OS-HELP is a loan available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place who want to study part of their course overseas. OS-HELP can be used for a range of expenses such as airfares, accommodation and other travel or study expenses.
You can receive one loan per six-month study period and two OS-HELP loans over your lifetime.
Eligibility
You can apply for OS-HELP in the six-month period before the start of your overseas study. Your application needs to be for study that you have not yet completed.
You are eligible to apply if you are a Commonwealth supported student participating in a program where study is for academic credit or is otherwise a mandatory component of your current course at the University. This includes:
- an approved exchange or study abroad program
- an overseas professional placement (clinical, community, industry or internship)
- a fieldwork program.
You also need to meet all of the criteria below.
- You鈥檙e an Australian citizen, permanent humanitarian visa holder, eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder, pacific engagement visa (PEV) holder (PEV holders became eligible from 1 February 2024), or a New Zealand Special Visa (SCV) holder, or eligible former New Zealand SCV holder who meets the and who will be resident in Australia at the time of applying.
- You have not received an OS-HELP loan more than once before, and you will not receive a second OS-HELP loan for the same six-month period.
- You are enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and have completed 48 credit points (1.0 Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL)) of study in Australia that counts towards your current course in a Commonwealth supported place.
- You will be studying full time overseas and your overseas study will count towards the requirements for the Australian course in which you are enrolled.
- You will have at least 6 credit points (0.125 EFTSL) of your current course left to complete in Australia once you finish your overseas study (usually one unit of study).
- You have a valid tax file number (TFN) at the time of applying.
- You have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).
- You have submitted both the OS-HELP loan application and OS-HELP debt confirmation form through .
- You have read the .
Eligibility criteria and legislation around OS-HELP can change, so see the website for full details.
When you aren't eligible for OS-HELP
You are not eligible for OS-HELP if any of the following apply.
- You are receiving FEE-HELP or SA-HELP but are not in a Commonwealth supported place.
- You have received an OS-HELP loan for the same six-month period (counted from the start date of the overseas study for the first loan). For example, if you have received an OS-HELP loan for overseas study starting on 1 January, you cannot then be selected to receive a second OS-HELP loan for overseas study which begins before 2 July of that year.
- You will complete the credit requirements of your course upon completion of your overseas study.
- You have already completed the program for which you would like to apply for OS-HELP.
How much can I borrow?
In 2026, eligible applicants will be able to select from the following indexed amounts to borrow per six-month study period.
- If you study in Asia*: $2500, $5000, $10,130
- If you do not study in Asia: $2000, $4000, $8442
- Supplementary loan for approved Asian language study: $1345
The Asian language study will need to be an official language of your host location and completed in preparation for study in Asia*. You cannot request the extra loan amount if your Asian language study is part of your course or if you are already using a HELP loan to pay for those units.
* 'Asia' includes these countries:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Students need to ensure theydo not travel to or remain in locations where Smartraveller advice is 鈥楧o not travel鈥� or 鈥楻econsider your need to travel鈥�. For information about thse categories, .