Graduates from Australian universities will still have to repay their HECS debts if they work overseas.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne said for the first time ever, Australians who have moved overseas for more than six months will be required to repay the same amount of their HECS debt as they would if they were residing in Australia.

Australians who move overseas with a HECS debt will still have to pay it off under the government's plan.

The government will introduce legislation requiring all Australian graduates living offshore to start making HECS payments, based on income beyond the $53,000 threshold in the 2016-17 tax year.

Under current arrangements, graduates living overseas don't have to submit an Australian tax return, so there's no way for the government to know if they are earning above the HECS repayment threshold.