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How Does VET Student Loans Work?

VET Student Loans allows eligible students to access a loan to pay part or all tuition fees for approved courses.

It must be noted: A VET student loan gives rise to a HELP debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is repaid.

Students can either:

The loan is repaid through the Australian tax system. When students reach the minimum income threshold for repayment. There is a loan fee of 20% for full fee-paying students.

Census days for your VET Student Loan

Your census dates can be found at Vet Student Loans Courses. Identify your qualification and click on the tuition fees to find the published census dates for your course.
You can cancel your enrolment in your course of study or part of your course by using our withdrawal process.
For more information please click here.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a VET Student Loan, a student must:

1. be an eligible student

2. be studying an approved course

3. be studying with an approved course provider

4. apply to the government using the approved form, which will be managed through your provider, and

5. submit Progression Forms to confirm your ongoing engagement with your studies and continue accessing the loan throughout your course.

 To be an eligible student, you must meet ALL of these criteria – further detailed below.

● You are:

○ an Australian citizen, or
○ a qualifying New Zealand citizen,  or
Note: A qualifying New Zealand citizen is a New Zealand citizen who meets all of the following:

■ holds a special visa category, such as the New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV)
■ has been usually resident in Australia for at least 10 years;
■ was a dependent child when he or she was first usually resident in Australia;
■ has been in Australia for periods totalling 8 years during the previous 10 years; and
■ has been in Australia for periods totalling 18 months during the previous 2 years.

○ a permanent humanitarian visa holder, who is usually resident in Australia.

● Your HELP balance (the amount of your HELP loan limit you have left) is more than $0. This means you have enough HELP loan limit remaining for your proposed studies to be covered by the loan. The HELP loan limit is the limit on how much you can borrow.

● Any borrowing under FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP, VET Student Loans and, from 1 January 2020, HECS-HELP will count towards your HELP loan limit.

● You are enrolled with an approved course provider in an approved course and have enrolled in accordance with the application requirements.

● You are studying the approved course primarily at a campus in Australia.

● You have been assessed by your approved courseprovider as academically suited to undertake the approved course on the basis of either:

○ providing your Australian Year 12 Certificate; OR
○ providing your International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) diploma OR
○ providing a copy of a certificate showing you have been awarded a qualification at level 4 or above in the Australian Qualifications Framework (where the language of instruction was English); or at a level in a framework that preceded the AQF and is equivalent to level 4 or above in the AQF, OR
○ displaying competence at Exit Level 3 in the Australian Core Skills Framework in both reading and numeracy through an approved Language, Literacy and Numeracy test.

In addition, your approved course provider must reasonably believe you show competence in completing the course.

● You meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements.

● You have a Unique Student Identifier(USI) or are otherwise exempt.

● You have given the required documents to your approved course provider and submitted the loan application form by the first census day no less than two business days after enrolling.

If your qualification is from overseas, then the certificate provided must be a letter or certificate issued by a Federal, State, or Territory government agency which assesses overseas qualifications and which shows your qualification has been determined to be equivalent or comparable to a qualification in the Australian Qualifications Framework at level 4 or above.

To see if you are likely to meet the eligibility requirements, check out the VET Student Loans Eligibility Tool on the My Skills website.

VET Student Loans Courses

Frontier Education is approved to offer the following courses:

BSB50120 Diploma of Business  |  2023 tuition fees
BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management  |  2023 tuition fees
SIT50116 Diploma of Travel and Tourism  |  2023 tuition fees
SIT50416 Diploma of Hospitality Management (Operations Stream)  |  2023 tuition fees

For further information in relation to courses and other VET Student Loans matters please visit the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training website here

How to Apply

A VET Student Loan is an agreement between the student and the Commonwealth Government.

To apply for a VET Student Loan:

● A student must meet all the loan eligibility requirements and provide supporting documentation to Frontier Education

● A student must request for VET Student Loans via eCAF by 11.59pm AEST on the first census day for which they wish to access the VSL.

●The census date is when all student enrolments are finalised for the term.

As with any loan, the individual must understand the terms and conditions before making a commitment.

Please read the VET Student Loans information booklet available here as well as associated documentation available here and consider seeking independent financial advice.

Refer to the Student Enrolment Policy and Procedure for more details.

Student under 18
There are no age restrictions to apply for a VET Student Loan. *For students who are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign a parental consent form. The template is available here

A parent or guardian will not be responsible for making loan repayments and it will not affect their credit rating. A student will begin making repayments once the individual’s income reaches the minimum payment threshold.

* Note: Students may not need the parent/guardian consent form requirement if they have been assessed by Centrelink under specific conditions. For further information please refer to the VET Student Loans Booklet here.

Student Entry Policy

If a student wishes to apply for a Commonwealth VET Student Loan, the individual must be assessed for academic suitability to undertake a high level VET qualification.

This academic assessment is IN ADDITION to any entry requirements that may be required for the specific course a student wishes to undertake.

A student must:

1 .Provide a copy of the student’s senior secondary certificate of education that has been awarded by an Australian agency or authority of a state or territory for the completion of Year 12

OR

2. Undertake a reading and numeracy assessment using an approved assessment tool and display competence at or above Exit Level 3 in the Australian Cores Skills Framework (ACSF).

The assessment tool used will be LLN Robot testing. The student will be provided with log-in access to complete the test; the test is invigilated. The required LLN assessment will require the student to act with honesty and integrity.

Frontier Education must be confident that the student has the required skills. If a student undertakes a reading and numeracy assessment, Skills Training Australia will inform the student of his/her results as soon as practicable after the assessment

OR

3. Provide a copy of diploma awarded for the student’s completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

OR

4. Provide evidence of successful completion of a qualification of a qualification that has been delivered in English and:

● was at Level 4 or above qualification in the Australian Qualifications Framework and the course for the qualification was delivered in English.

● assessed by a Federal, State or Territory government agency which assesses overseas qualifications (or an organisation contracted by such an agency to undertake such assessments), as equivalent or comparable to: a qualification in the AQF at level 4 or above, or a qualification at a level in a framework that preceded the AQF, equivalent to level 4 or above in the AQF.

If a student is not able to meet one of these requirements, the student will not be eligible to apply for a Commonwealth VSL.

Please refer to the VET Student Loans – Student Entry Policy for further information.

Note: If students wish to supply their senior secondary certificate of education, but have lost or mislaid it, they may be able to order a replacement for a fee. Please visit the relevant education site for further information:

State Site
Australian Capital Territory www.bsss.act.edu.au
New South Wales www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au
Northern Territory www.education.nt.gov.au
Queensland www.qcaa.qld.edu.au
South Australia www.sace.sa.edu.au
Tasmania www.tasc.tas.gov.au
Victoria www.vcaa.vic.edu.au
Western Australia www.tisc.edu.au

 

How Course Fees Are Charged

Fees for VET Student Loans eligible courses are charged by units of study; payments are spread across the duration of the course. A census day is set at no less than 20% into a unit of study.

A student will be sent a VET Student Loans Statement of Covered Fees after the student enrols and before the first census day for the course, during the first fee period of the course. The document states whether the enrolment is accepted on the basis that part or all of the tuition fees for the course will be covered by a VET Student Loan.

A student will be sent a VET Student Loans Fee Notice  no less than 14 days prior to each census day, indicating the student’s fees and census days.

The debt is incurred on the day after the census day.

After a census day has passed, Frontier Education will also send a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) for the Unit of Study. The CAN will provide the student with information about the debt incurred, including the loan fee where applicable. If a student believes the CAN is incorrect, then he/she should contact Frontier Education immediately to rectify.

For certain courses, there may be a gap between the course fee and the loan cap that the Commonwealth will allow for the course. The student will be advised of this upon enquiry, and also about other payment options that may be available.

Lifetime Loan Limit
The lifetime loan limit is the total amount a student can incur in a lifetime under any Commonwealth student loan scheme – whether it is a VET Student Loan, VET-FEE HELP or a Higher Education FEE-HELP loan. It is indexed each year, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In 2020, the lifetime loan limit is $106,319 for most students.

Students can view their loan obligations by referring to the Study Assist website here

Repaying the Loan

A student must repay the loan through the tax system when the individual’s income is above the minimum repayment threshold. Repayment thresholds are adjusted each year to reflect changes in average weekly earnings. The minimum repayment income threshold for 2018-19 is $51,957.

A VET Student Loan is a personal debt obligation that can affect a student’s credit rating and has wage and tax repayment implications.

For further information please refer to the ATO site here

Withdrawals, Cancellations & Refunds

A student may withdraw from a VET course of study or unit/s of study by completing the Withdrawal Form, or by providing an email or letter of intention to withdraw.

Please refer to the VET Student Loans- Withdrawal and Deferral Policy and Procedure for the process and information required if a student wishes to withdraw.

For Frontier Education refund policy and procedure, please refer to VET Student Loans- Refund Form .

Should it be necessary to cancel a student’s enrolment in an approved course, or part of an approved course after the census day, the VET Student Loan- Cancellation of Enrolment policy and procedure applies.

Rights and Responsibilities

If a student is considering applying for a VET Student Loan, the student should familiarise themselves with the loan obligations by reading the VET Student Loan information booklet.

Further information is available at:

● Department of Education, Skills and Employment website here

● Study Assist website here

Student may wish to seek independent financial advice as well.

Course Progression Confirmation

Students accessing VET Student Loans for their course are required by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment to demonstrate their course progression at regular intervals.

Frontier Education triggers the progression point each year during February, June and October and send to students via eCAF.

Students receive an invitation email with login details to the eCAF system requesting that students indicate their study intent and complete a short survey.

IMPORTANT: If a student misses two progression points, he/she may be ineligible to continue accessing VET Student Loans to pay the remainder of his/her course tuition fees.

For further information please visit the VET Student Loans – Student engagement and progression FAQs page here

Tuition Assurance Protection

Tuition assurance protects students in the event a course provided by an approved VET Student Loans provider ceases to be provided after it starts but before it is completed. Affected students are offered a replacement course with another provider and where this is not possible, the students’ VET Student Loan balance for the affected part of the course will be re-credited.

For further information relating to tuition assurance please refer to:

VSL Tuition Protection Arrangement Policy and Procedure

Policies and Documents

The following policies and documents relate to VET Student Loans and may be downloaded:

● Academic and Non Academic Grievance Policy and Procedure

● VET Student Loans- Personal Information Policy

● VET Student Loans- Withdrawal and Deferral Policy and Procedure

● VET Student Loans- Refund and Recrediting Policy and Procedure

● VET Student Loans- Cancellation of Enrolment Policy and Procedure

● Student Enrolment Policy and Procedure

● Fair Treatment and Equal Benefits-Opportunity Policy

● VET Student Loans – Tuition Protection Arrangement

● Collection of Tuition Fees in Advance Policy

● VET Student Loans – Student Entry Procedure

● VET Student Loans- Administration Policy and Procedure

● VET Student Loans- Tuition Fees and Charges Policy and Procedure

● Withdrawal Form

● VET Student Loans- Application Checklist

● VET Student Loans information booklet

● VET Student Loans- Census Dates

Eligibility Requirements

Students entering BSB50215 Diploma of Business must meet the following academic and English entry requirements:

Academic

● A candidate must be a minimum age of 18 year & above AND

● Completed the equivalent of Australian Year 12 or Certificate IV or higher

English requirements

International students applying either off-shore or on-shore will require:

IELTS:

● A minimum IELTS (General/Academic) test score of 5.5 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● Up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken for every 0.5 level of IELTS requirement, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

PTE:

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 42 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 36 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

Cambridge English:

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 162 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 154 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

● To provide evidence that they have studied in English for at least five (5) years in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States   OR

● To provide evidence that, within two (2) years of their application date, they have successfully completed in Australia, a foundation course or a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a substantial part of a Certificate IV or higher level qualification, from the Australian Qualifications Framework   OR

● Students who are on-shore (in Australia) at the time of application can undertake an internal Frontier Education Language (written & oral), Literacy and Numeracy test before the commencement of the main VET course

Study Option – VSL Program

● On Campus – Face to Face

● Online

● Blended

○ On Campus, plus
○ Online

Study Option – International

 

On Campus – Face to Face

 

BSB50215 – Diploma of Business Fees – VSL Program

Please click here to download the course tuition fees.

Course Tuition Fees – International

Please contact Frontier Education for the current course tuition fees.

Eligibility Requirements

Students entering BSB51918 Diploma of Leadership and Management must meet the following academic and English entry requirements:

Academic

● A candidate must be a minimum age of 18 year & above AND

● Completed the equivalent of Australian Year 12 or Certificate IV or higher

English requirements

International students applying either off-shore or on-shore will require:

IELTS:

● A minimum IELTS (General/Academic) test score of 5.5 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● Up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken for every 0.5 level of IELTS requirement, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

PTE:

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 42 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 36 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

Cambridge English:

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 162 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 154 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

● To provide evidence that they have studied in English for at least five (5) years in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States   OR

● To provide evidence that, within two (2) years of their application date, they have successfully completed in Australia, a foundation course or a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a substantial part of a Certificate IV or higher level qualification, from the Australian Qualifications Framework   OR

● Students who are on-shore (in Australia) at the time of application can undertake an internal Frontier Education Language (written & oral), Literacy and Numeracy test before the commencement of the main VET course

BSB51918 – Diploma of Leadership and Management Fees – VSL Program

Please click here to download the course tuition fees.

Eligibility Requirements

Students entering SIT50116 Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management must meet the following academic and English entry requirements:

Academic

● A candidate must be a minimum age of 18 year & above AND

● Completed the equivalent of Australian Year 12 or Certificate IV or higher

English requirements

International students applying either off-shore or on-shore will require:

IELTS:

● A minimum IELTS (General/Academic) test score of 5.5 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● Up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken for every 0.5 level of IELTS requirement, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

PTE:

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 42 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 36 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

Cambridge English:

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 162 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 154 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

● To provide evidence that they have studied in English for at least five (5) years in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States   OR

● To provide evidence that, within two (2) years of their application date, they have successfully completed in Australia, a foundation course or a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a substantial part of a Certificate IV or higher level qualification, from the Australian Qualifications Framework   OR

● Students who are on-shore (in Australia) at the time of application can undertake an internal Frontier Education Language (written & oral), Literacy and Numeracy test before the commencement of the main VET course

SIT50116 – Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management Fees – VSL Program

Please click here to download the course tuition fees.

Eligibility Requirements

Students entering SIT50416 Diploma of Hospitality Management (Operations Stream) must meet the following academic and English entry requirements:

Academic

● A candidate must be a minimum age of 18 year & above AND

● Completed the equivalent of Australian Year 12 or Certificate IV or higher

English requirements

International students applying either off-shore or on-shore will require:

IELTS:

● A minimum IELTS (General/Academic) test score of 5.5 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● Up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken for every 0.5 level of IELTS requirement, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

PTE:

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 42 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum PTE (Academic) test score of 36 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

Cambridge English:

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 162 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher;

● A minimum Cambridge English test score of 154 or equivalent for direct entry into a VET course at Diploma level or higher & up to 10 weeks of ELICOS course to be undertaken, before the commencement of the main VET course

Results older than two (2) years are not acceptable   OR

● To provide evidence that they have studied in English for at least five (5) years in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States   OR

● To provide evidence that, within two (2) years of their application date, they have successfully completed in Australia, a foundation course or a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a substantial part of a Certificate IV or higher level qualification, from the Australian Qualifications Framework   OR

● Students who are on-shore (in Australia) at the time of application can undertake an internal Frontier Education Language (written & oral), Literacy and Numeracy test before the commencement of the main VET course

SIT50416 – Diploma of Hospitality Management(Operations Stream) Fees – VSL Program

Please click here to download the course tuition fees.