How to apply for a VET Student Loan

A VET Student Loan (VSL) helps cover your tuition fees. It’s a loan agreement between you and the Australian Government. Follow the steps to apply.

Make sure:

• you’re enrolling in an approved VET Student Loan course – VET Student Loans Approved Course List [PDF, 257 KB]
• you meet all eligibility requirements
• you have a Unique Student Identifier (USI)
• you have a valid tax file number (TFN) or apply for a TFN
• your personal details are the same with TAFE NSW, the USI registry and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
• you’ve checked your HELP loan limit.

Read the VSL Student Manual for more information.

If you’re under 18, you must get consent from your parent/guardian or be getting Youth Allowance as an independent person.

Parent or guardian consent

1. Ask your parent or guardian to complete and sign the VET Student Loan Parental Consent Form [PDF, 283 KB].
2. Submit the completed form to TAFE NSW before applying for your loan.

Your parent or guardian is not responsible for repaying the loan and their credit rating will not be affected.

Independent Youth Allowance

Provide a Centrelink income statement showing you get Youth Allowance as an independent person.

Follow these steps to apply for a VET Student Loan:

1. Apply online for an eligible TAFE NSW course.
2. We’ll contact you to ask you how you want to pay for your course. Tell us you want to apply for a VET Student Loan.
3. We may ask you to provide some residency and academic documents to show you’re eligible. Make sure you provide these as soon as possible as loan applications can take time to process.
4. After we’ve confirmed your eligibility and enrolment, the Australian Government will send you an email. This email will have a passkey (password) and link to complete your electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF). You must fill out this form to complete your VET Student Loan application.
5. Submit your completed eCAF as soon as possible before your course’s first census date. If you do not submit it by this date, you will not get a loan for your first unit of study. If you wish to apply for a loan for future units of study, you’ll need to contact us to request a new eCAF.

Visit the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) website for more information.

If you have questions about VET Student Loans, call our customer support team on 131 601 or submit an online enquiry.