OS-Help Loan & Centrelink Letter
There's a lot to think about when planning for your overseas internship and money is a big part of that.
There are two main ways that Swinburne Abroad can assist with your financial planning for your overseas internship - through the Government OS HELP Loan and Centrelink support letters.
OS-Help Loan
OS-HELP is available for credit-bearing international experiences, including exchange, study tours and overseas internships and is the most applied for form of funding. This government scheme provides loans for Australian students of up to A$9,504 (as at 2024), depending on your destination and study program.
This loan is added to your HECS debt, which you do not have to repay until your income reaches the minimum repayment threshold. To be eligible for the OS-HELP Loan you must meet the minimum eligibility criteria below:
This loan is added to your HECS debt, which you do not have to repay until your income reaches the minimum repayment threshold. To be eligible for the OS-HELP Loan you must meet the minimum eligibility criteria below:
- have been selected by your provider to receive an OS-HELP Loan;
- be an Australian citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder or a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the residency requirements
- have not received an OS-HELP Loan on more than one other occasion
- be enrolled with an Australian provider in a Commonwealth supported place and have completed one equivalent full-time student loan (EFTSL) — usually one year of full-time study
- be studying full-time overseas and this study will count towards the course requirements for the Australian course you are enrolled in
- have at least 0.125 EFTSL of your course left to complete once you have finished your overseas study — usually one unit of study
- have a valid tax file number (TFN) at the time of applying
- have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) prior to the first census date (for new enrolments from 1 January 2021)
- have submitted an OS-HELP debt confirmation form to your provider; and have read the OS-HELP statement of terms and conditions.
For more information on OS-HELP visit the Study Assist website or read the OS-HELP and overseas study booklet.
When can I apply for the OS HELP Loan?
Our team will send you an email inviting you to apply for the OS HELP Loan (if you are eligible) once you have been accepted into the program - you can then follow the steps to submit your application.
If you wish to apply for the loan halfway through your internship program, please contact the Swinburne Abroad team via email at overseasinternships@swin.edu.au.
Centrelink Letter
If you already receive payments from Centrelink (such as Austudy, Youth Allowance) these payments can continue while you are overseas doing your internship. You will remain enrolled as a Swinburne student while you are away.
Swinburne Abroad can provide you with a Centrelink support letter, that confirms your approved program and the dates, as well as your full-time enrollment status.
You will then need to liaise with Centrelink directly yourself to provide this letter and manage your payments.
Swinburne Abroad can provide you with a Centrelink support letter, that confirms your approved program and the dates, as well as your full-time enrollment status.
You will then need to liaise with Centrelink directly yourself to provide this letter and manage your payments.
*Note: Swinburne Abroad does not liaise with Centrelink and cannot guarantee eligibility for any payments
Want to request a Centrelink Letter?
Just sent us an email to overseasinternships@swin.edu.au. Please allow our team approximately one week to provide this letter.
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