OS-HELP

[Print-friendly version]

Guidelines for Applying for OS-HELP

1. What is OS-HELP?

As a QUT student you can study for one or two semesters at an overseas university and earn credit towards your degree.

OS-HELP is an Overseas Higher Education Loan Programme, a Commonwealth Government loan scheme which provides financial assistance to eligible undergraduate students wishing to undertake part of their course of study overseas. OS-HELP assistance may be used to cover expenses such as airfares, accommodation and other travel or settling expenses.

You may apply for OS-HELP assistance on its own or in addition to applying for a scholarship under the University's Student Exchange Program or a scholarship offered by a faculty.

2. How does OS- HELP work?

Under the scheme, the Commonwealth Government allocates funds to universities which then select students to receive an OS-HELP loan.

The Government applies a 20% loan fee to each OS-HELP loan. For example, if a student borrows $5000, they would receive $5000 but the recorded debt will be $6000.

A student's debt is added to any other higher education debts they may have, such as a HECS-HELP debt, and indexed each year by movements in the Consumer Price Index. No other interest is charged on the debt.

OS-HELP debts are repaid in the same way as HECS-HELP debts. That is, compulsory repayments are made through the tax system when a person's income reaches the minimum repayment threshold for the financial year). Voluntary repayments on the debt can also be made directly to the Australian Tax Office with voluntary repayments of $500 or more attracting a 10% bonus.

For further information on the conditions of receiving an OS-HELP loan read the Statement of Terms and Conditions.

3. Who is eligible for OS- HELP?

To be entitled to OS-HELP assistance a student must meet all of the following criteria:

• be an Australian citizen or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa;
• be a Commonwealth supported student enrolled in an undergraduate course of study with QUT;
• have already completed at least one year of full-time study (96 credit points) and still have at least half a year of full-time study (48 credit points) yet to complete in their course of study on return from their overseas study;
• be enrolled in full-time study with an overseas higher education institution and for which the student will be outside Australia while undertaking the study;
• have their overseas study count as credit for the course of study that they are enrolled in with QUT;
• not have received OS-HELP on more than one other occasion;
• not have been granted an OS-HELP loan by another university for an overlapping six month study period;
• be selected by QUT to receive an OS-HELP loan in accordance with these Guidelines; and
• complete and sign an OS-HELP debt confirmation form (see section 10).

4. How much assistance can I apply for?

Eligible students in 2009 may borrow a minimum of $1000 up to a maximum of $5410 per study period of up to six months. If eligible, you may receive OS-HELP for a study period of less than six months but you cannot receive an OS-HELP loan more than once for a given six month period. You may also seek loans for one or two overseas study periods as long as the two six month study periods do not overlap. The 20% loan fee applied by the Government is in addition to the total amount borrowed for each loan.

5. What is regarded as full-time study under OS-HELP?

A student receiving OS-HELP must study full-time while they are overseas.

Overseas study is regarded as full-time if the level of study overseas is broadly equivalent to undertaking at least 72 credit points (0.75 Equivalent Full-time Study Load per year) in an equivalent course in Australia. Indicators of the level of study include contact hours, volume of assessable tasks and the credit that will be provided upon successful completion of the overseas study. Where students undertake overseas study for periods of less than six months, the level of study will be averaged taking into account the actual duration of the study period.

6. When do I apply?

You must apply for OS-HELP assistance at least 12 weeks before and no earlier than 6 months before the commencement of the overseas study period. Application deadlines are as follows:

You may apply for two loans concurrently for two study periods of up to six months. However, the University must reassess your eligibility for OS-HELP not more than six (6) weeks prior to the commencement of the second six month study period before your selection for OS-HELP for this second period can be finalised.

You may receive OS-HELP for a study period of less than six (6) months but can only be selected for OS-HELP for a second time if your second study period commences six months after the commencement of your first study period. The two study periods cannot overlap.

For Example

A student is selected for OS-HELP for three months of full-time overseas study that starts on 1 December 2007 and finishes on 28 February 2008 . Although the student will only study for three months, the six month study period is defined as commencing on 1 December 2007 and concluding on 31 May 2008 . This means that the student can only be selected for OS-HELP for a second time if their second study period commences on or after 1 June 2008 .

7. How do I apply?

If you are interested in applying for OS-HELP assistance you should:

1. Read this information thoroughly along with the OS-HELP Statement of Terms and Conditions .
2. Arrange to meet with the Exchange Coordinator, you should have a studyplan and unit outlines prepared for this meeting. Also your Course Coordinator must sign off on your study program.
3. Complete the Application for OS-HELP and attach the following documents to the completed form:

• printout of academic history from QUT Virtual
• OS-HELP Debt Confirmation Form
• a proposal of 800-1000 words outlining your rationale for studying at the overseas university
• program details with signed approval by course co-ordinator
• 2 academic references.

4. Submit the form and attachments to QUT International within the time frame outlined in the section When do I apply?

If you have also applied to participate in the Student Exchange Program you need only complete and submit the Application for OS-HELP to QUT International.

8. How is my application for OS-HELP assessed?

QUT International assesses your application to ensure you meet all eligibility criteria. You cannot receive OS-HELP unless you meet all of the eligibility criteria at the time of application.

The following criteria are used to assess each application:

• evidence that you meet each of the criterion for eligibility;
• evidence of support of your Course Co-ordinator or nominee;
• academic achievement, as evidenced by your Grade Point Average (GPA), in your current QUT course; and
• the benefits to be gained, as outlined in your submitted rationale, from participating in an overseas study program.

If, at any time, the number of applications for OS-HELP exceed the number of loans allocated to the University by the Commonwealth Government, applicants who meet the basic eligibility criteria will be ranked on the basis of their QUT GPA.

Where a student applies for two loans concurrently for two study periods, the University will reassess their eligibility for OS-HELP not more than six (6) weeks prior to the commencement of the second six month study period before your selection for OS-HELP for this second period can be finalised. In addition to continuing to meet the eligibility criteria and assessment against the above criteria, an applicant for a second study period must have successfully completed the requirements of the first period of overseas study in order to receive OS-HELP assistance for a second time.

9. When will I know if my application has been approved?

The Director, Business Development, QUT International will advise you in writing of the outcome of your application within two (2) months of receiving your application.

If your application is unsuccessful, you will be advised in writing of the reasons.

If your application is successful, you will be offered an OS-HELP loan in writing including advice on the loan amount to which you are entitled and any conditions of receiving the loan.

The University will determine the amount of the loan. Subject to the availability of Commonwealth funding and subject to the amount of assistance sought being a minimum of $1000 and a maximum of $5196, if your application is successful, you will be offered the loan amount requested in your application.

10. Acceptance of OS-HELP Assistance.

You must accept the offer of the loan in writing within two (2) weeks of the date the offer is made by the University. This period may be extended by QUT where the overseas university has not yet provided formal acceptance of the student's proposed overseas study program to QUT.

You must read the OS-HELP Statement of Terms and Conditions and you must complete an OS-HELP Debt Confirmation Form and return this form at the time of accepting the offer, that is, within two weeks of the date the offer is made. One form must be completed for each OS-HELP loan.

11. How and when will I receive the payment?

Following the correct completion of the OS-HELP Debt Confirmation Form , you will receive your OS-HELP assistance as a single payment by electronic funds transfer.

You will normally receive your payment within four (4) weeks of the University receiving your correctly completed OS-HELP debt confirmation form.

12. What if my application is unsuccessful?

If your application for OS-HELP is unsuccessful you may contact QUT International for further information on the reasons why your application was unsuccessful. If you remain unsatisfied with the decision you may lodge a grievance under the Grievance resolution procedures for student related grievances.

13. What if my circumstances change or I provide false information?

If you have applied and been selected for OS-HELP assistance and the University determines:

• that your circumstances have changed so that you will no longer meet the eligibility criteria at the commencement of the study period; or
• that you will not be undertaking the proposed overseas study: or
• that you have provided false or misleading information in your OS-HELP application

and you have not yet received an OS-HELP payment, the offer of OS-HELP assistance will be withdrawn by the University.

If you have been paid OS-HELP assistance and do not undertake overseas study, you will continue to incur an OS-HELP debt to be repaid through the Australian Tax Office.

If you have received an OS-HELP payment and the University knows or has reason to believe that you have provided false or misleading information in your OS-HELP application, the University will immediately notify the Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) of the suspected offence.