The HELP Borrowing Limit: How Much Can You Actually Borrow?
There's a Cap on How Much You Can Borrow
A lot of students assume they can borrow whatever their degree costs. That's not always true. The Australian Government sets a lifetime HELP loan limit, and once you hit it, you can't borrow any more.
In 2026, the limits are:
- $129,883 for most students
- $186,544 for students studying medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or certain aviation courses
This limit covers all HELP loan types combined: HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET Student Loans, and VET FEE-HELP. It's not per degree. It's the total you can ever borrow across your entire study history.
What Happens When the Degree Costs More
Some degrees, particularly at private universities, cost more than the limit. When that happens, you need to pay the difference out of pocket during the course.
For example, Bond University's Bachelor of Laws costs approximately $142,720 for domestic students. The FEE-HELP limit is $129,883. That leaves a gap of roughly $13,000 you'd need to cover yourself.
This isn't uncommon at private institutions. If you're considering one, check the total degree cost against the current loan limit before you enrol so you know what you'll need to fund independently.
Your Limit Is Renewable
One thing most people don't realise: the HELP loan limit is renewable. When you make repayments (compulsory or voluntary) toward your HELP debt, that amount gets added back to your available balance.
So if you've borrowed $50,000 and repaid $10,000, your available balance goes back up to $89,883. This means if you want to study again later in life, you can re-access that borrowing capacity.
This only applies to repayments made from the 2019–20 income year onward.
How to Check Your Available Balance
You can check your current HELP loan limit and available balance through myHELPbalance. You'll need to log in with your myGov credentials.
Where This Info Comes From
This guide is for educational purposes only. Limits are indexed annually. Always check the current limit on Study Assist.