Repaying your VET Student Loan

Understanding your VET Student Loan is important to manage the cost of your education. On this page, you’ll find information on how course fees are charged, when to make payments, and how to manage your VET Student Loan. 

You’ll also find details on key dates, withdrawal policies, credit transfers and available support.

For VET Student Loans information, eligibility, application steps and FAQs, visit our other pages.

Fees for courses approved for VET Student Loans are charged by Units of Study (UOS). Here’s what you need to know:

Units of Study (UOS)

VET Student Loan courses have a minimum of three UOS, with fees divided across the duration of the course.

Gap fees

A gap fee is the amount you have to pay yourself if your course costs more than the course loan cap that is set by the Australian Government.

You can learn more about loan caps here.

There may be other payment options available for the gap payments. For more information, visit our fees and payment page or contact our customer support team.

Each unit of study has a specific date called a census day. This is the last day that you can withdraw from the UOS without incurring a loan for the tuition fees.

It’s important to note that:

• The census date is set at least 20% of the way through the UOS.
• You will receive a fee notice 14 days before each census day. This will have details of your fees and important dates.
• You will incur the VET Student Loan for the unit of study tuition fees, the day after census day.
• You will receive a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) detailing your VET Student Loan and any loan fees after the census day. If you think the information in your CAN is incorrect, please contact TAFE NSW right away.

You must let TAFE NSW know if your personal or contact details change during your studies. Contact us on 131 601, or submit an enquiry.

If you decide to withdraw or defer your studies, you must submit the VET Student Loans Withdrawal & Deferral Application form in writing. You need to do this before the census day.

After the census day, you’ll be charged for any units of study that you are enrolled in and won’t be eligible for any refunds.

Special circumstances

In special circumstances you may qualify for a:

• refund of any upfront payments, or

• re-credit of your VET Student Loan debt.

In certain cases, you can apply within 12 months of the census day to have your debt reversed or a refund of upfront payments. This requires completing the Application to Re-credit a HELP Balance form.

You may have the right to apply for a review of a decision not to re-credit a loan balance. See the VET Student Loans Student Review Procedure.

You’ll start repaying your VET Student Loan through the tax system once your income exceeds a certain threshold. This threshold is set by the government. Once you earn more than this, a part of your income will go towards repaying your loan.

For the 2024-2025 financial year, this threshold is $54,435. When you earn over this amount, you will automatically start making repayments towards your loan.

Important details

TPS is a safety net for students. If TAFE NSW stops offering your course, we will help you enrol in a similar course so that your studies can continue uninterrupted. 

Alternatively, you will receive:

• a refund of any upfront payments, or
• a re-credit of your loan balance for any affected units of study.

If your previous course provider closes and you’re transferring to TAFE NSW, you won’t have to pay for any completed units from your old course. You’ll get credit for those units as long as the unit codes match or are considered equivalent according to Training.gov.au. 

For more information, visit the Australian Government Department of Education website to read about the TPS.

If you have previously completed relevant studies, you may qualify for:

• reduced fees through credit transfer
• course credit through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
  
  

It’s important to tell TAFE NSW about any prior qualifications or experience that may be relevant. You can discuss these options with your teacher or course advisor before you enrol.

Completing a high-level qualification with TAFE NSW provides a great pathway to many university degrees. Find out more about getting credit where credit's due. 

If you have any questions or need support, check out our VET Student Loan FAQ page or contact our customer support team. Contact us on 131 601, or submit an enquiry.