VET Student Loans

A VET Student Loan (VSL) is an Australian Government loan. It can help you pay for vocational education and training (VET). Find out if you’re eligible, how to apply and how to repay your loan.

VET Student Loans are available for some diploma and advanced diploma courses at TAFE NSW. This includes full-time, part-time and online study.

To check if your course is eligible, view the VET Student Loans Approved Course List [PDF, 257 KB].

To get a VET Student Loan, you must also meet eligibility requirements for residency and academic suitability.

The Australian Government sets a maximum loan amount for each course. This is called a loan cap. Your VET Student Loan will not cover any course fees above the loan cap. You’ll need to pay this gap fee separately.

A VET Student Loan does not cover things like textbooks, equipment or accommodation.

If your course is not subsidised by the NSW Government, you’ll need to pay a 20% loan fee. You do not have to pay the loan fee straight away. It will be added to your VET Student Loan debt.

When you apply for an eligible TAFE NSW course, we’ll ask you how you want to pay your course fees. If you tell us you would like to apply for a VET Student Loan, we’ll check your eligibility. We may ask you to provide some residency and academic documents.

Once 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.

You’ll also need your tax file number (TFN) to complete your application.

You repay your 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.

It’s important to remember that a VET Student Loan is a debt. It could affect your credit rating and your ability to borrow money in the future.

If you’re thinking about applying for a VET Student Loan, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations VSL Student Manual has information about your rights and responsibilities. You can also find more information in our VET Student Loans Policy [PDF, 406 KB] and the VET Student Loans Tuition Fee, Recredit and Refund Policy [PDF, 307 KB].

During your course, you may be contacted by the Australian Government to complete their online (eCAF) progression form. If you do not complete the form, you’ll no longer be able to access your VET Student Loan for course fees.

If any of your personal or contact details change during your course, you must update them on the Unique Student Identifier (USI) website. You also need to update them on the TAFE NSW Student Hub and with the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

As a TAFE NSW student, you can make a complaint about a range of issues including your VET Student Loan, academic results, harassment and discrimination.

First speak with a teacher, counsellor or another relevant staff member as they may be able to fix the issue. Otherwise, you can submit your complaint using the TAFE NSW online feedback form. There’s no charge to make a complaint to TAFE NSW or when requesting a review.

If you’re not satisfied with the outcome and the issue relates to your VET Student Loan, you can make a complaint through the Commonwealth Ombudsman website or by calling 1300 362 072.

TAFE NSW is committed to the principles of the VET Student Loans Code of Practice [PDF 499 KB].

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

TAFE NSW is the trading name of the New South Wales Technical and Further Education Commission.