Repay and manage your VET Student Loan

Learn how your VET Student Loan is charged, when you repay it and what happens if your circumstances change.

Your course fees are divided into units of study. Your course will have at least 3 units of study.

You can use your VET Student Loan to pay all or some of your units of study. Payment for these units is spread across the duration of your course.

You can view the units of study and fees for VET Student Loan courses in these reports:

• TAFE NSW courses report – semester 1, 2026, all locations [PDF, 1.9 MB]
• TAFE NSW courses report – semester 2, 2026, all locations [PDF, 11.8 MB]

Each unit of study has a census date. This is the last date you can withdraw without having to pay for the unit of study.

It’s important to know that:

• You’ll get a fee notice 14 days before each census date.
• If you pay for the unit of study with your VET Student Loan, the debt will be added to your loan the day after the census date.
• You’ll get a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) after the census date. The CAN includes details of your VET Student Loan debt. If you think the information in your CAN is incorrect, contact TAFE NSW.

You repay your VET Student Loan through the Australian tax system. You only need to start repaying your loan once you’re earning a certain amount each year. This amount is set by the Australian Government and updated yearly. For the years 2026 to 2027, the amount is $69,528.

You still need to repay your loan if you move overseas. Your VET Student Loan is a personal debt. It may affect your credit rating.

Visit the ATO website and read the VSL Student Manual for more information about how and when to repay your loan.

If you defer or withdraw from your course before the census date, you may be able to get a refund for any payments you made or a recredit on your loan balance. For more information, view the VSL Student Tuition Fee, Recredit and Refund Information [PDF, 238 KB].

To withdraw or defer your studies, complete and submit the VET Student Loans Withdrawal and Deferral Application Form [PDF, 2.0 MB] before the census date. If you withdraw after the census date, you’ll still be charged and are not eligible for a refund.

In special circumstances, you may be able to either:

• get a refund of any upfront payments
• have your VET Student Loan debt recredited.


You can apply within 12 months of the census date using the Application to Recredit a HELP Balance Form [PDF, 271 KB].

If your application is not approved, you can apply for a review. For more information, read our VET Student Loan Review Procedures [PDF, 256 KB].

If we stop offering your course, we’ll either:

• help you enrol in a similar course
• give you a refund for any upfront payments
• recredit your loan for the relevant units.

If you transfer to TAFE NSW from another provider, you will not pay again for equivalent units you’ve already completed. This is based on the national training standards on training.gov.au

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