Paying for study
Where to look for subsidised places, how the main loans work and what to check before you borrow.
Subsidised and free training
Each state and territory runs its own funding, and eligibility rules differ. Start with where you live, because a provider's advertising may not tell you what you could get elsewhere.
Free TAFE (official site) is a joint initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments. It offers tuition-free accredited courses in priority areas, targeted to priority groups.
| Where you live | Where to look |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW vocational training funding (official site), including Smart and Skilled |
| Victoria | Financial help with training (official site), including Skills First, and the Victorian Skills Gateway (official site) |
| Queensland | Free and reduced-cost training (official site) |
| Western Australia | Fee free and low fee courses (official site) |
| South Australia | Subsidised training (official site) |
| Tasmania | Skills Tasmania (official site) |
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT skills, for students (official site) |
| Northern Territory | Free training courses (official site) |
Official source, read on 7 November 2026: Free TAFE on Your Career (official site)
VET Student Loans
VET Student Loans is an income contingent loan for eligible students at diploma level and above, available only through approved providers and approved courses. Before you sign up, check these points in the student manual (official site):
- A 20% loan fee applies for most students. There is no loan fee on a diploma or advanced diploma that is subsidised by a state or territory government.
- The loan may not cover the whole fee.
- The census day is the last day to apply, or to withdraw without incurring a debt for that unit. Providers must publish census days and send a fee notice at least 14 days before each one.
A loan is still a debt. Write your census dates in your calendar on the day you enrol.
Official sources, read on 7 November 2026: VET Student Loans (official site), Student manual (official site)
HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and supported places
A Commonwealth supported place is a subsidy, not a loan. The government pays part of the fee and you pay the remaining student contribution. Most are undergraduate, and being eligible does not guarantee an offer.
HECS-HELP is a loan to pay that student contribution if you have a Commonwealth supported place. You submit an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form to your provider by the census date, and you need a tax file number and a USI. You repay it through the tax system once your income reaches a set level, and indexation applies each year.
FEE-HELP is a loan for all or part of the fees for full fee-paying higher education at approved providers. A 20% loan fee applies to some undergraduate study. A course can cost more than the loan limit, so check the total yourself.
Official sources, read on 7 November 2026: Commonwealth supported places (official site), HECS-HELP (official site), FEE-HELP (official site)
Apprenticeships and traineeships
With an apprenticeship or traineeship you train while you work. Your first point of contact is an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider, and the Australian Apprenticeships site explains how to start and what financial support exists.
Official source, read on 7 November 2026: Australian Apprenticeships (official site)