Are international students enrolled at Australian universities able to defer their fees and pay later through HECS?

No, international students enrolled at Australian universities are not eligible to defer their fees and pay later through the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). HECS is specifically designed for domestic students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. 

International students are required to pay their tuition fees upfront, typically before the start of each semester or academic year. This means that they must arrange to pay their course fees in full at the time of enrollment, and they do not have the option to defer payment like domestic students do under HECS-HELP. 

International students may have access to other forms of financial assistance or scholarships, but these would not include the HECS system.