Information for domestic students
VET Student Loans
A VET Student Loan (VSL) is an Australian Government income-contingent loan that can help eligible students pay tuition fees for an approved diploma-level course. A VSL creates a debt that must be repaid to the Commonwealth.
Important: A VET Student Loan is not automatic and does not cover every course cost. Eligibility, the applicable course loan cap and your available HELP balance all affect the amount you can borrow. Read the Australian Government VSL Student Manual before applying.
Approved provider and courses
Flight One Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Flight One School of Aviation (RTO 31285), is an approved VSL course provider. VSL is available only to eligible students enrolled in an approved course.
AVI50222 + AVI50519
Professional Pilot Double Diploma
Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane and Instrument Rating.
View course fees
AVI50222
Commercial Pilot Diploma – Aeroplane
Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane).
View course fees
AVI50322
Commercial Pilot Diploma – Helicopter
Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter).
View course fees
Understanding the limits
Course loan cap
The maximum VSL amount available for an approved course. It is separate from the tuition fee.
HELP loan limit
The total amount a person can borrow across the relevant HELP loan programs.
Available HELP balance
The amount of the HELP loan limit that remains available to you.
Gap payment
Any tuition amount not covered by the course cap or your available HELP balance, payable directly by the student.
Current indexed amounts
The Australian Government’s specific aviation VSL course cap is $96,467 for 2026. The published cap is $99,939 for 2027 and applies to units of study with a census day on or after 1 January 2027.
For units with census dates in 2026, the higher HELP loan limit for eligible aviation courses is $186,544. Your personal available HELP balance may be lower because of previous borrowing.
Loan caps and HELP limits are indexed and may change. The fee schedule for your intake and your formal Statement of Covered Fees are the relevant documents for your enrolment.
Who may be eligible
The Australian Government requires a VSL applicant to meet all applicable requirements. In summary, you must:
- be enrolled in an approved course with an approved VSL provider and study the course primarily at a campus in Australia;
- meet the citizenship or visa requirements;
- be academically suited to the course;
- have a valid Tax File Number and Unique Student Identifier;
- have an available HELP balance greater than zero; and
- submit a valid electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) by the required census date.
Citizenship and visa eligibility
You must provide evidence that you are one of the following:
- an Australian citizen;
- a qualifying New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the long-term residency requirements;
- a permanent humanitarian visa holder who is usually resident in Australia; or
- a Pacific Engagement Visa holder who is usually resident in Australia.
Academic suitability
Flight One must reasonably believe that you are academically suited to the course. You will generally need to provide one or more of the following:
- an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education;
- an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme diploma;
- an AQF Certificate IV or higher qualification taught in English; or
- an approved Language, Literacy and Numeracy assessment showing Exit Level 3 in both reading and numeracy under the Australian Core Skills Framework.
How to apply
Step 1
Choose your course
Review the published tuition fees, non-tuition costs, intake schedule and entry requirements.
Step 2
Prepare evidence
Have your identity, citizenship or visa, academic, USI and TFN information ready.
Step 3
Apply to Flight One
Tell us in your application that you wish to request a VET Student Loan.
Step 4
Complete the eCAF
If eligible, Flight One initiates your eCAF. Check all pre-filled details before submitting it.
eCAF timing matters
You cannot request a VET Student Loan within the first two business days after enrolment. Your completed eCAF must be submitted on or before the first census date. VSL cannot be approved retrospectively for a unit whose census date has passed.
Apply to Flight One
Fees, debt and census dates
Tuition and other costs
VSL covers eligible tuition fees only. It does not cover non-tuition costs such as equipment, materials, textbooks, medical examinations, security identification, optional upgrades or remedial training. Check the relevant course page and your offer documents for the full cost picture.
Loan fee and indexation
A 20% loan fee generally applies to VSL borrowing by full-fee-paying students. It is added to your VETSL debt but does not reduce your HELP balance. State or territory government-subsidised students undertaking a diploma or advanced diploma do not incur the loan fee. VETSL debts are also subject to indexation.
Census dates
Each unit of study has its own census date. It is the last day to submit the VSL application for that unit and the last day to withdraw without incurring a VSL debt for it. Flight One will issue a VSL Fee Notice at least 14 days before the census date.
Withdrawal and re-credit
To avoid the tuition liability for a unit, you must complete Flight One’s formal withdrawal process on or before its census date. Withdrawal after census generally leaves the debt or fee in place. A re-credit may be available in special circumstances under the applicable policy.
Keep your loan active
During your course, the Australian Government may email you an eCAF Progression Form two or three times a year. You generally have 14 days to confirm whether you are studying and still require the loan. If you do not respond, your loan may be stopped.
Keep your personal email address and contact details current, and look for messages from eCAFsystem@education.gov.au.
VSL Fee Schedule Archive
specific to their published intake. Select a course below to view the available schedules. Your Letter of Offer, Statement of Covered Fees and VSL Fee Notices govern the fees and census dates for your enrolment.
Professional Pilot Double Diploma — AVI50222 + AVI50519
Select an intake to open its published PDF fee schedule.
Commercial Pilot Diploma — Aeroplane — AVI50222
Select an intake to open its published PDF fee schedule.
Commercial Pilot Diploma — Helicopter — AVI50322
Select an intake to open its published PDF fee schedule.
Information reviewed against Australian Government VSL guidance current at September 2026. Government requirements, indexed amounts and repayment arrangements may change. Always refer to the current VSL Student Manual and your formal enrolment documents.
School of Aviation
