Student loans in Australia

Student loans in Australia
In Australia, students can pay for university courses using the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). The selection criterion for HECS is based on the rank achieved in the secondary school final examination. HECS fees are government-subsidised and are substantially cheaper than full-fee paying places which have lower entry requirements.

Courses are ranked into three bands, with a year's tuition costing around $4,000–$6,000 AUD. Students have the option of deferring the HECS fee until they start earning above a certain threshold, whereupon they will repay the government through the tax system; the amount owed is indexed to inflation. Alternatively, students can pay upfront at the beginning of the semester; this option provides a 25% discount (2004).

Recent legislative changes that allow a high proportion of full-fee paying places, and lower upfront payment discounts have been a source of controversy.