. HELP stands for Higher Education Loan Program.

Domestic students who have a CSP and fulfill other basic eligibility criteria can take out a HECS-HELP loan to pay for all or part of their tuition fees. HECS-HELP loans cannot be used for additional study costs, such as accommodation or textbooks. Students on permanent humanitarian visas are eligible for HECS-HELP. 

Read more about FEE-HELP.

How much can I borrow?

You can borrow up to the combined HELP limit to pay your tuition fees. This includes all FEE-HELP loans, VET student loans, and any HECS-HELP loans incurred from 1 January each year.

Once you begin using your HELP loan, the amount of HELP you have left to borrow is known as your available HELP balance. Check your HELP balance here. 

You will repay your HELP debt through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) once you meet a certain salary threshold.

How do I find out the amount of my accumulated HELP debt at Usyd? 

After the census date each semester (31 March and 31 August), you will receive your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN). This is an official statement that outlines your unit of study enrolments for that session, your student contribution, and any HELP debt or loan fee that you may have incurred. 

You can access your CAN statement at any time via Sydney Student (go to ‘My finances’ > ‘Your finances’ > ‘CAN statements’). The CAN statement also includes your Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN), which you will need to check your Usyd HELP balance.  

How do I find out the amount of my accumulated HELP debt across universities? 

To check your accumulated HELP debt across universities and to check the repayments you have made, log in to your MyGov account.  

Do I need a Tax File Number (TFN)? 

You must provide a TFN to be eligible for HELP. The ATO can assist you with information on how to obtain a TFN. 

When do I need to start making compulsory HELP debt payments? 

You have to start repaying your HELP debt through the taxation system once your income is above the compulsory repayment threshold. These repayments will need to be made even if you are still studying. The compulsory repayment threshold is adjusted each financial year. Read the latest information on the ATO website.

Do I still have a debt if I withdraw from units?

Not if you withdraw before the census date. If you withdraw after the census date, you may be able to obtain a remission of your HELP debt if you can prove special circumstances that made it difficult for you to continue studying, such as illness, injury or misadventure. For more information, read our ‘Fee refunds’ article.   

Studying overseas and OS-HELP 

OS-HELP is a government loan for CSP students who travel overseas for study purposes, such as exchange or fieldwork. The loan contributes to your accumulated HELP debt.

Read more about OS-HELP.

International students

International student tuition fees vary between courses and the year in which you study. Read annual updated fee information by area of study.  

You will need to pay your fees before the start of each semester. It is important that you pay by the due date to avoid enrolment sanctions.

If you are unable to pay tuition fees for the semester

If you do not pay your tuition fees before the start of each semester, the University will send you a notification to remind you about your payment and will include a deadline for payment.

If you do not have the capacity to pay your fees, you will need to suspend your studies. If you have not commenced your degree, you will need to defer your offer.

If you don’t pay your fees and stay enrolled, sanctions will be applied. During this period, you can still pay your late fees, but you must complete all payments before the final sanction – unenrolment – is applied. Once all your fees are paid, the sanctions will be removed.

Contact us for further assistance.

Overseas student health cover fees (OSHC)

Health insurance is compulsory for international students in Australia. Health insurance provides access to the University Health Service and public hospitals.  

International students can purchase health cover through the University or through Allianz Global Assistance (Peoplecare Health), ahm OSHC, BUPA Australia, CBHS International Health, Medibank Private or NIB OSHC.  

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has further information and resources about OSHC.

Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is charged each semester to fund non-academic services at Australian universities. SSAF rates are set by the Australian government on an annual basis. 

If you’re a domestic student, you may be eligible to defer all or part of your SSAF through SA-HELP. 

Find out more about SSAF and about how SUPRA is funded.

Additional course costs

Most courses and units of study have required or recommended course materials, such as books, readers and equipment.  

Some courses may have additional course costs, which can be substantial. Contact SUPRA if you are experiencing financial distress.

Written by SUPRA Postgraduate Advocacy Service September 2025