Student Information Edith Cowan University
Current Students

Pre-2005 HECS/PELS students

Undergraduate students

Postgraduate students click here

Major changes for pre-2005 HECS students include:

  • HECS terminology changes. HECS becomes known as the student contribution amount and the loan to pay for the student contribution amount is called HECS-HELP.
  • Reduction in the discount applied to up front student contribution amount (formerly HECS) payments from 25% to 20%.
  • Commonwealth supported students will need to apply for a CHESSN in 2005 (at re-enrolment).
  • Every eligible student will be allocated the equivalent of 7 years of Commonwealth support called the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) on 1 January 2005.
  • To apply for a HECS-HELP loan in 2005, pre-2005 students must fill in a Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP - pre-2005 HECS form (1294)
  • Bonus for voluntary repayments against a HECS-HELP debt reduces from 15% to 10% from 1st January 2005.

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Eligibility criteria for pre-2005 students

Generally, you are a pre–2005 HECS student if you:

  • commenced your course of study as a HECS student before 1 January 2005;

  • have not discontinued your enrolment without formal approval from ECU; and

  • have not completed the requirements of your course or the requirements of another course you have transferred into at the same level (DEST, 2004).

For more information read the Want to know about the changes to HECS & PELS? leaflet also available at Student Central.

From 2005, students receiving a government financial contribution towards their higher education will be known as Commonwealth Supported Students. As a Commonwealth Supported Student, the government pays a specified proportion of a student's tuition fees directly to ECU and the remainder, known as the student contribution, is paid by the student to the University. Students may pay the student contribution amount either up front or with a full or partial HECS-HELP loan. In 2005, continuing ECU students commencing an Honours course after completing the related pass course, will normally be considered a pre-2005 student.

On 1 January 2005, eligible Australian students will be granted seven years of equivalent full-time Commonwealth supported study. This is called the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). To monitor the usage of SLE, Commonwealth Supported Students will be allocated a Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN). The CHESSN is a unique identifier that will remain with you for life. This number is different from the ECU student number.

Students transferring to another course at the same level (e.g. undergraduate), without completing their previous course will be considered a pre-2005 student as long as they fulfil the above requirements and comply with the ECU rules and regulations detailed below.

Included in the Higher Education Support Act (2003) is detailed information for assessing a student's eligibility for pre-2005 status. ECU has considered this information in the context of ECU's past practices with respect to students returning after a period of absence. As a result, the ECU definition of a pre-2005 student for enrolments in 2005 is as follows:

  • any re-enrolling student who incurred load in 2004 at ECU or had an ECU approved deferral ending in 2004, will be considered a pre-2005 student;
  • any re-enrolling ECU student who did not incur load in 2004 or did not have an approved deferral ending in 2004, will be considered to have discontinued their enrolment and will lose their pre-2005 status.

Pre-2005 continuing students may complete their course of study on their original HECS level until the end of 2008 or when they graduate - which ever comes first.

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Postgraduate pre-2005 students

You are a pre-2005 PELS student if you commenced a postgraduate course of study before 1 January 2005, and:

  • you incurred a PELS debt for that course; and
  • you have not discontinued your enrolment; and
  • you have not completed the requirements of your course (DEST, 2004).

Pre-2005 PELS students who are continuing their studies in 2005 will be required to fill out a Request for FEE-HELP assistance Form (1292) to access FEE-HELP for the remainder of their course. This will replace the PELS Loan Request Form.

There is a limit on FEE-HELP loans of $50,000. Only Australian citizens (and permanent humanitarian visa holders) will be able to obtain FEE-HELP assistance for any units of study after 31 December 2008.

For more detailed information please read the FEE-HELP Information 2005 booklet for more information also available at Student Central.

Financial assistance opportunities for students:

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