Commonwealth Supported Places

A CSP is a special spot offered in a higher education course where the Australian Government will pay part of your tuition fees.   

Any Australian or New Zealand Citizens as well as permanent visa holders can apply for a CSP. While there are limited places available, multiple CSPs are usually offered in each available course.  

If you secure a CSP, it means you won't have to pay the full cost of your tuition. Instead, you'll pay a smaller fee called a 'student contribution’. You can choose to pay this reduced fee upfront or pay it later with a deferred HECS-HELP loan.

Melbourne Polytechnic offers CSPs in a number of our undergraduate degrees, but there are some criteria that people need to meet before they can apply. 

The most important one is that applicants must be either an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent visa holder.  

Students must also be living and studying in Australia for the duration of the course and complete all required paperwork by the correct dates.  

Remember, being eligible for a CSP doesn't automatically guarantee you a place in your preferred course. All applicants will be assessed against the academic entry requirements and any other requirements set by the Australian Government. 

To stay enrolled in a CSP you'll also need to meet specific completion rate requirements for the course you're studying. 

For all the latest eligibility details, check out HECS-HELP on the Study Assist website. 

Applying for a Commonwealth Supported Place at Melbourne Polytechnic is easy - simply fill out an application for one of the eligible degrees by clicking "Apply Now" on the course page.  

After you've submitted your application, one of our friendly team members will reach out to you to discuss CSP funding based on your details.  

Once you finish the application process, you will be assessed against the relevant entry requirements. If you are successful at getting a CSP, you will receive an offer letter that will outline the details of how to secure your spot.   

If the course you want isn't eligible for a CSP or if you haven't been offered one, there’s still some options to explore. 

Students may be able to enrol in a full fee paying place which means the government won't subsidise the cost of your tuition, so you'll need to pay the full amount. 

However, you may still have the option to get a FEE-HELP loan to defer your fees and pay it back through smaller voluntary and compulsory payments.  

If you have a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the government pays a portion of your course fees which means you end up paying a smaller amount. The portion you pay is called the 'Student Contribution.' 

A HECS-HELP loan is something you can use to pay the 'Student Contribution’. You repay this loan through your tax payments later when your income surpasses a certain amount. 

Eligibility for a CSP and HECS-HELP are different, so you will need to meet the requirements for both options.

If you or your course doesn't qualify for a CSP, you can still enrol in a full fee paying place. But this means you'll need to pay the full amount for your fees. 

The good news is you might still be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to defer your tuition fees and pay them back later. The HELP loan limit depends on your course and can change each year. 

To check out the latest information on loans, visit the Loan Payment page on Study Assist.

To keep your Commonwealth Support (including your CSP and HELP loans), it’s important to stay engaged with your studies and avoid falling below the 'low completion rate threshold.' 

The 'low completion rate threshold' is crossed if you fail over 50% of your subjects (after attempting eight subjects in a bachelor’s degree or four subjects in an enabling degree). If this happens, you'll need to pay full fees upfront. 

Don't worry though, we'll be here to support you along the way. If we notice any concerns about your progress, we'll get in touch to discuss your options and offer guidance to improve your academic journey. If we aren’t able to confirm that you are actively participating in your studies, we might have to withdraw you from your subjects, but we contact you before this happens.