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Unique student identifier

A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a unique number issued to each student by the government upon application. It only takes 5 minutes to apply, and once you create a USI, you have it for life.

All students must have a USI in order to enrol. You will also need a USI in order to receive commonwealth financial assistance, as well as to obtain your qualification.

If you have undertaken any vocational education or training since 2015, you may already have a USI.

FIND YOUR USI

CREATE A USI

Frequently asked questions

A USI is a unique number issued to each student by the government upon application. Once you create a USI, you have it for life.

You will need a USI in order to receive commonwealth financial assistance, as well as to obtain your qualification

The government has introduced the USI to the Higher Education sector to manage students’ records from various education providers, nationally.

New domestic students from 2021 must have a USI to study in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and access Commonwealth Financial Assistance (e.g. HECS HELP, FEE HELP, OS HELP) in a course of study.

Eventually, the USI will replace the Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN) which most Higher Education students have now. This will allow a more seamless and effective way to record and manage Student Learning Entitlements and HELP loan debts.

From 2023 onwards, all students studying within Australia will require a USI to be able to obtain a qualification. Therefore, international students are encouraged to also create a USI from 1 January 2021 ready for graduation from 2023 onwards.

A USI is for life, meaning you only have to create it once, and it only takes 5 minutes.

You can apply for a USI, or check if you already have one online.

If you have undertaken any vocational education or training (even a First Aid course) since 2015 you probably already have a USI.

FIND YOUR USI

You don’t need to wait until you enrol to create a USI. Create one now and you’ll be one step ahead on enrolment day!

CREATE A USI

SOLS has now been updated to capture your USI and reflect your USI status. We’ll let you know if you require a USI and haven’t provided it yet.

From 1 January 2021

  • All newly commencing domestic and international students studying towards an award at an Australian campus will be prompted for a USI during enrolment.
    However, ALL students that triggered a HECS-HELP loan, FEE-HELP Loan or OS-HELP loan for after 1 January 2021 will require a USI.
  • UOW College students studying a UOW accredited course; and
  • UOW College students utilising a HECS-HELP loan, FEE-HELP Loan or VET-HELP loan.

UOW College VET students should provide their USI via UOW College processes and not via SOLS

From 1 January 2023

  • All students studying within Australia will require a USI to obtain a qualification.

The following students don't require a USI:

  • Students that were studying before 1 January 2021 and have not amended their HELP Loan billing options after 1 January 2021 will not require a USI until 2023;
  • Offshore and Online campus students that are not residing within Australia for the duration of their course;
  • Non-award course students that do not access HECS-HELP loan or FEE-HELP Loans do not require a USI; AND
  • Students that are approved for USI exemption by the Government’s Student Identifier’s Registrar and show this evidence to the University Student Fees team by their first census date. NOTE: this removes any entitlements to Commonwealth Support or assistance.

To create a USI, you will need to provide personal details and contact information. The information provided will help in avoiding the creation of duplicate USIs and ensure your education records are linked to your USI account.

You must ensure that your personal information in the USI portal matches your personal details at the UOW College (e.g. name is consistent).

Visit the Australia Government USI website to find out what details are required to apply for a USI.

When you create a USI, you will be provided with information regarding the handling of that information. More details at Australia Government USI Privacy Policy.

The USI we collect from you will be verified and disclosed back to the Government based on your enrolment at UOW College. The USI will eventually replace the existing Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN).

Your USI will be held securely by UOW College against your student record and only utilised for the process of verifying your identity and study entitlements back to the government.

Further information can be found in the UOW College’s Privacy Policy homepage.

If you are required to provide a USI to UOW College (refer to the above section ‘Who requires a USI?’) and haven’t done so by the census date of your first session of applying for Help Loan at UOW College in 2021, you will be contacted accordingly as your enrolment may be impacted in one of the following ways:

  • You may have your marks or grades withheld;
  • You may be unable to enrol in future years;
  • You may have your course enrolment cancelled; or
  • You may be unable to graduate.

If you are a domestic student and do not have a USI, you are not eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place. This may mean that to continue to study at UOW College, you could be faced with full, upfront fees without the government’s contribution.

If you have a genuine personal objection to being assigned a USI, you can apply for an exemption.

Successful exemption will mean that you will also face the consequences of not having a USI (i.e. no Commonwealth Support or Assistance).

You also need to advise your local student administration office of your application for USI exemption: