Summary
Part of a package of three bills to establish a framework for the Commonwealth funding of higher education, the bill replaces the current arrangements under the
Higher Education Funding Act 1988
and provides for: grants (primarily through the Commonwealth Grants Scheme) and other payments to higher education providers; financial assistance to students including: HECS-HELP assistance for student contribution amounts, FEE-HELP assistance for tuition fees, and OS-HELP assistance for overseas study; a Student Learning Entitlement equivalent to 7 years of full-time study; repayment of student loans; administrative matters; provision of higher education in the external Territories; and review of the impact of the proposed Act.