From 1 January 2021, new higher education students will need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) to be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and Commonwealth financial assistance (HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP or OS-HELP).
Students seeking Commonwealth support for the first time will be required to provide their USI on their electronic Commonwealth assistance form (eCAF).
Applying for a USI is fast and free, and you keep the same USI for life. You can apply for a USI in as little as five minutes on the USI website.
If you have studied a VET course in the last five years, you will already have an existing USI. Visit the USI website to Find your USI.
From 1 January 2023, all higher education students, including those who commenced prior to 2021, must have a USI in order to graduate and receive their award.
Extending the USI to higher education will create a single government identifier for your entire tertiary education journey. This will simplify information management and strengthen the integrity and richness of data available to help improve education policy, programs and pathways.
Information for education providers
A number of resources are now available to support higher education providers through these changes.
Webinar
Watch the USI Expansion – Verification Options webinar recording, held on Thursday 26 November 2020 below.
- Read the webinar PowerPoint slides