VET Student Loans: Approved Diploma Courses

VET Student Loans

Study Now, Pay Later

With a VET Student Loan*, you can study now and pay your course fees later!

No Payments Until You Earn Over $69,528

You don’t need to pay anything back until you earn over $69,528 a year. Above that, you repay 15% of the income over $69,528, collected through the tax system. On a $75,000 salary that is about $16 a week (2026–27 figures). Is a VET Student Loan worth it? See the real cost

Selected Providers

Only a few, select providers around Australia can offer VET Student Loans, and TrainSmart Australia is one of them!

Government Student Loans

VET Student Loans is a Government loan offered by the Australian Government to eligible students enrolling into Vocational Education and Training (VET) to help pay for their tuition fees.

VSL Key Facts

A VET Student Loan is a loan issued by the Commonwealth
This loan will remain as a personal loan that must be repaid to the Commonwealth
You must meet eligibility criteria
The loan, until it has been repaid, may reduce the students after-tax income and may reduce the students borrowing capacity through other loan providers (such as home, car, etc)
A student is welcome to seek additional financial advice prior to applying for a VET Student Loan
A 20% loan fee applies to VET Student Loans for full-fee-paying students. It is added to your loan and does not count towards your VSL cap.

You don’t need to begin repaying the loan until you earn over $69,528 a year. Above that, you repay 15% of the income over $69,528 (2026–27), collected through the tax system.

*Vet Student Loan is a personal loan that must be repaid to the Commonwealth. A 20% Loan Fee will be added. You must meet eligibility criteria.

Am I eligible?

To find out if you are eligible for a VET Student Loan, you can use our quick and easy VET Student Loans Eligibility Tool below! Just fill in the form below to start.

What is your Citizenship Status in Australia?

How old are you?

Do you want to study a Diploma or a Certificate?

Do you hold any of the following qualifications?

Do you have a Tax File Number (TFN)?

Do you have a Unique Student Identifier (USI)?

What is your Citizenship Status in Australia?

How old are you?

Do you want to study a Diploma or a Certificate?

Do you hold any of the following qualifications?

Do you have a Tax File Number (TFN)?

Do you have a Unique Student Identifier (USI)?

Eligible VET Student Loan Courses

Course Code	Course Name	Full Price
CHC51015	Diploma of Counselling	$7,995
CHC53315	Diploma of Mental Health	$7,995
CHC52021	Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) (superseded)	$7,995
CHC52025	Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)	$7,995
CHC53215	Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs	$7,995
CHC50421	Diploma of Youth Work (superseded)	$7,495
CHC50425	Diploma of Youth Work	$7,495
HLT52021	Diploma of Remedial Massage (Online/Blended)	$7,995
BSB50120	Diploma of Business	$5,000
BSB50120	Diploma of Business (Operations)	$5,000
BSB50120	Diploma of Business (Organisational Development)	$5,000
BSB50420	Diploma of Leadership and Management	$5,000
BSB50820	Diploma of Project Management	$5,000
ICT50220	Diploma of Information Technology	$6,500
ICT50220	Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking)	$6,500
ICT50220	Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security)	$6,000

Course Name	Cost
Diploma of Counselling	$7,995
Diploma of Mental Health	$7,995
Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)	$7,995
Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs	$7,995
Diploma of Youth Work	$7,495
Diploma of Remedial Massage (online/blended)	$7,995
Diploma of Business	$5,000
Diploma of Business (Operations)	$5,000
Diploma of Business (Organisational Development)	$5,000
Diploma of Leadership and Management	$5,000
Diploma of Project Management	$5,000
Diploma of Information Technology	$6,500
Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking)	$6,500
Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security)	$6,000

Repay when you earn, not while you learn.

Pay nothing until your income passes $69,528. On $75,000 annual income, that’s about $16 a week.

A Vet Student Loan is an Australian Government loan under the same HELP scheme as HECS. It is repaid through the tax system, only once your income is above the threshold, and never as a weekly bill.

For 2026-27 the threshold is $69,528. Above it, the repayment is worked out on the amount over the threshold, not your whole income – for most graduates, 15% of the amount over $69,528.

Your Income	Vet Student Loan	Fee-for-service instalment plan*
Up to $69,528	NIL	$46-$77 a week
$75,000	About $16 a week	$46-$77 a week
$85,000	About $45 a week	$46-$77 a week
$95,000	About $73 a week	$46-$77 a week

Repay when you earn, not while you learn.

Nothing until your income passes $69,528. On $75,000, that’s about $16 a week.

A VET Student Loan is an Australian Government loan under the same HELP scheme as HECS. It is repaid through the tax system, only once your income is above the threshold, and never as a weekly bill. Nothing is payable while you study.

For 2026–27 the threshold is $69,528. Above it, the repayment is worked out on the amount over the threshold, not your whole income — for most graduates, 15% of the amount over $69,528.

Your income	VET Student Loan	Fee-for-service instalment plan*
Up to $69,528	Nil	$46–$77 a week
$75,000	About $16 a week	$46–$77 a week
$85,000	About $45 a week	$46–$77 a week
$95,000	About $73 a week	$46–$77 a week

VET Student Loan figures are the compulsory annual repayment shown per week ($821, $2,321 and $3,821 a year respectively) and are collected through the tax system, not paid weekly. *Instalment plans published by other providers for a Diploma of Counselling as at 9 September 2026, payable from enrolment for 18–24 months regardless of income. A VET Student Loan repayment continues until the debt is repaid; the total repaid is higher because of the loan fee and indexation. The difference is when and how you pay.

What you need to know. A VET Student Loan gives rise to a VETSL debt, which continues to 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. A 20% loan fee is added for full-fee-paying students, so a $7,995 course becomes $9,594 of loan debt. The outstanding balance is indexed on 1 June each year. Repayment income includes reportable superannuation, fringe benefits and net investment losses. VSL repayments are not tax-deductible. Maximum tuition fees: $7,995 for the Diplomas of Counselling, Community Services (Case Management), Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs and Remedial Massage; $7,495 for the Diploma of Youth Work. Fees for every VSL-approved course are listed on our VET Student Loans page. Figures are for 2026–27 and are examples only; thresholds and rates are set by the Australian Government and change each year. SMR Learning Services Pty Ltd trading as TrainSmart Australia, RTO 51771. Full details: VET Student Loans at TrainSmart.

What Would My Repayments Be?

To help you figure out a ball park as to what your repayments are, you can access the Study and Training Support Loan Repayments Calculator through the ATO!

Just click the link below to access the calculator and get started!

* Please note, this tool offers an estimated repayment amount and is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate and should only be used as a general guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm a New Zealand citizen. How can I qualify for VET Student Loan funding?

Certain New Zealand citizens can access VET Student Loan funding to cover the cost of their tuition fees.

A qualifying New Zealand citizen is a New Zealand citizen who meets ALL the following criteria:

was a dependent child when he or she was first usually resident in Australia;
holds a special visa category, such as the New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV, subclass 444);
- has been usually resident in Australia for at least 10 years;
- has been in Australia for periods totalling 8 years during the previous 10 years; and
- has been in Australia for periods totalling 18 months during the previous 2 years.

To demonstrate that you do meet all of these conditions, you must submit a copy of your international movement records, which you can obtain by completing and lodging Form 1359 with the Department of Home Affairs.

What is an approved course provider?

Approved Vet Student Loan courses must:

Be listed on the VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016
Lead to an Australian Qualifications Framework qualification such as a diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate or graduate diploma
Approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to offer VET Student Loans to eligible students

You can view an approved course provider list online here.

How much money can I borrow with a VET student loan?

In 2026, approved courses are subject to one of three loan caps: $6,428, $12,858 or $19,290. Over your lifetime you can borrow up to $129,883 across all HELP loans, including VET Student Loans (2026 limit).

When do I have to start repaying my VET student loan?

You start repaying your loan through the taxation system once your income is above the compulsory repayment threshold. The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2026-27 income year is $69,528.

Can I pay off my loan sooner?

Yes, you can make voluntary repayments anytime through the Australian Taxation Office. In addition, the compulsory repayments are still made through your tax return.