This Chapter provides for 4 kinds of assistance that the Commonwealth provides to students.

                   Note:             The Commonwealth meets all or part of the higher education costs of students who are enrolled in places funded under Part 2-2.

The 4 kinds of assistance available under this Chapter are:

•       HECS-HELP assistance--assistance to meet a student's liability to pay student contribution amounts for units of study that are Commonwealth supported (see Part 3-2);

•       FEE-HELP assistance--assistance to meet a student's liability to pay tuition fees for units of study that are not Commonwealth supported (see Part 3-3);

•       OS-HELP assistance--assistance to a student who, as part of his or her course of study, is to undertake study at an overseas higher education institution (see Part 3-4);

•       SA-HELP assistance--assistance to a student on whom a student services and amenities fee is imposed (see Part 3-5).

The Commonwealth pays the assistance to the relevant higher education provider either (in the case of HECS-HELP assistance, FEE-HELP assistance and SA-HELP assistance) to discharge the student's liability, or (in the case of OS-HELP assistance) to pay to students on the Commonwealth's behalf.

The assistance is (in most cases) in the form of a loan from the Commonwealth to the student.