The VET Student Loans (VSL) program assists eligible students pay tuition fees for approved higher-level (diploma and above) vocational education and training (VET) courses, when studying at VET Student Loans approved course providers. The program is designed to provide financial support to students undertaking higher level training in courses that address workplace and industry needs, creating better opportunities for employment.
Students
Check your eligibility and find out how to apply for a VET Student Loan. You can also find information on approved courses and providers.
Providers
If you meet course provider requirements, you may apply to be approved as a VET Student Loans provider. Resources and guides are available to assist approved providers with payment, reporting and compliance requirements.
Compliance
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (department) has a strong commitment to ensuring that approved VSL providers comply with their legal obligations. The department undertakes a range of compliance activities including audits, investigations and student surveys to identify potential non-compliance by providers.
VET Student Loans program improvement
Improvements to streamline and optimise delivery of the VET Student Loans program are currently being made. These improvements will assist more students and providers to access and deliver training in areas of national skills needs.
VET Student Loans latest news
Changes to the VET Student Loans Rules 2016
On 19 October 2023 amendments to the VET Student Loans Rules 2016 (VSL Rules) commenced.
Those amendments followed consultations during 2022 with VSL providers and vocational education and training sector representative organisations about ways to improve the operation of the VET Student Loans Program.
2023 Domestic Tuition Protection Levy Collection
The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) will shortly issue invoices to education and training providers liable for paying the 2023 VSL tuition protection levy (VSL levy), HELP tuition protection levy (HELP levy), and Up-front payments tuition protection levy (Up-front levy).
This will be the second time the VSL, HELP and Up-front levies are charged since the new tuition protection arrangements commenced on 1 January 2020. If you have any questions, please email the TPS Operations team at operations@tps.gov.au.
Migration of My Skills to Your Career
Content from the My Skills website has been integrated into the Your Career website. Students will be able to search for VET training courses and VET training providers, the availability of income-contingent VET Student Loans and other financial support.
VET Student Loans Approvals
The department will accept applications from providers to become an approved VET Student Loans provider at any time.
Please email VSLProgramIntegrity@dewr.gov.au at least 6 weeks before the date you expect to submit your application. You can amend this date at any time by notifying the department.
VSL Provider Newsletter
VSL Provider Newsletter
The latest edition of the VSL Provider Newsletter contains program updates and reminders relevant to the administration of the program.
Subscribe to receive the VSL Provider Newsletter, invitations to the VSL Forum and important alerts about the VSL program.
VET Student Loans Hot Topics
The VET Student Loans Hot Topics page will be updated regularly with recent changes and issues affecting VSL providers. The current hot topic is the update to VSL 2023 Course List and Loan Cap.
VET Student Loans key dates
1 March 2022 onwards – Submit applications to become approved VSL provider.
Approved VET Student Loans Providers
The list of approved VET Student Loans providers was updated on 11 October 2023.