VET Student Loan (VSL) is an income contingent loan scheme for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector which will assist VSL eligible students who are enrolled in an approved VSL Diploma or Advanced Diploma course to help pay for all or part of their Tuition fees and cannot be used to cover other course fees such as Amenities and Materials fees.
A VET Student Loan will be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is repaid. A VET Student Loan will not be approved for students who do not meet the eligibility requirements.
Prospective students wishing to access a VET Student Loan will be required to meet the following criteria:
** Student is assessed as academically suited to undertake the approved VSL course on the basis of either:
In addition, Melbourne Polytechnic will report the results to the Secretary in the form, manner and by the time requested by the Secretary.
Further information on eligibility for a VET Student Loan is available in the ‘Rules and Information for VSL Enrolments’ under ‘Related Downloads’ at the bottom of this page.
A full list of VSL Approved Courses is available in Related Downloads below.
The Commonwealth Government has introduced a loan cap for each VSL Approved Course.
Students who are eligible to access a VET Student Loan will be entitled for loans up to the capped amount for their individual course enrolment.
Melbourne Polytechnic course fees may exceed the capped VET Student Loan amount. In this instance, students will be required to pay the difference between the Course Tuition Fee and the capped VET Student Loan amount at enrolment using the available payment options.
Further information on Loan Caps can be found on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website.
Students who intend to withdraw from all or part of course are advised that there will be no financial, administrative or any other barrier to withdrawal.
To avoid incurring a VET Student Loan debt it is important to withdraw before the census date. The census date is set at no less than 20% of the duration of the unit of study date as is listed on the Schedule of VET Tuition Fees. It is important that you check the census date for each unit of study. Students will also receive a VET Student Loan Fee Notice at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Census date for each Unit of Study.
Full Course Withdrawal
If a student withdraws from a Diploma or Advanced Diploma level course prior to or on the Census Date, Melbourne Polytechnic will refund the tuition fee and any other fees and charges paid by, or on behalf of, the student. A student who has a VET Student Loan will incur no debt.
Partial Course Withdrawal
If a student withdraws from only part of a Diploma or Advanced Diploma course prior to or on the Census Date, Melbourne Polytechnic will refund the tuition fees payable for the withdrawn unit/s of study. A student who has VET Student Loan will not incur a debt for the withdrawn unit/s of study.
No refund will be issued for any fees and charges paid by, or on behalf of the student, including any VET Student Loan debt incurred except in Special Circumstances for full course or partial course withdrawals after the Census Date.
If a student withdraws from an approved course or part of an approved course, Melbourne Polytechnic will not, after the withdrawal, enrol the student in an approved course or a part of an approved course without the written permission from the student (which must be given after the withdrawal). Where applicable, the student’s authority will be granted via the Addition to Enrolment form at the time of re-enrolment.
Effective from 1 July 2017, to continue to access a VET student loan, students must demonstrate to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) that they are a genuine student, continuing with their studies. The Student Engagement and Progression requirement process is part of the increased protections for students accessing the VET Student Loans program.
To demonstrate engagement and to continue to receive the loan, students must complete the ‘VET Student Loans—Confirming Enrolment and Continued Course Engagement and Participation form’ (the Progression Form) in the eCAF system at least twice each calendar year for the duration of their course. The form asks if students intend to continue studying and accessing a VET student loan, and contains a short survey.
Full details on Progression Compliance Requirements is available in the ‘Rules and Information for VSL Enrolments’ under ‘Related Downloads’ below
You may only apply for re-credit of a VET Student Loan debt if you withdraw from your unit of study after the census date or you have not completed the unit of study requirements. You cannot apply for a re-credit for a unit of study that you have successfully completed. Applications must be submitted within 12 months of the withdrawal date specified on your Withdrawal Form.
An application for re-credit of a VET Student Loan is considered on the basis of special circumstances that:
Students wishing to apply for a re-credit of their debt can do so at How to Apply for Re-credit of FEE-Help (VET Student Loan) Under Special Circumstances
Full details can be view in the ‘Rules and Information for a VET Student Loan’ under ‘Related Downloads’ below
A 20 percent loan fee will apply to all students who are not eligible for a government funded place under the Skills First Program. This fee will be added to the total VET Student Loan debt. For further information, students may contact the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations directly or for general information on VET Student Loans visit the Study Assist website and download the VET Student Loan Information Booklet.
Students will be required to commence repaying their VET Student Loan when their income reaches the repayment threshold. The threshold can be found at Study Assist.
The maximum loan amount you can borrow from the Australian Government is currently $113,028. This is the total amount available under all of VET Student Loans and FEE-HELP.