You can apply for OS-HELP in the six-month period before the start of your overseas study.
You should not submit a loan application until you have received confirmation of your acceptance from the host university, program provider, faculty (faculty-led units of study), or clinical placement (hospital or organisation). The start date entered in your OS-HELP loan application and debt confirmation form must match the start date of classes or a mandatory orientation session for semester exchange programs and the program start date in the host country for other program types.
Your application needs to be for study that you have not yet completed. OS-HELP loan applications are assessed on a continuous basis in the order they are submitted. You should not submit a loan application until you have received confirmation of your acceptance from the host university or program provider.
The OS-HELP loan application is closed from 1 December each year. The application will re-open on 17 January for students completing overseas study commencing from January onwards.
Submit your application by:
The intention is to pay students prior to departure where they have submitted their application by the relevant deadline. However, due to the high volume of applications this cannot be guaranteed.
You may submit an application after these deadlines; however, your OS-HELP loan may not be processed before the commencement of your overseas studies. If you submit your loan application in November, you may be required to reapply once the application reopens the following January.
If you're applying for a second OS-HELP loan, you must submit your application a maximum of 4 weeks before the end date of your first loan. If the end date of your first loan is early in the new year, you must submit your application for the second loan in the same calendar year. For example, if you have received an OS-HELP loan for overseas study for the six-month period 15 August–14 February, you must apply for the second loan after the application reopens in January. You cannot be selected to receive a second OS-HELP loan for overseas study where the program start date is before the end date of your first loan with the exception of continuous study in the same program (ie. a year-long exchange program). If you're on a year-long exchange program, you should apply for the second OS-HELP loan with a start date six months plus one day after the start date of your first loan.
Payment for an approved second loan will be made after the end date of the first loan.
Complete the OS-HELP loan application through Sydney Student.
Go to ‘My finance’, click on ‘Scholarship, prizes, bursaries and loans’, then ‘Apply for OS-HELP loan for overseas study'.
The application link will only appear if you meet the citizenship/residency requirement and are currently enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP).
After completing the OS-HELP loan application, it is recommended that you continue directly from the Confirmation page to submit your OS-HELP debt confirmation form.
You can return and complete your debt confirmation form at a later time; however, your OS-HELP loan application will not be assessed until the form has been submitted through Sydney Student (go to 'My finance', 'Your finances', then 'Government forms').
Once you submit your form, you'll be emailed a receipt. A pdf copy of your submitted form will also be available in Sydney Student (go to 'My finance', 'Your finances', then 'Government forms').
Make sure you have the following information ready before you complete the online application.
If you are applying for a Supplementary Asian language study loan you will need to provide:
You should not apply for a Supplementary Asian language study loan if the language study is included as part of your overseas study program.
