2005年前移民读书政策简介
我们通常所说的移民读书“免费”就指的是HECS/PELS无息贷款。2004年前澳洲的移民学费贷款政策很简单，所有的PR持有者，本科的适用HECS（Higher Education Contribution System）， 研究生的适用PELS（Postgraduate Education Loan System）， 基本上人人有份，cover所有的tuition fees，没有生活费。简单的说, PELS实际上是HECS的延伸，有时候HECS的表达涵盖了PELS。HECS/PELS是无息贷款，毕业后在你的收入里扣，如果你的收入不超过$25,348，就不扣。细节不讨论。
政策变化分析
超过期限免还贷款。港台那边的哥们这种做法更是家常便饭。呵呵，你可不要一听就后悔：我诈没这么干呢？？现在也没机会啦。赖帐或是隐瞒收入（澳洲政府可没精力跑到国外去查你的银行帐户，如果跑到中国来，更是没法查）毕业回国用HECS/PELS交学费估计澳洲政府是受不了这个损失了，因为好多新移民都是这个样子做的：上学.这次澳洲政府对教育补贴这块（student support system）的变化很大，不仅仅是无息贷款的部分。2002年，政府做了大规模的调查，最终出台了一揽子政策，计划从2004年至2008年逐渐转换到新系统。
澳洲公民、新西兰公民和澳洲永久居民，政府给予一个七年的学习时间，称为Student Learning Entitlement，这是一个“指标”，就是说，在SLE有效时间内，你适合于政府的教育补贴计划，特殊情况（比如六年以上的专业等）给予延长。这个SLE是以7年的full-time study load为标准的，就是说，如果你总是part-time学习，最长能到14年。
拥有SLE的，将有机会得到一个称为Commonwealth support place的名额，拥有CSP的学生，就是CSS（Commonwealth Supported Student）。实际上，多数Local的本科生，都能成为CSS，从标准上来说跟以前的HECS差不多。当然你也可以放弃CSP，选择另外一个位置：Fee Paying Place，成为Fee Paying Students。FPS是CSP的补充，大学可能提供额外的位置给这部分人。它们各自的合格条件我们就不再赘述。
两者的主要区别在于，前者比较省钱，只需要支付student contribution，约为学费(tuition fee)的四分之一，其它部分由政府支付；并且student contribution还是能够贷款的，称为HECS-HELP，如果你提前付费，还有减免。而后者是全费的，需要支付全部tuition fee，也可贷款，称为FEE-HELP。不同的课程、不同的学校的tuition fee和student contribution的比例不同，举个例子，学法律和医学的student contribution部分最高，约为$0到$8004，由学校掌握student contribution的比例。
但是，得到了CSS还是FPP对我们穷人来说，没啥区别。因为这并不代表你能申请到HELP的贷款。所以从一定意义上来说，以上说的都是废话……
具体到无息贷款这部分，从2005年1月1日起，取消HECS/PELS，代之以一系列的适用于不同身份的人的补助或是贷款计划，称为Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP)；HELP分为一下三个种类/部分：
1，HECS-HELP
主要用来代替原先的HECS。为新的Commonwealth supported students准备的。
2，FEE-HELP
主要用来代替原先的PELS，以及OLDPS和BOTPLS，后两者跟咱没关系。或者你不满足HECS-HELP的条件，也可能会用到这个。为新的Fee Paying Students准备的。
3，OS-HELP
给到国外OverSea（相对澳洲来说）上学的人的，不讨论。
一些关键句摘抄
1，Under the new arrangements, the Australian Government will no longer set student contributions. Instead, higher education providers will set the student contribution levels for each of their courses within ranges set by the Australian Government.
The Australian Government will establish a Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) so that eligible students can either pay their student contribution when they enrol, or later through the income tax system. There are three types of loans available under HELP:
• HECS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth supported students;
• FEE-HELP for eligible fee paying students at public and eligible private higher education providers; and
• OS-HELP for eligible Commonwealth supported students who want to study overseas.
2，The new course and student funding arrangements will start on 1 January 2005. Most current HECS students will be able to continue studying under the current HECS rates and eligibility requirements until the end of 2008. Most current PELS students will be able to continue studying under the current eligibility requirements until the end of 2008.
The changes to discounts, bonuses and the repayment schedule will apply to all new students, current students and all former students with HECS, PELS, OLDPS and BOTPLS debts from 2005.
3，Current HECS students, both full-time and part-time, will be able to study under current HECS rates and eligibility criteria until the end of 2008 unless they:
• discontinue their enrolment without formally deferring; or
• complete their current course; or
• transfer into a course (which must be at the same level as their current course) and then complete that course; or
• choose to study under the new system.
Students commencing their course as a HECS student in 2004, both full-time and part-time, must incur a HECS liability on a 2004 census date if they are to be considered current students for the purpose of remaining under the current HECS rates and eligibility criteria as outlined above.
4，New Zealand citizens and holders of other permanent visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.
5，Holders of a permanent visa may access a fee paying place, but they are not eligible for a FEE-HELP loan unless they are undertaking a bridging course for overseas trained professionals
6，PELS will be replaced by FEE-HELP in 2005. FEE-HELP is different from PELS in the following ways:
• a maximum loan limit of $50,000 applies to FEE-HELP;
• the bonus for voluntary repayments will be 10 per cent;
• the HECS repayment thresholds, which apply to PELS and FEE-HELP will change; and
• New Zealand citizens and most holders of Australian permanent visas will not be able to access FEE-HELP.
7，Who is eligible for a FEE-HELP loan?
Australian citizens and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa are eligible for FEE-HELP. Holders of other permanent visas are also are eligible for FEE-HELP to undertake a bridging course for overseas trained professionals.