8. Fee-help and VET student loans
This page is dedicated to rules and policies that apply only to FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans students, to help you understand your specific responsibilities.
Along with these policies you will also need refer to the other Student Rules and Policies pages to understand your full responsibilities as a TAFE Queensland student, and to access administrative processes and useful forms.
8.1 FEE-HELP and VET student loans re-credit review
Re-Credit Rules
What You Need to Know
If you withdraw from a unit of study after the census date you will incur a FEE-HELP or VETSL debt for that unit of study.
However, if you withdraw after the census date or are unable to successfully complete a unit of study, and believe this was due to Special Circumstances, you may apply to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited for the unit of study.
Special circumstances are circumstances that are:
- Are beyond your control; and
- Did not make their full impact until after the census date for the unit of study; and
- Make it impractical for you to complete the requirements for the unit of study.
Making a Re-Credit Application
What You Need to Know
To make a re-credit review application, you need to submit a FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans Re-Credit Application Form to your TAFE Queensland region.
Any re-credit review application must be submitted within:
- 12 months from the date you withdrew from the unit of study (or if you didn’t withdraw, 12 months from the end date of the unit of study) (for FEE-HELP eligible students); or
- 12 months of the census date for the unit of study (for VET Student Loans eligible students).
Re-Credit Decisions
What You Need to Know
Your TAFE Queensland region will make its decision within 28 days of receiving all the information required to support your application.
If you are eligible for a re-credit, TAFE Queensland will re-credit your FEE-HELP balance for the appropriate amount, and ensure that an updated Commonwealth Assistance Notice is provided to you.
If you are not eligible for a re-credit, TAFE Queensland will provide you with its decision in writing.
Reviews of Re-Credit Decisions
What You Need to Know
Internal Reviews:
If you feel that TAFE Queensland’s decision about your re-credit request is unfair, you have a right to ask for an internal review of the decision.
Your request for an internal review must be on the basis of the way in which the decision was reached by TAFE Queensland, and include:
- The grounds for the review; and
- Any supporting documentation.
If you are asking for an internal review, it must be made in writing using the form provided to you, and be submitted within 28 days of receiving the notification of the re-credit decision by TAFE Queensland.
TAFE Queensland will then consider the matter and respond to you within 45 days.
External Appeals:
If you are still dissatisfied with the decision, you may have the right to take the matter to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for an external appeal.