UNE OS-Help Loan Procedure

OS‐HELP is a loan scheme offered by the Australian Government that provides financial assistance to eligible students based in Australia to undertake part of their course of study overseas.

In 2024, eligible students may receive up to $7,921 for studies to non‐Asian countries and up to $9,504 for studies to Asia. An additional amount of up to $1,263 is available to undertake Asian language study preparation. The maximum loan is $10,767 to Asia, including the language supplement.

Eligible students can apply for a maximum of two loans and no more than one per six-month study period. These loans are to be used for such expenses associated with the overseas study such as airfares, accommodation, and other traveling or settling expenses.

Further details are available at the Australian Government Study Assist website.

Student eligibility

To receive an OS-HELP loan from the University of New England (UNE), you must:

  • have been selected by UNE to receive an OS HELP loan;
  • be one of the following:
      • an Australian citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder
      • a New Zealand Special (SCV) holder who meets residency requirements and will be resident in Australia at the time of applying
  • have not received an OS-HELP loan on more than one other occasion
  • have not received any other OS-HELP loan for a period that overlaps or coincides with the six month period
  • be enrolled at UNE in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  • have completed at least one year (eight units or 48 credit points ) of full-time study in your current program
  • be studying full-time overseas and this study will count towards the course requirements for the Australian course you are enrolled in.
  • have at least one unit (minimum of 6 credit points) remaining on return from the overseas study program
  • have a valid tax file number (TFN) at the time of applying for your loan
  • have a Unique Student Identifier (USI)
  • have read the OS HELP Statement of terms and conditions booklet
  • have completed an online eCAF form – this will be emailed to you from the Australian Government, during the processing of the OS-HELP Loan by UNE. Instructions will be sent to you by UNE and the Government to assist with completing this online form.  be selected by the University of New England to receive an OS-HELP loan
  • be approved by UNE to undertake overseas studies

Application process

  • Complete and submit the UNE OS-HELP Loan Application Form (accessed through AskUNE)
  • Please upload any required documentation in the form, such as:
    • Copy of formal approval to undertake the overseas studies, where required; or
  • Proof of purchase of Asian language if claiming the language supplement (This must include the language enrolled in – screen prints are acceptable).

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Please submit the application at least three months prior to your intended departure date. Delays in submitting the application could result in the loan being declined or paid after departure.

Amount of assistance granted

The minimum OS-HELP loan amount that you can borrow is $1,000. The maximum you can borrow for a six-month period in 2024 is $7,921 for studies in non-Asian countries, and up to $9,504 for studies to Asia. An additional amount of up to $1,263 is available to undertake Asian language study preparation. The maximum loan is $10,767 to Asia, including the language supplement.

You cannot apply for two loans at the one time if studying for a full year. You need to wait until almost six months after the first loan has been paid before applying for the second.  You cannot have more than one loan within a six-month period, and you can only be granted two OS-HELP loans in your lifetime.

Repayment of an OS-HELP loan

You will incur an OS-HELP debt as soon as you receive the loan payment. You must repay the loan even if your overseas study is not completed, or the overseas study does not occur for any reason.

OS-HELP debts are incurred as part of your accumulated Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt, which includes any Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) or HECS-HELP debts recorded by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). You repay your accumulated HELP debts through the tax system once your income exceeds the minimum repayment threshold, or you make voluntary repayments directly to the ATO.

Conditions of an OS-HELP loan

You must notify UNE International via studyabroad@une.edu.au if there is a change in your circumstances that may affect your continued eligibility of an OS-HELP loan.

If the University determines that you are no longer eligible for an OS-HELP loan, it will withdraw your the application. If the loan has already been paid, you will incur the debt which can then only be repaid through the Australian Taxation Office.

If the University has reason to believe that you were offered an OS-HELP loan on the basis of false or misleading information, the University will immediately withdraw your application. The University will then notify the Australian Government of the offence and provide them with any information they may request.

OS-HELP Loans will not be paid greater than six months prior to departure.

Approval for the overseas study to be included in your current program of study at UNE must be provided at the time of application. If you are undertaking Study Abroad (self-arranged overseas studies) then you must complete the Permission To Enrol Elsewhere (PTEE) form prior to applying for OS-HELP.

More Information

If you require further information about OS-HELP loans, or any part of the application process, please contact UNE International or visit the OS-HELP Loans and Overseas Study website.

Contact

UNE International

Email:studyabroad@une.edu.au

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