There is a maximum amount that a person can borrow over their lifetime for VSL, VET FEE-HELP, FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP. This is the HELP loan limit.
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Students can access VET Student Loans to pay tuition fees up to the maximum loan cap [part 35], provided the amount does not exceed their HELP loan limit.
The Department of Education publishes the HELP loan limit on StudyAssist – Combined HELP loan limit.
Each time a student uses a VET Student Loan and other HELP loans to pay their tuition fees, the amount they can borrow in the future reduces. Once they’ve borrowed up to the HELP loan limit, they can’t use a VET Student Loan (or other HELP loans) to pay further tuition fees [part 19].
However, if a student makes any compulsory or voluntary repayments that amount will be available to be re-borrowed, up to the HELP loan limit.
Image: Help Loan Limit
The HELP loan limit is indexed on 1 January each year. If a student has reached their HELP loan limit for the year and wants to enrol in a later year, they will be able to access any balance remaining up to the HELP loan limit.
The amount of VET Student Loan a student can use for a particular course also depends on the loan cap [part 35] for that course.