International Students

The Scheme is designed to help international students during the academic year to meet unexpected and unavoidable enrolment or emergency related expenses in circumstances which could not be fully anticipated upon enrolment or re-enrolment. Assistance takes the form of a short-term interest free loan, subject to the regulations which govern the Scheme. The regulations are summarised below.

1.             Eligibility for Assistance

Sponsored students should check their eligibility with their sponsor first.

1.1        An eligible applicant is one who for the current teaching period;

a)     is currently and actively enrolled as a full time (unless approved to take a lesser load) on campus international UNE student, completing an award or English Language Centre course at the University.

b)    has paid course related fees, and

c)     has demonstrated a genuine enrolment related need associated with continued study.

d)    English Language Centre students studying at UNE's ELC (due to the varying length of their study terms) will have their eligibility assessed by the Director, English Language & International Services.

1.2        A student is not eligible for a loan if he or she;

a)    is within ten weeks of completing the requirements of the current degree or award,

b)    has elected to pay College residential charges up-front,

c)    currently has a loan of the maximum amount payable,

d)    has not satisfactorily fulfilled the conditions of a prior loan, or

e)    has previously made a fraudulent declaration to the University.

2.         Purpose of Loans

2.1        Loans may be available for the purpose of personal education expenses directly related to the applicant's enrolment, eg:

a)   textbooks;

b)   start up rent or bond, (excluding Residential Colleges or Wright Village charges);

c)   bills (electricity, gas and heating fuels) which must be accompanied by evidence that an extension on payment cannot be obtained from the supplier;

d)   for a genuine emergency (to be determined by Director, English Language & International Services).

2.2        A loan is not available for the following purposes unless classified as a genuine emergency:

a)    Tuition fees;

b)    other University charges eg: residential accommodation;

c)    consolidation of debts eg: other loan or credit card debts;

d)    telephone bills including mobile phone bills;

e)    computers unless extreme academic need exists;

f)     relocation expenses;

g)    travel or accommodation, (except as specified above);

h)    tax bills;

i)     car repairs, car registration or car insurance unless circumstances of extreme need exists, and

j)      repayments of loans to family or friends.

3.         Maximum Value of Loans

a)     The maximum loan available is $1000.00 per full-time (unless approved to take a lesser load) student enrolled in a standard teaching period.

b)    Loans to students in their first year of study will be limited to a maximum of $500.00. Further loans will not normally be granted until this loan has been discharged.

c)     Applications in excess of $500.00 will require a guarantor.

4.         Application Fee

UNE does not charge application fees on loans that are granted to international students.

5.         Approval Process

5.1        Applicants studying at the Armidale campus must submit the completed application form and any relevant supporting documentation in person to the Student Financial Assistance Officer (SFAO) located in the Financial Performance and Analytical Services (FPAS) Directorate on the ground floor of the TC Lamble Building.  Each applicant will be interviewed by the SFAO as part of the approval process.

5.2        Applicants studying at a UNE campus outside Armidale can submit the completed application form by email to finar@une.edu.au The SFAO will interview applicants by phone as part of the approval process.

5.3        All student loans will be approved by the Head, Financial Services in the Financial Performance and Analytics (FPAS) Directorate.

5.4        English Language and International Services will be notified of successful applicants for monitoring purposes.

6.         Guarantor

6.1        An applicant for a loan in excess of $500.00 must provide the University with a Guarantor. A guarantor will usually be;

a)      over 21 years of age,

b)      an Australian citizen or permanent resident, residing in Australia,

c)      a person able to demonstrate adequate financial resources,

d)      not a debtor with the University, or an enrolled student at an educational institution.

6.2       Guarantees must be signed and witnessed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace.

7.         Loan Advance

In most circumstances a loan advance for successful applicants will be paid by the University directly to the supplier e.g. If a student is purchasing new textbooks then payment would be made direct to the Campus Bookshop by the Financial Performance and Analytical Services (FPAS) Directorate.  Loan advances will only be paid via electronic funds transfer to the applicant's Australian bank account when direct payment to a supplier is not possible.

8.         Repayment

At the time of approving the application, a repayment schedule will be agreed between the University and the borrower. This schedule will take into account the borrowers projected income and expenses, but the normal repayment would not exceed 12 months.

Where a borrower, during the term of the loan, varies enrolment in such a way as would have him or her ineligible to apply for or to receive a loan advance, the whole of the loan will become due for payment at the University's option. Similarly, if any agreed interim instalment remains unpaid for more than 30 days after it becomes due, the whole of the loan will become due. Liability for the Administrative Fee will be calculated at the revised final due date determined by the University.

9.         Agreement

At the time of receiving the loan advance, the borrower will acknowledge the loan, and make an agreement with the University which stipulates the terms and conditions of the loan, the obligations of the borrower and the University, the due dates for repayment of the loan, and any charges which will apply if the borrower is in default of the agreement.

10.        Administrative Fee

Where the whole of the loan is repaid without default of the agreement the University will waive the   Administrative Fee.  Alternatively each loan in default will attract an Administrative Fee of $125.00.

11.        Recovery of Loans

Where a loan remains unpaid, the University will write to the student. The student will be requested to contact the University to make arrangements for the repayment of the debt. The University will provide financial counselling to assist the student in reaching an acceptable repayment schedule. If no response is received with 21 days the student will be declared to be in default on their loan.

The University will commence formal debt recovery action when a student is deemed to have defaulted on a loan. An interest surcharge of $25.00 plus 10% of the outstanding debt, or $100.00, whichever is the greatest, will be added to the debt. The surcharge is not negotiable and once charged will not be reversed. Any additional costs associated with recovery will be charged to the student and will be payable by the student or their guarantor.

Recovery action, having been commenced, will not be withdrawn save by payment of the whole amount owing plus costs.

12.        Restriction of Services

Where a student is deemed to have defaulted on a loan, some or all of the following restrictions of services may be applied without notice to the student.

a)      withhold official notification of final results for any semester or trimester,

b)      withhold any official academic transcript,

c)      annotate academic record accordingly until debt is paid,

d)      refuse enrolment for a subsequent enrolment period,

e)      notify an encumbrance on the student's account; and/or

f)       withhold graduation.

Please proceed to the Application Form