Student loans

students standing out front of building on Lismore campus

The University operates a Student Loan Scheme designed to provide small interest-free loans to currently enrolled students and who can demonstrate genuine need and whose continued attendance at the University is in jeopardy due to financial hardship.

Student loans are available to Australian students and full-fee paying onshore international students, or students with permanent residency status, who are formally enrolled in a Commonwealth funded course of study at SCU.

Student loans are not available to exchange students or to be used to make payments under the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP).

First-time borrowers are only eligible to apply up to level three loan $500. Students who default on their repayment schedule on any loan amount are only eligible to apply for a level 2 loan of $200.

Student Loans eForm
Financial hardship
Financial wellbeing
students on a computer

How to apply

Students who wish to apply for a Student Loan are required to submit a Student Loans eForm and book an appointment with the Student Financial Assistance Officer, who is authorised to approve loans conforming to the Student Loans Policy.

Students must book a student loan appointment by going to CareerHub and log in using your MySCU username and password. Click on Appointments then select from under the heading What would you like to talk about? Click on Student Loans.

There are five levels of maximum loan amounts available to students comprising of:

Loan Types

Emergency loans are designed to provide small interest-free loans to currently enrolled students who can demonstrate genuine need and whose continued attendance at the University is in jeopardy due to financial hardship. Repayment terms 1 month.

No guarantor is required for Level Two loans. Level Two loans may not be available to students who have had a previous loan and have failed to meet the requirements of the specified repayment schedule under the agreement. Repayment terms 4 months maximum.

This level is available to eligible applicants. A guarantor will not be required for Level three borrowers. Repayment terms 8 months maximum.

This level is only available to students who are about to commence placement for a minimum of two weeks. Course details and dates need to be provided and repayment will not commence until two months after the loan has been issued. A guarantor will be required. Repayment terms 8 months maximum.

This level is available to students who have had a previous Level Three loan and repaid it according to their agreed repayment schedule. A guarantor is required. Repayment terms 10 months maximum.

Placement loans and scholarships

Students required to undertake a professional placement or Work Integrated Learning (WIL) as part of their course may wish to apply for a scholarship or student loan to alleviate financial stress during this period. Level four - placement loans (see above) are specifically for students undertaking placements. Applying for the below placement-related scholarships may also be an option for some students. SCU has membership with both these organisations.

NAFEA Equity Rural Placement Scholarships

The Equity Rural Placement Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial hardship to undertake placements/work-integrated learning activities in rural and remote settings. Approved applications will be awarded scholarships up to $1500

Student at table with laptop

ACEN Student Scholarships

Open in March each year and provide $1500 financial support for students who need to relocate more than 60km to undertake a placement. SCU is an institutional member, so students are eligible to apply if they meet all other criteria.

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ACEN Equity Scholarships

Interested in undertaking a Global Online Internship? These scholarships enable eligible students from equity groups to access a diverse range of work-integrated learning experiences through a partnership with Pagoda Projects.

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Are you a student needing help?

Security and support services

1800 SC HELP / 1800 72 4357