When do we start calculating how much HECS we owe back to the university?

[squance]

When do we start calculating how much HECS we owe back to the university?

And when we calculate it, is it by semester or by year?

[excal]

Well, you don't owe the university - you owe the government.

You'll accumulate a HELP debt every semester on the day after the census date if you don't pay upfront. It is indexed each year (ie, 'interest') according to the CPI rate for the year.

You'll need to start paying this debt back, via a higher PAYG tax withholding rate, when your yearly income hits $38,000.