{"id":"F2025L01652","name":"VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Amendment Determination 2025","slug":"vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":107586,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L01652-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n This instrument is the VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Amendment Determination 2025.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n```html\n

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1. The whole of this instrument

1 January 2026; or

If the instrument is registered on a
later day – the day after the instrument is registered.

\n```\n\n Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under section 16 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Schedules","content":"#### 4 Schedules\n\n The VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016 is amended as set out in Schedule 1 to this instrument.\n 5 Transitional arrangements\n For the avoidance of doubt, if before the commencement of this instrument:\n (a) the Secretary approved a VET student loan for a student for a course of study listed in items 4 or 7 of Schedule 1 or item 10 of Schedule 3 to this instrument; and\n (b) the student had not completed the course of study,\n the Secretary may continue to pay loan amounts in respect of that loan under section 19 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016 on or after the commencement of this instrument, in relation to that course for that student.\n\nSchedule 1—Amendments\n\nVET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016\n\n1 Schedule 1, Part 1 (table)\n\nOmit the following row from the table:\n\n| 1 | BSB60220 | Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing |\n| --- | -------- | -------------------------------- |\n\n2 Schedule 1, Part 1 (table)\n\nRenumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1.\n\n3 Schedule 1, Part 2 (table)\n\nAdd the following rows to the table in ascending numerical order by course code: \n\n| 6A | 11296NAT | Diploma of Crypto Assets and Blockchain Technologies |\n| --- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 6B | 11321NAT | Diploma of Applied Artificial Intelligence for Business |\n| 16A | BSB60220 | Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing |\n\n4 Schedule 1, Part 2 (table)\n\nOmit the following rows from the table: \n\n| 2 | 10759NAT | Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Electrophysiology |\n| --- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 63 | TLI50221 | Diploma of Logistics |\n| 1 | 10732NAT | Diploma of Forensic Identification (Biometrics) (Document Examination) |\n| 31 | CSC50115 | Diploma of Correctional Administration |\n\n5 Schedule 1, Part 2 (table)\n\nRenumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1, replacing alphanumeric characters with numbers.\n\n6 Schedule 1, Part 3 (table)\n\nAdd the following rows to the table in ascending numerical order by course code: \n\n| 132A | CPP80221 | Graduate Diploma of Building Design |\n| ---- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 27A | 11343NAT | Advanced Diploma of Digital Engineering |\n| 27D | 11364NAT | Diploma of Renewable, Sustainable and Circular Manufacturing Management |\n| 27E | 11365NAT | Advanced Diploma of Digital Innovation |\n| 133A | CUA50125 | Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing |\n| 135A | CUA50425 | Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services |\n| 137A | CUA50725 | Diploma of Graphic Design |\n| 138A | CUA50825 | Diploma of Music |\n| 139A | CUA50925 | Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging |\n| 141A | CUA51125 | Diploma of Visual Arts |\n| 144A | CUA60225 | Advanced Diploma of Live Production and Management Services |\n| 145A | CUA60325 | Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design |\n| 146A | CUA60425 | Advanced Diploma of Creative Product Development |\n| 147A | CUA60525 | Advanced Diploma of Music |\n| 149A | CUA60725 | Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts |\n| 250A | UEE50325 | Diploma of Electrical and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning |\n| 258A | UEE51225 | Diploma of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering |\n| 271A | UEE62325 | Advanced Diploma of Electrical Engineering - Coal Mining |\n| 273A | UEE62525 | Advanced Diploma of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering |\n| 27B | 11344NAT | Diploma of Applied Blockchain |\n| 27C | 11363NAT | Diploma of Equitation Science |\n| 46A | 22699VIC | Diploma of Engineering Technology |\n| 46B | 22700VIC | Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology |\n\n7 Schedule 1, Part 3 (table)\n\nOmit the following rows from the table: \n\n| 4 | 10747NAT | Advanced Diploma of Applied Blockchain |\n| --- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 29 | 22446VIC | Diploma of Product Design |\n| 30 | 22458VIC | Diploma of Railway Signalling Systems |\n| 91 | AHC51316 | Diploma of Pest Management |\n| 94 | AHC51519 | Diploma of Viticulture |\n| 96 | AHC51619 | Diploma of Irrigation Design |\n| 103 | AHC60520 | Advanced Diploma of Arboriculture |\n| 78 | AHC50320 | Diploma of Production Horticulture |\n| 28 | 22445VIC | Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security |\n| 2 | 10702NAT | Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development |\n| 32 | 22466VIC | Diploma of Ecology |\n| 183 | MEM50212 | Diploma of Engineering - Technical |\n| 190 | MEM60112 | Advanced Diploma of Engineering |\n| 200 | MSL50118 | Diploma of Laboratory Technology |\n| 207 | MST50119 | Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising |\n| 209 | MST60119 | Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising |\n| 247 | UEE50120 | Diploma of Computer Systems Engineering |\n| 262 | UEE60920 | Advanced Diploma of Renewable Energy Engineering |\n| 267 | UEE62020 | Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology - Renewable Energy |\n| 253 | UEE50711 | Diploma of Renewable Energy Engineering |\n| 76 | AHC50116 | Diploma of Agriculture |\n| 80 | AHC50416 | Diploma of Horticulture |\n| 89 | AHC51216 | Diploma of Community Coordination and Facilitation |\n| 154 | HLT50113 | Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care |\n| 156 | HLT50213 | Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice |\n| 239 | SIS50115 | Diploma of Sport and Recreation Management |\n| 113 | CHC51115 | Diploma of Financial Counselling |\n| 159 | HLT52015 | Diploma of Remedial Massage |\n| 243 | TAE50116 | Diploma of Vocational Education and Training |\n| 245 | TAE50216 | Diploma of Training Design and Development |\n| 1 | 10680NAT | Graduate Diploma of Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound (General Discipline) |\n| 3 | 10717NAT | Diploma of Holistic Management-Sustainable Rural Lands, Business and Communities |\n\n8 Schedule 1, Part 3 (table)\n\nRenumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1, replacing alphanumeric characters with numbers.\n\n9 Schedule 3 (table)\n\nAdd the following rows to the table in alphabetical order by approved course provider:\n\n| 48A | Technical and Further Education Commission of NSW (TAFE NSW) | CUA51225 | Diploma of Ceramics | $15,000 |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |\n| 50A | Technical and Further Education Commission of NSW (TAFE NSW) | SHB60125 | Advanced Diploma of Intense Pulsed Light and Laser for Hair Reduction | $15,000 |\n| 22A | Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminar Ltd | 11298NAT | Advanced Diploma of Rudolf Steiner Education | $15,000 |\n| 37A | Swinburne University of Technology | 11325NAT | Graduate Certificate in Applied Business | $15,000 |\n| 15A | Edith Cowan University | 11347NAT | Diploma of Screen Performance | $15,000 |\n| 3A | Australian National Memorial Theatre Limited | 11360NAT | Advanced Diploma of Acting | $15,000 |\n\n10 Schedule 3 (table)\n\nOmit the following rows from the table: \n\n| 19 | Melbourne Polytechnic | MEM50311 | Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design | $15,000 |\n| --- | --------------------------------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |\n| 21 | Melbourne Polytechnic | MEM60211 | Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design | $15,000 |\n| 26 | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology | 10678NAT | Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting | $15,000 |\n| 42 | TAFE Queensland | 10753NAT | Diploma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education | $15,000 |\n| 30 | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology | 22451VIC | Diploma of Teacher Education Preparation | $15,000 |\n| 38 | Swinburne University of Technology | 22451VIC | Diploma of Teacher Education Preparation | $15,000 |\n| 55 | Victoria University | 22451VIC | Diploma of Teacher Education Preparation | $15,000 |\n\n11 Schedule 3 (table)\n\n Renumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1, replacing alphanumeric characters with numbers.","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Updates the lists of courses eligible for VET student loans and revises associated loan caps."},"complexity_factors":["amends multiple course lists","adds and removes numerous courses","adjusts loan caps for specific providers","includes transitional provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This amendment updates the VET Student Loans course lists and loan caps, adding numerous new diplomas/advanced diplomas (e.g., in blockchain, AI, digital engineering, creative arts and various engineering/technology fields) and removing a wide range of previously listed courses across health, trades, agriculture, design, IT and other sectors. Item numbers are renumbered.\n\nChanges take effect 1 Jan 2026 (or on registration if later) and include a transitional rule allowing continued loan payments for currently approved, not-yet-completed students. Affects students and VET providers; check updated eligibility and caps."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the function intended by the parent Act—annual updating of eligible courses and loan caps. The scope remains tightly confined to administrative list management as authorised by section 16 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016."},"complexity_factors":["Purely administrative/scheduling instrument with no substantive legal tests or conditional logic","Consists entirely of table amendments (omissions, additions, renumbering) with no interpretive provisions","No defined terms beyond standard legislative instrument machinery (commencement, authority)","Single cross-reference to parent Act (section 16 VET Student Loans Act 2016) for authority only","Contains one simple transitional safeguard for existing students (section 5)","Straightforward tabular structure with clear item-by-item amendments"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation updates the list of vocational education courses that are eligible for government-backed student loans under the VET Student Loans scheme.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Removes** 35 courses from the eligible list, including diplomas in cyber security, agriculture, horticulture, laboratory technology, fashion design, and various engineering and health-related qualifications.\n- **Adds** 24 new courses to the eligible list, including qualifications in crypto assets, blockchain, artificial intelligence, digital engineering, renewable energy manufacturing, and various creative arts diplomas (graphic design, music, photography, visual arts).\n- **Moves** the Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing from the \"approved course list\" to the \"conditional course list\" (meaning it may have additional eligibility requirements).\n- **Updates provider-specific arrangements** in Schedule 3, adding 6 new course-provider combinations (including acting, ceramics, and laser hair reduction courses) and removing 7 others (mostly jewellery design and teacher education preparation courses).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Students considering vocational education and training (VET) courses who rely on government loans to pay tuition fees.\n- Registered training organisations (RTOs) and universities that offer these courses—some will lose access to VET Student Loans for certain programs, while others gain access for new offerings.\n- The transitional provision ensures students already enrolled in removed courses can continue receiving loan payments until they complete their studies.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is an annual \"housekeeping\" update that reflects changing workforce needs and course viability. The additions focus heavily on emerging technology (AI, blockchain, digital engineering) and creative industries, while removals target courses that may have low completion rates, poor employment outcomes, or are no longer offered. For prospective students, this determines whether they can access an income-contingent loan (a loan they only repay once earning above a threshold) for their chosen course."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument changes the scope of courses eligible under the VET Student Loans determination by adding new courses and providers, removing others, and renumbering items in the schedules. It also establishes commencement timing (cl.2) and a transitional payment rule allowing the Secretary to continue payments for certain already‑approved students (cl.5). These changes alter which courses qualify for loans and create administrative obligations for providers and the department."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple schedule amendments across Parts 1–3 and Schedule 3 (additions, omissions and renumbering) increase administrative sorting and record updates.","Commencement rule with a fixed date and a fallback to the day after registration (cl.2) creates dual timing paths for implementation.","Transitional arrangement permitting continued payments for previously approved students (cl.5) requires case-by-case administrative decisions by the Secretary.","Authority reference to s16 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016 (cl.3) means changes interact directly with statutory loan-payment powers.","Renumbering items and replacing alphanumeric identifiers with numbers risks mapping errors when aligning legacy approvals to the amended schedules.","Inclusion and removal of provider-specific entries (Schedule 3) affects which providers/courses are within loan cap rules and requires updating provider systems."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument amends the VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016 by adding, removing and renumbering specific VET courses and provider-course entries and by recording loan caps for certain courses. It takes effect on 1 January 2026 (or the day after registration) and is made under section 16 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016.\n\nIt also allows the Secretary to continue paying previously‑approved loans for students still completing specified courses after commencement. The changes affect approved providers, students and the department’s loan payments."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-2025","history":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-2025/documents"}}