Changes to eligibility for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) and HELP loans

In 2022, changes were introduced to Commonwealth Support Places (CSPs) and HELP loans. The information below was taken from the Federal Government's Job Ready Graduate Package to update students on changes to CSPs, HELP debts and eligibility.

How is the eligibility for CSPs and HELP loans changing?(show)

The new Commonwealth assistance eligibility requirements introduced in 2022 requires students to:
  • be a genuine student;
  • be assessed as academically suited to their course by their provider;
  • limit their enrolment to 2.0 EFTSL (i.e., two years or less) worth of study per year unless their provider has assessed them as academically suited to undertake more study; and,

In what new circumstance will a provider have to cancel a HELP debt?(show)

Providers will be required to cancel your HELP debt if you were ineligible for the HELP loan, or if the provider completed your request for Commonwealth assistance on their behalf.

How do I know whether I am a genuine student?(show)

Providers will be required to assess students as genuine as part of their eligibility for continued Commonwealth assistance. This is to prevent students from occupying CSPs that may be better utilised by genuine students from taking on HELP debts for study that is not appropriate for them.

Factors that providers may use to determine whether you are a genuine student are:
 
  • your engagement with your course
  • whether you have been provided with information about the requirements for, and the cost and duration of your course
  • whether you satisfy the course requirements and complete your assessments
  • if studying online, how many times you log into your course
  • if you have provided up-to-date contact details that the Department can use to confirm your enrolment
  • any enrolments in others courses that make it impossible or highly improbable for you to complete your course

What is an EFTSL?(show)

An Equivalent Full Time Study Load (or EFTSL) is a measure of the study load of a student studying on a full-time basis. An EFTSL value is a measure of an amount of study (e.g., one EFTSL is equivalent to one year of full-time study in a higher education course). A typical full time study load over a year is usually 8 units of 0.125 EFTSL each.
Was this answer helpful?

The feedback you provide will help us improve our answers for other people.


 
Please take a moment to tell us how this information can be improved.


Share this page Print this page Print Email a link to this answer