OS-HELP Financial Assistance - ANU Policy and Procedures

If you are an undergraduate Commonwealth supported student who undertakes part of your studies overseas, you may be eligible to apply for financial assistance in the form of a Commonwealth OS-HELP loan. OS-HELP covers expenses associated with the overseas study, such as airfares, accommodation and other living expenses.

Applications for OS-HELP from eligible ANU students must be made through the International Education Office, ANU.

OS-HELP: ANU Policy and Procedures

Selection: Do you qualify?

Loan Amount: How much money can you receive?

Eligibility: Criteria set by ANU and DEST.

Full Time Study Requirements: How much study do you have to do overseas?

Application Process: A step by step guide to applying.

Selection Process: What happens to your application?

Acceptance of Offer: How do you accept?

Payment to Students: How and when do you get the funds?

Grievance Procedures: How do you appeal?

Reporting: What happens to the information relating to your application?

Selection

Students who meet the general eligibility criteria for assistance under the OS-Help scheme and who have been nominated by the University to undertake an approved program of study at an overseas institution are eligible to apply for OS-HELP through the ANU.

The overseas host institution must be a higher education institution approved by the University.

Preference will be given to students who are nominated to go an official exchange program or who have to undertake a period of study as a requirement of their undergraduate degree program (such as the Year-in-Asia).

Loan Amount

The amount of the loan will not exceed $5299 per six-month period and will not normally be less than $1000 over the same period.   However the number and amount of loans available will be determined by the number of applications received and the total OS-HELP amount made available to the University each year.

If a student nominates to apply for an additional six-month extension of the OS-HELP Loan as a continuation of the first six-month period, the University must be satisfied that the student has maintained a satisfactory academic progress at the host institution during the preceding six-month period.   The University will evaluate this in consultation with the host institution and the local ANU area not more than six weeks before the commencement of the second six-month period.

Eligibility

DEST Criteria

Students must meet the eligibility criteria set out under the DEST OS-HELP statement of terms and conditions as outlined in "OS-HELP Statement of terms and conditions" at www.goingtouni.gov.au. 

ANU Criteria

1. Exchange students must meet the ANU's terms and conditions for approval to go on a period of overseas study (as set out in the ANU Student Exchange Application Form preamble.

2. Year in-Asia (YIA) students must provide written approval from the Faculty to undertake the YIA.

3. Students undertaking a Faculty specific study abroad or exchange program must provide written approval from their Faculty to undertake the program of study.

Full Time Study Requirements

Overseas study shall be defined as full-time if it is the equivalent to a full-time load at ANU, i.e. the student must be enrolled in the equivalent of a minimum of 18 units of credit at the overseas host institution.  

Application Process

Students intending to apply for OS-HELP should:  

1. Complete an ANU Student Exchange Application Form regardless of which of the eligible ANU categories they fall under.

2. Provide evidence that they have been nominated for an approved study abroad /exchange program at an approved overseas higher education institution.

3. Submit their application for OS-HELP to the International Education Office.   Students applying to enrol in an overseas study program which commences after 1 July in a given year must apply for OS-HELP by 31 March of that year, Students applying to enrol in an overseas program which commences after 1 January in a given year must apply by 31 September of the preceding year.

Selection Process

1. IEO checks applications against

(i) DEST and ANU Selection Policy

(ii) Number of applications against total funds made available to the University

2. Applications submitted to Exchanges Selection Committee

3. Selection Committee makes recommendations based on academic merit.

4. Where the number of applications is greater than the funds available applications will be ranked according to academic merit until the funds are expended

5. Loan recommendations are signed off by the Director of SRIE

6. Students are advised in writing of the outcome their application by the IEO

7. Students are given a deadline to accept the loan (normally no less than two months before they leave)

8. The offer must include details of the amount and terms of the OS-HELP loan

9. The offer is conditional upon the student maintaining eligibility and providing evidence of continuing eligibility

Acceptance of Offer

1. Students must accept the offer in writing

2. Students must complete and sign an OS-HELP Debt Confirmation form and provide a tax file number

3. IEO will record acceptance and other relevant details into the Student System

4. A list of successful applicants together with bank details will be forwarded by the IEO to the Business Manager for payment of loans

5. The completed OS-Help Debt confirmation forms are also forwarded by IEO to the Student Fees Office   

Payment to Students

Before payment is made:

1. IEO must confirm that the student has been formally accepted by the host institution

2. Payment is made only when IEO determines that all evidence of eligibility has been received

3. A single payment shall be made for each OS-HELP loan not more than six weeks before the program start date

4. Payments shall be made via electronic funds transfer (hence students must provide Banking details)

5. The OS-HELP debt is incurred from the day that the student receives the OS-HELP assistance, i.e. the day the EFT occurs.

Grievance Procedures

Students wishing to appeal against a decision made with regard to their OS-HELP grant should do so in writing within two weeks of receiving advice regarding their grant.   Appeals should be addressed to the Director, Student Recruitment and International Education.

Reporting

Information on recipients and loans shall be reported annually to the Commonwealth government in the format and timeframe prescribed as part of the University's DEST reporting requirements

For Further information contact:

The Visiting Student Program
Division of Student recruitment and Internaitonal Education
Pauline Griffin Building (11)
Ellery Cres
ANU Campus
ACTON ACT 0200

Tel: 02 6125 4643
Fax: 02 6125 5550
email: exchange.info@anu.edu.au