StudyAssist

1. Get a TFN early!
   • If you want to use a HELP loan to pay for your study, you must submit your valid TFN (or valid Certificate of application for a TFN) by the census date. Otherwise, you will not be able to use a loan for that study period.
   • If you do not have a TFN yet because you do not have a job, you must apply to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website (opens in a new window) for one.
   • Keep your TFN secure and treat it like your bank pin. HELP debts are recorded against your TFN so you must be sure about who you're giving your TFN out to.
2. Be aware of your obligations.
   • Find out your census date(s). Census dates are critical to requesting Commonwealth assistance/finalising your payment arrangements so that your enrolment is not cancelled. See Deadlines and withdrawals for more information.
   • Find out your provider’s policy for contacting students. If its policy is to contact you by an in-house email system (e.g. a student mail account), it is your responsibility to check your email on a regular basis, either on campus or at your local public library. If you cannot access Commonwealth assistance or your enrolment is cancelled because you missed the census date, claiming you did not have access to email or being unaware you had to check your email are not acceptable excuses.
   • Find out your provider’s academic probation policy. If you are not progressing satisfactorily in your course your provider may choose to cancel your enrolment, regardless of whether you have already incurred a HELP debt or made an upfront payment for that study.
   • If you are undertaking a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course, you must ensure that you have registered for a Unique Student Identifier (USI) at www.usi.gov.au (Opens in a new window).
3. You are responsible for your own education.
   • Due to privacy requirements, providers cannot disclose information to your spouse, parent or anyone else about your payment details, HELP loan or VET Student Loan, attendance or other personal matters.
   • If you remain enrolled in a unit past the census date but choose not to attend any classes or hand in any assignments your provider is not obligated to find out why. You will incur the full student contribution amount/tuition fee or HELP debt for that unit.
4. Know who to ask for help.
   • Your provider is your number one source of information for study-related queries. Student administration staff will be able to assist you with all enrolment and administration matters, or will direct you to the appropriate area.
5. Get involved!
   • Most providers offer an orientation service for new students in additional to social events and various clubs. Participating in these events are great ways to learn your way around, meet new people and build a support network.
   • If you are studying online or by distance social media pages, blogs and online discussion groups are excellent avenues for connecting with fellow students.
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Have you decided what type of qualification you would like to obtain? Do you know what the difference is between a degree and a certificate? Please refer to the Courses and Qualifications page for more information.

Choosing a course - Higher education
The Australian Government’s MyUniversity website (opens in a new window) provides students with a broad range of information about Australian universities and other higher education providers (providers). Once you have decided what field of study you are interested in, you can use the MyUniversity course and university search tools to finalise your decision about which course to study, and which providers offer the course. MyUniversity also provides information on whether you need to apply directly with the provider or through a Tertiary Admissions Centre (such as UAC, QTAC etc).

Tertiary Admissions Centres also provide information on courses available in your state and ATAR/OP requirements for each higher education course.

Other pathways into higher education
It is important to remember that if you do not meet the prerequisites for the course you are interested in, you may be able to gain entry via an alternative pathway (such as completing a vocational education or training (VET) course or a foundation/preparatory course first). You can talk to a career advisor or student administrator at your provider for more information.

Vocational education and training
Visit the My Skills (opens in new window) website to search for, and compare, VET courses and training providers.