What is a census date?
Census dates are the final dates for you to withdraw from a subject or part of a course without incurring a debt to the Australian Government.
If you withdraw after the relevant census date, you will incur a HELP Loan or VET Student Loan debt for the subject(s) you are enrolled in.
How census dates work
- For Diploma, Advanced Diploma (VET) and Degree students, census dates are based on the start and end dates of each subject.
- Census dates usually occur 20% of the way through the subject duration.
- Each course has at least three census dates across its duration.
- Tuition fees are reasonably apportioned at each census date.
HELP and VET Student Loans
If you wish to apply for FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP, SA-HELP or a VET Student Loan, you must submit your HELP loan request before classes commence.
For more information:
- VET Student Loans – VET Student Loans Information Booklet (Australian Government)
- HELP loans – HELP publications or StudyAssist (Australian Government)
2026 Census dates
January – June 2026
- January: 5 January 2026, 19 January 2026
- February: 4 February 2026, 18 February 2026
- March: 4 March 2026, 18 March 2026
- April: 7 April 2026, 21 April 2026
- May: 4 May 2026, 18 May 2026
- June: 4 June 2026, 18 June 2026
July – December 2026
- July: 6 July 2026, 20 July 2026
- August: 4 August 2026, 18 August 2026
- September: 4 September 2026, 18 September 2026
- October: 5 October 2026, 19 October 2026
- November: 4 November 2026, 18 November 2026
- December: 4 December 2026, 18 December 2026
Important reminder
You are responsible for knowing your census dates. Make sure you withdraw or finalise your enrolment before the relevant census date to avoid incurring a loan debt.