Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)

CSP Eligibility

To be eligible for a CSP you must be either:

  • an Australian citizen who will be residing in Australia for at least one unit of study contributing to your course, or
  • an Australian Permanent Resident who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your course;
  • a New Zealand citizen who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your course.

If you receive a CSP and meet the residency criteria*, you can choose to either:

  • pay the student contribution amount upfront (payable by trimester),
  • take out a HECS-HELP loan to defer the cost of the student contribution amount, or
  • a combination of both (i.e. pay the student contribution amount for some units upfront, and take out a HECS-HELP loan for some units).

A HECS-HELP loan allows you to defer paying back your contribution until you meet the income threshold, and pay your loan back over time. The compulsory income repayment threshold is $48,361 for the 2022-23 income year. We recommend that you check the threshold level regularly, as it changes from year to year. HECS-HELP repayments are managed by the Australian Taxation Office.

Commonwealth Assistance Eligibility

Students who are eligible for any type of Commonwealth Assistance (such as a Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), or HELP loans such as HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP) should be aware of sector-wide requirements that can impact upon students being able to obtain, or keep studying with, this assistance.

Students must ensure they are making decisions about their enrolment and progression that take into account any Commonwealth Assistance eligibility requirements including but not limited to: provisions about low completion rate; Student Learning Entitlement limits; and Genuine Student provisions. These requirements took effect in 2022 and continue to remain in place.  More information about the requirements can be found within the Department of Education Skills and Employment FAQs for students.

*If you are an Australian Citizen studying at least one unit while residing in Australia; a Permanent Resident holding a Permanent Humanitarian Visa, or New Zealand Citizen holding a Special Category Visa (who meets the additional eligibility criteria, see Study Assist) who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your course, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

If you are an Australian Citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident , or a New Zealand Citizen living overseas, you are not eligible for a HECS-HELP loan and must pay the student contribution amount upfront (payable by trimester.)

Answer a few quick questions in our Fee Category Finder to find out what fee category and payment options are relevant to your circumstances.