Study a TAFE Diploma

At CQUniversity, we offer a range of payment solutions to support your educational journey. Many CQU diploma courses are approved under the Australian Government’s VET Student Loan. Refer to the VET Student Loan webpage for more information, eligibility and the census date calendar. A VET student loan gives rise to a VETSL debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is repaid.

To explore more payment options available to you, please visit Paying for TAFE. 

Both VET and higher education diplomas at CQUniversity are nationally recognised qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). 

VET diploma-level courses have a more practical focus aimed at developing specific skills and knowledge that prepare you for the workforce. 

Higher education diplomas consist of 8 units, and can facilitate progress towards a bachelor’s degree.

A subsidy reduces the cost of tuition fees for specific courses for eligible students. Subsidies can be provided by State Governments or the Australian Government. Subsidies may also be funded by both State and Australian Governments in partnership. The subsidy will have a specific name, such as Higher Level Skills or Fee-Free TAFE. Subsidies available with CQU are shown on our subsidies website.  Subsidies do not need to be repaid by eligible subsidy recipients. VET Student Loans do need to be repaid. 

The VET Student Loans program is an Australian Government loan program that helps eligible students enrolled in approved courses at diploma level or above, at approved course providers pay their tuition fees. The loan has income-contingent repayment arrangements, which means you only need to make repayments if you are earning above the minimum repayment threshold. You can make voluntary repayments at any time.

If you are an eligible student, the department may approve your VET Student Loan for an approved course. The department will pay your loan directly to your approved course provider, such as CQU. You will be responsible for any gap amount in the tuition fees, which are not covered by the loan. You will owe a debt to the Australian Government for the loan, which will be managed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). 

Subsidies can be used in conjunction with VSL. For example, if you are eligible for a subsidy, such as Higher Level Skills, and there is still a balance of tuition fee to be paid, you can apply for a VSL. If you are not eligible for a subsidy you can apply for a VSL to fund the tuition cost of the course up to the loan cap. Full fee paying/fee for service students will incur a 20 per cent loan fee on their VET Student Loan. Students enrolled in a diploma and advanced diploma level course whose enrolment is subsidised by a state or territory government do not incur a loan fee.