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The HELP loan limit is the total amount you can borrow from the Australian Government to pay your tuition fees. Your HELP balance is the HELP loan limit minus any amount you’ve already borrowed to pay tuition fees.
7.1 - HELP loan limit
Your HELP loan limit is the total amount available for you to borrow under the VET Student Loans, FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP and VET FEE-HELP loan programs.
HECS-HELP debts with a census date prior to 1 January 2020 are not included in your HELP loan limit, neither is SA-HELP, OS-HELP and loan fees.
You’ll find the HELP loan limit for this year at Combined HELP loan limit – StudyAssist.
7.2 - Higher HELP loan limit
A higher HELP loan limit is available to students studying specific courses. For VET Student Loans, students studying eligible aviation courses will have access to the higher HELP loan limit.
Not all VET Student Loans approved aviation courses are eligible for the higher HELP loan limit. The list of eligible aviation courses is available at VET Student Loans 2025 Course List and Loan Caps (for students).
You’ll find the higher HELP loan limit for this year at Combined HELP loan limit – StudyAssist.
7.3 - HELP balance
To get a VET Student Loan, you’ll need to have enough HELP balance to cover the tuition fee for the course you’re applying to study. If your tuition fee is greater than your available HELP balance, you will need to pay the outstanding amount to your course provider.
Note: A VET Student Loan only covers tuition fees; it does include other expenses such as materials, equipment, textbooks or student services fees.
Your HELP balance will include anything you’ve borrowed under VET Student Loans, FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP and VET FEE-HELP.
Your HELP balance is renewable. This means any repayments made towards your HELP or VET Student Loan debt from the 2019-20 income year onwards will credit your HELP balance. You will then be able to reborrow this amount for further study up to the HELP loan limit.
You can view your HELP balance by logging into the myHELPbalance portal.