The Australian Government supports students to undertake higher education by funding public universities and a small number of private higher education providers to offer Commonwealth supported places (CSPs).
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A CSP is a government subsidy to study
A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is a place at an Australian university or approved higher education provider where the Australian Government pays part of your fees.
This is a subsidy to reduce the cost of your course. It means that you do not pay the full course fees. It is not a loan, and you don't have to pay it back.
However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your course.
The remaining cost is called the student contribution amount. You are responsible for paying the student contribution amount either upfront to your provider by the census date, or by applying for a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan by the census date.
For example
Lily wants to study a Bachelor of Education to become a teacher when she finishes school.
She wants to continue to live in Melbourne while she studies and has several university and non‑university options available to her.
If she applies for, and receives, a CSP at a university, the annual student contribution amount for her first-year tuition fee will be $6,500.
If she is not offered a CSP or chooses a degree at a higher education provider who doesn’t offer CSPs, her first-year tuition fee will be $30,200.
Accessing a CSP can make a significant difference to the cost of your study.
The difference between a CSP and HELP loan
A CSP and a HELP loan are not the same thing.
A CSP is a subsidised place at an Australian university or approved higher education provider where part of your fees are paid by the government. This subsidy does not need to be repaid.
A HECS-HELP loan is used to pay the remaining part of the fees, known as the student contribution amount, and it does need to be repaid.
Which courses have CSPs
Undergraduate
Most CSPs are for undergraduate study.
Postgraduate
Only some providers offer CSPs at the postgraduate level.
Research degrees
There are no CSPs offered for higher degrees by research.
It is important to check with your provider if they offer CSPs, and for what courses, as it will reduce the overall cost of your study.
Undergraduate
Most domestic undergraduate students at Australian public universities will be enrolled in CSPs at the undergraduate level e.g. a bachelor degree.
A small number of higher education providers (non-university) are also funded to offer CSPs.
Each university and higher education provider is responsible for deciding how CSPs are allocated across the undergraduate courses they offer.
This means providers can deliver the mix of courses they believe are most appropriate for their students and communities with the funding provided by the government. The only exception is medicine where the government allocates a set number of CSPs to each university.
Postgraduate
Postgraduate studies are typically in full fee-paying places so CSPs are more limited. CSPs may only be offered in select postgraduate courses e.g. a course work masters degree. Each provider is responsible for deciding how many CSPs are distributed across its postgraduate course offerings.
There are no minimum or maximum levels of delivery specified for CSP places at postgraduate levels.
Higher Degrees by Research
There are no CSPs offered for research masters degrees and research doctorates (PhDs).
Further information
Further information on funding for research students is available through the Research Training Program on the Department of Education website (FAQs for students).
Eligibility for a CSP
Your provider will assess your eligibility for a CSP based on your citizenship, residency and the course requirements.
The eligibility criteria for a CSP and HELP loan are not the same. You may be eligible for a CSP and not a HELP loan.
Being eligible for a CSP does not mean you will be offered one. You must meet the academic entry requirements set by your provider to get into your selected course.
Citizenship and residency requirements
To be eligible for a CSP, your citizenship, visa status and where you plan to live while you study are all considered. To be eligible for a CSP you must be one of the following:
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an Australian citizen who will study at least one unit of your course while living in Australia
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a New Zealand citizen who will study the entire course while living in Australia
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an Australian permanent visa holder who will study the entire course while living in Australia
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an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder who will study the entire course while living in Australia, or
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a Pacific engagement visa (PEV) holder who will study the entire course while living in Australia.
Course requirements
Meeting the government’s eligibility requirements for a CSP does not guarantee that you will be offered a CSP in the course of your choice, or at your preferred provider. Enrolment offers are based on merit after students are assessed as meeting the course entry requirements set by the provider.
Your provider or Tertiary Admission Centre will assess your application and notify you in writing to let you know if you have been offered a CSP in their course.
Additional requirements
In addition to your citizenship, residency and course requirements, you also need to:
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have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) prior to the first census date of your course
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have sufficient Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) available
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not undertake more than 2 years’ worth of higher education study within 12 months unless your provider has approved you to take on more.
Useful links and resources
Further information on Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) is available in the HELP publications.
Who determines if you are eligible for a CSP
Your provider will assess your eligibility for a CSP against the eligibility criteria.
Contact your provider or prospective provider if you have any questions about whether you are likely to eligible for a CSP.
How to apply for a CSP
To apply for a CSP you must submit a request for Commonwealth assistance via an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) by the census date.
eCAFs are only available from your university or higher education provider. Further information on the application process and eCAF is available on the loan application page.
The eCAF is also how you apply for a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan. In your eCAF, your provider will ask how you want to pay for your student contribution amount. This is where you notify them you want to use a HECS-HELP loan. Further information on eligibility for a HECS-HELP loan is available at HECS-HELP loan page.
CSP Recap
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Step 1
Check whether your provider offers CSPs for the course you wish to study by either contacting the university or higher education provider directly or by comparing courses, including if a CSP is available, at Course Seeker.
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Step 2
Check if you are eligible for a CSP.
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Step 3
Apply for your course and CSP with your provider.
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Step 4
Accept the CSP and either pay your student contribution amount upfront by the census date or apply for a HECS-HELP loan with your provider by the census date.
What happens if you don’t get a CSP?
If you are not offered a CSP in your selected course, you will be enrolled in a full fee-paying place. This means there is no government subsidy to cover part of the fees and you will pay the full amount for your fees.
If you are not offered a CSP, you should check if there are other courses or providers who do offer CSPs. You can search and compare courses or study areas on Course Seeker.
If you enrol in a full fee-paying place, you can’t access a HECS-HELP (also known as HECS) loan, but you may be eligible for a FEE-HELP to avoid making an upfront payment. Further information on eligibility for a FEE-HELP loan is available at FEE-HELP loan.
Useful links and resources
Further information on eligibility for a FEE-HELP loan is available at FEE-HELP loan.
What if you want to change courses
Your CSP is not transferable from one course to another or from one higher education provider to another.
If you would like to change courses, you need to withdraw from your current course and then apply for your new course.
It is important to follow the correct process for withdrawing from your current course. If you do not withdraw properly or miss the census date, you will have to pay the student contribution amount.
When you apply for the new course, it is important you check if there are CSPs available for the course. Your CSP is not transferable from one course to another or from one provider to another.
If you need help to understand how to withdraw from your current course and apply for your new course, contact your provider.
Useful links and resources
Find out more about switching courses or providers.
For more information about withdrawing, visit our withdrawing from study page.
For more information about census dates, visit our loan deadlines page.
How long can you study in a CSP?
On 1 January 2022, the government implemented the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).
The SLE provides students 7 years of full-time subsidised study in CSPs.
Additional SLE is offered for select postgraduate and honours courses.
There is also an opportunity to access lifelong SLE to upskill, reskill or retrain later in life.
For further information on SLE, additional SLE and lifelong SLE see the Student Learning Entitlement page.
Useful links and resources
Compare courses on Course Seeker.
For an overview of important deadlines and explainers on terminology visit our key dates and terminology page.