As a domestic student, you will usually have a number of options available for paying your fees.
Whatever you decide, remember to finalise your options and payments by the census date (requires login) (last date to withdraw without financial penalty). If you don't, you may be at risk of having your enrolment cancelled.
PLEASE NOTE
It is mandatory that your personal details are exactly the same as what is recorded at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to access a HELP Loan. This includes your valid tax file number (TFN), first name, middle name, last name, date of birth and your current mailing address. If any of these details are incorrect at UOW as per ATO’s records you will not have access or continued access to a HELP Loan. For more information contact ATO Helpline 13 28 61 or access or create myGov account and link to the ATO office.
Payment and HELP loan options
| Student type | Tuition fees | Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Supported Australian citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder |
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| Full-fee paying Australian citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder |
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| New Zealand citizen or permanent resident |
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| *New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder, or eligible former New Zealand SCV holder* |
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| **Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) holder |
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*From 29 June 2023, New Zealand citizens who formerly held a Special Category Visa and have transitioned to a permanent resident visa on the pathway to citizenship will have continued access to HELP.
**From 1 February 2024, Pacific Engagement Visa holders who will be residents in Australia for the duration of study will have access to HELP.
For HELP eligibility, proof of residency and comprehensive information on the different HELP Loans, please refer to the Study Assist website.
Students applying for HELP need to provide their TFN and Unique Student Identifier via SOLS.
More information about your HELP debt is available on the ATO website.
Check your billing option
If you would like to check or change your current billing option, log onto SOLS and then select "HELP-Loan Option".
Below is an explanation of different billing types and what they mean.
| Billing type | What it means | What you should do | Eligible to apply for a Tuition Fee Instalment Plan? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSS HECS-HELP Loan | Deferring all fees to a HECS-HELP Loan | Provide your TFN and permission for the University to use it. | No |
| CSS HECS-HELP Partial |
Making a partial up-front payment and deferring the balance to a HECS-HELP Loan. |
Provide your TFN and permission for the University to use it. Make your partial (min. $500) payment by census date. |
No |
| CSS HECS-HELP Up front |
Paying all fees up front. |
Make full payment by census date.* *If a TFN and permission for the University to use it has been provided, any balance after the census date will be deferred to a HECS-HELP Loan. |
No |
| CSS Unconfirmed | Not a valid billing type. |
Select a billing type via "HELP-Loan Option" on your SOLS menu. Select ‘maintain’ and then follow the prompts. |
No |
| CSS Full | You are not eligible for a HELP Loan and must pay in full up front. | Make full payment by census date. | No |
| DFP FEE-HELP Loan | Deferring all fees to a FEE-HELP Loan. | Provide your TFN and permission for the University to use it. | No |
| DFP FEE-HELP Partial | Making a partial up-front payment and deferring the balance to a FEE-HELP Loan. |
Provide your TFN and permission for the University to use it. Make your partial (min. $500) payment by census date. |
No |
| Domestic postgraduate fee payer | Paying all fees up front. | Make full payment by census date. | Yes |
Change your billing option
Change your current session billing type
This must be done before the census date (final payment date).
- Log onto SOLS.
- Select HELP-Loan Option from the FEES menu.
- Click 'Maintain' on your default billing type and follow the prompts which follow.
- If you wish to defer your fees, you will need to provide your tax file number during these steps.
- It is important to make sure you read all the information and indicate your agreement before clicking to continue.
- Submit your new billing preference.
Once you have finished these steps, double check that your billing type and TFN permissions are correct.
Change your default billing type for future sessions
This can be done at any time.
- Log onto SOLS.
- Select HELP-Loan Option from the FEES menu.
- Click 'Maintain' on your default billing type and follow the prompts which follow.
- If you wish to defer your fees, you will need to provide your tax file number during these steps.
- It is important to make sure you read all the information and indicate your agreement before clicking to continue.
- Submit your new billing preference.
Once you have finished these steps, double check that your billing type and TFN permissions are correct.
Commonwealth Assistance Forms (CAF)
Recent changes to legislation mean that students looking to take up a Commonwealth Supported Place for courses after 1 January 2013 must provide UOW an Australian address and be willing to undertake part of the degree in Australia.
Students undertaking a new degree will need to complete an online CAF and current Commonwealth Supported Students who have a nominated overseas address will be asked to resubmit their CAF.
All the special terms explained
Study now, pay later
- HECS Loan = a loan that allows you to defer all or part of your tuition fees as a debt to be repaid with the Australian Tax Office at a later date.
- HECS-Help = the HELP loan available for eligible Commonwealth supported students.
- FEE-HELP = the HELP loan available for eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
- SA-HELP = the HELP loan available for eligible domestic students to defer all or part of their Student Services and Amenities Fee.
Student types
- Commonwealth Supported Place = a University place that has tuition fees partially paid for by the Australian Government.
- Full-fee Paying Place = a University place that is not subsidised by the Australian Government.