Government assistance
The Australian Government offers students ways to help make education more affordable, through student contribution and tuition fee loans, living allowances and scholarships.
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HECS-HELP chevron_right
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to pay for your studies. A HECS-HELP loan can be used to cover the student contribution fee if you're enrolled as Commonwealth supported place (CSP). Please note residency requirements for eligibility exist.
A HECS-HELP loan will cover all or part of your course fees. You’ll gradually repay your HECS-HELP loan through the taxation system once your income reaches a certain threshold.
Please note, a HECS-HELP loan won’t cover costs like accommodation, laptops or text books or the Student Services and Amenities Fee.
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FEE-HELP chevron_right
As a fee-paying student, you're responsible for paying the tuition fee for each subject in your course.
You may be eligible for a loan to help pay for tuition fees through the Australian Government's FEE-HELP program.
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Youth Allowance chevron_right
Youth Allowance offers financial help if you're between 16 and 24 years old and studying full-time. Find out if you're eligible.
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Austudy chevron_right
If you're 25 or over and studying an approved, full-time course with Charles Sturt, you may be eligible for Austudy.
Full-time secondary education courses, graduate courses, undergraduate courses, as well as some master's degrees, diplomas and TAFE courses are all Austudy approved.
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ABSTUDY chevron_right
ABSTUDY is a group of payments for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students or apprentices.
To be eligible for ABSTUDY, you must be all of the following:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian descent
- identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian
- accepted as such by the community in which you live or have lived
- an Australian citizen and normally live in Australia
- covered under 1 of the 7 ABSTUDY Awards
- be studying an approved course or doing an Australian Apprenticeship.
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Other Centrelink assistance payments chevron_right
If you're a single parent, pensioner, or non-school leaver, you may be eligible for a one-off payment or ongoing assistance to help you pay for university study.
Find out more at Centrelink students and trainees
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Government scholarships chevron_right
If you're living away from home, there are two government scholarships available to assist with living and study costs:
- Student Start-up Loan for some Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY and Austudy recipients
- Relocation Scholarship for some Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY recipients who need to live away from home to study.
Find out more at Study Assist