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Student Financial Assistance Scheme


Living
	Loans Scheme
		Information about the SFAS loans
		SFAS loan application
		Methods of repayment
		Amending your loan repayment plan
		Extending your loan repayment time
	Financial matters
	Welfare

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The purpose of the Student Financial Assistance Scheme (SFAS) is to provide short term financial assistance to QUT students. Assistance is available for students who are experiencing unexpected financial hardship that is adversely affecting their education.

Students usually request an SFAS loan as their circumstances have changed and this has impacted on their management of on-going living and study expenses. SFAS loans are not able to assist with on-going deficits in living and study expenses. If you are finding it difficult to make ends meet you may need advice about budgeting. Please contact the Counselling Service or International Student Services for international students and make an appointment to see the Welfare officer who may be able to help you. Additionally, the Counselling Service website contains information about budgeting that may be of assistance.

The Official Policy Document contains full information about this scheme.

Before you apply for a loan you will need to think carefully about how you will be able to make repayments. If you are unsure if you will be able to afford to repay a loan, make an appointment with a Welfare Officer to discuss your budget and other options for assistance that may be available to you. It is important to remember that loans need to be repaid and that there are consequences to not repaying your loan on time. Talking with a Welfare Officer can sometimes help you to discover other options that you may not have known about which can prevent you from getting into debt.

Below are just some of the examples of alternative sources of financial assistance.

If you require assistance for a bond payment you may find that you are eligible for an interest free bond loan through the Department of Housing.
Some banks provide student loans that are not payable until the completion of your studies. Please contact your bank for further details. Credit Unions and Building Societies may also lend to students on limited income.
The QUT Student Guild has some measures available that may be of assistance to students in financial hardship.
A number of scholarships and bursaries are available to assist with your educational expenses.

To find out more about the SFAS loans, and to make an application, please see the following information.

Sections:

Information about the SFAS loans
SFAS loan application (including information for students in the final year of their course)
Methods of repayment of SFAS loans
Form for amendment to SFAS loan repayment plan
Form for application for extension or time to repay SFAS loan