Want to Reduce Your HECS Debt? Pick up a Language Unit at Uni

Say au revoir, adiós and sayonara to some of your debt 👋

This article is presented in partnership with LCNAU.

In November 2024, the Federal government announced their plan to cut 20 per cent of all current student HECS-HELP debts.

This is part of a set of reforms by the government to revamp the current student debt system, should they be elected for another term.

According to the ATO, Australians in their 20s in 2005-06 had an average HECS of $12,557. In 2023-2024, the average HECS debt was $27,640.

If you’re about to become a tertiary student and the thought of HECS is freaking you out, there may be a solution that can help you.

There are different approaches you can take to actually reduce those fees while you’re studying.

One way is by studying an approved language course, meaning you could qualify for reduced fees on your HECS-HELP debt. Massive aura points ✨

What does studying a language at uni involve? And how does it cut down your HECS debt? We dissect it below with help from the Languages and Cultures Network for Australian Universities (LCNAU) 👇

@studentedge student life = yess 📚 student debt = noo 🙅‍♂️ if you’re looking at trying to cut down your student debt and you’re keen on studying a language, pick up a language major or elective! To learn more head to the #linkinbio #hecsdebt #studentdebt #studentloans #studentloandebt #hecs #uni #studylanguages #fyp #studentedge ♬ Two Summers - Sunbeam Sound Machine

How will studying a language at uni reduce the cost?

The way it works is through the Job-ready Graduates Package introduced by the Federal government in October 2020.

Because of this, the cost of a language major ($4738) for domestic students costs less than it does for domestic students to study other majors like accounting, administration, communications or humanities ($17,399).

How much will it reduce it by?

The way the gov classifies how much units cost is through a ‘funding cluster’. Depending on the area of study, the gov sets the maximum amount a uni is allowed to charge you for a unit.

Universities can charge up to a set maximum for Commonwealth-supported domestic students, but each university sets its own course fees based on government funding rates. So, the exact cost of studying a language can vary depending on the university and course you choose.

After doing all the math here, studying a language at uni will cost you a max of $4,738 per full-time equivalent year of study in 2026. Or $592 per subject/unit.

What languages can I study and does it need to be my major?

The languages you can study depend on your uni.

But if you’re a soon-to-be tertiary student and you want to study a language, you can check which universities offer which languages through the University Language Portal Australia. 

You also don’t need to study a language as a major if you don’t want to.

As part of the Job-ready Graduates Package, each language unit from Funding Cluster 3 will cost less than units in other clusters. So you could choose language units as electives and it will still lower the cost of your degree.

How does studying a language help improve your job prospects?

While learning a language can be about learning grammar, phonics and pronunciation, it’s also about immersing yourself in a culture.

You’ll be able to develop an understanding of another culture which might help you better your communication skills and your ability to be more creative.

In the job market, being bilingual or multilingual can be a helpful skill. Some employers could be looking for a candidate with language skills for positions which might involve client relations, travel or operations.

And it’s always a great perk to know the language of a country you might be travelling to!

If you want to take some $ off your HECS debt and also learn more about another culture, check out what languages you can study at different unis through the LCNAU website.