Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
VET Student Loans
A Commonwealth loan that pays tuition for approved diploma, advanced diploma and some graduate VET courses, repaid through the tax system.
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$6,428
2026 maximum loan caps: Band 1 $6,428, Band 2 $12,858, Band 3 $19,290, and $96,467 for specific (Schedule 2) courses.
Who can get it
- Only available for approved courses at diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate and graduate diploma level listed in the VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016.
- Your provider must assess you as academically suited to the course.
- Citizenship and residency requirements apply.
The numbers
| Band 1 | $6,428 |
|---|---|
| Band 2 | $12,858 |
| Band 3 | $19,290 |
| Specific (Schedule 2) courses | $96,467 |
How to claim
- Complete the Request for a VET Student Loan (eCAF) on or before the first census day you want the loan to cover.
Conditions and catches
- You can't borrow more than the loan cap for your course.
- VET Student Loans count toward your overall HELP loan limit ($129,883 for most students in 2026).
- You repay the debt through the tax system once your income passes the repayment threshold.
- The department's 2024 information booklet says full-fee-paying students incur a 20 per cent loan fee and state-subsidised students don't. Check with your provider whether this still applies.
What the source says
Exact words quoted from the official page when we checked it. Last checked 15 Oct 2026.
All FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP, VET Students Loans
Full fee paying/fee for service students will incur a 20 per cent loan fee on their VET Student Loan.
You must submit the eCAF on or before the first census day for which you would like the loan to apply.
You must have been assessed by your course provider as academically suited to undertake the course