Australian university is expensive—but you don't pay upfront. The government funds degrees through HECS-HELP, and you pay back through your income tax once you graduate and earn enough. Let's break down the numbers and help you calculate what you'll actually pay.
💡 Key Point: You don't pay until you earn $54,500+ per year. No upfront fees for most Australian students.
1. How HECS-HELP Works
HECS-HELP is an income-contingent loan system:
🎓 Government pays your university fees
You get a degree debt (~$15k-$120k depending on degree)
💼 You repay through tax system
Once you earn $54,500+, repayment starts automatically
⏰ Repay for 40 years max
After 40 years, remaining debt is forgiven (but rare)
2. Repayment Calculation
Simple Formula: You repay 9% of income above the threshold.
Example:
• Salary: $70,000
• Threshold: $54,500
• Repayable income: $70,000 - $54,500 = $15,500
• HECS repayment: 9% × $15,500 = $1,395/year (~$116/month)
3. University Costs by Degree Type
4. What This Means for You
- ✅Choose your degree based on career, not cost: The government pays most of it. Don't avoid STEM if you're interested.
- ✅Engineering graduate earning $120k pays $5,895/year in HECS. Totally manageable.
- ✅No interest charged on HECS debt. It just indexes to inflation.
💰 Calculate Your Student Finance
Input your future salary and degree cost to calculate HECS-HELP repayment.
Try Finance Calculator →Australian university is affordable and accessible. Don't let cost alone determine your degree choice. Pick what you're interested in, and the financial system is designed to be manageable on a graduate salary.