How much you can get

We use an income test and an assets test to work out how much you can get.

Austudy is a taxable Centrelink payment. Read about paying tax on your payment.

Basic rates

This table shows the basic Austudy payment rates. These are the rates that apply to most people.

This table is a guide only.

Your and your partner’s income and assets will affect the amount you can get. Use our Payment Finder to find out how much you could get. It will be an estimate only and depends on you entering accurate information. You’ll need to enter your income details along with your partner’s income and other details.

Other rates

We use different rates for Austudy if either of the following apply:

• you’ve been getting another income support payment long term before starting Austudy
• English isn’t your first language and you’re studying an English language course.

This table shows the Austudy higher rate for current students or apprenticeships.

When you’ve been on long term income support

As a student, you need to meet all the following to get the long term income support rate:

• not have a dependent child
• have a full time or concessional study load
• get an income support payment that isn’t a student or apprentice payment
• have been getting this other payment for at least 26 of the last 39 weeks before starting your course of study
• begin your course after you turn 21.

As an Australian Apprentice you need to meet all the following to get this rate:

• not have a dependent child
• get an income support payment that isn’t a student or apprentice payment
• have been getting this other payment for at least 26 of the last 39 weeks before starting your apprenticeship
• begin your apprenticeship after you turn 21.

If you change your course or apprenticeship, you’ll keep getting this rate if both of the following apply:

• you don’t have a break in qualifying study or apprenticeship
• you continue to meet progress and allowable time rules.

We don’t consider it a break in qualifying study if you complete semester 1 in one course and continue studies in a new course in semester 2.

If you change from one apprenticeship to another and your commonwealth registration number remains current, this is also not a break.

When you’re studying an English language course

The different rates for Austudy may also apply if you meet all the following:

• you don’t have a dependent child
• English is not your first language
• you’re studying an English language course.

If you have a dependent child, please check the basic rates that apply to your situation.