Student Loans and Allowances: 2011

In 2011:

• 48.1 percent of tertiary students took out a student loan (up from 45.6 percent in 2010). 
• 431,313 students were enrolled in tertiary education (34,335 fewer than 2010).
• 207,312 students borrowed from the Student Loan Scheme (5,160 fewer than 2010).
• Students borrowed an average of $7,630 in the year (up 4.5 percent from 2010).
• 22.6 percent of tertiary students received a student allowance (up from 20.2 percent in 2010).
• 97,308 students received a student allowance (up 3.6 percent from 2010).

Of borrowers who left study in 2010:

• The average student loan leaving debt was $16,050 (up 4.8 percent from borrowers who left study in 2009).
• Those who studied at bachelor's level had an average student loan leaving debt of $22,060 (up 2.5 percent from borrowers who left study in 2009).

Of students who left study in 2005:

• Graduates had repaid an average 37.0 percent of their student loan five years post-study.
• Non-graduates had repaid an average 26.6 percent of their student loan five years post-study.