STUDYLINK

contributor STUDYLINK, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WHO’SGOINGTOFUND YOUR STUDY? STUDYLINKIS HERETO HELP

What do a genie, Santa and a billionaire’s chihuahua have in common? They’re not going to help fund your study! But STUDYLINK can. StudyLink is a government agency that can help you pay for study with Student Allowances and Loans. Check out their website – studylink.govt.nz – to find out about the support you can get, how to apply for it and manage it online. These are the main payments you can get to help you pay for your study:

FEES-FREE STUDY

A payment to cover your first year of course fees. You don’t need to pay it back. You may be able to get it as a New Zealander leaving school soon and studying or training for the first time next year. To check, go to feesfree.govt.nz Even if you get fees-free study for the first year, you may still need help with course costs or living expenses.

STUDENT ALLOWANCE

This is a weekly payment to help with living expenses – you don’t have to pay it back. How much you get depends on: – your income – your living situation – your parents’ income (if you’re under 24).

STUDENT LOAN

The Student Loan can help with study costs. If you can get fees-free you may not need a Student Loan for your course fees, but you may still need to apply for a loan if you need help with course-related costs or living costs. You may be able to get a loan for: – compulsory course fees (check if you can get fees-free first) – course-related costs (help to pay for study materials like books, stationery, tools and computer items) – living costs (help to pay for day-to-day living costs, if you can’t get a Student Allowance). You’ll have to pay this back once you’re earning over a certain amount.

CHECK WHAT YOU CAN GET

It’s never too early to start working out what your study will cost and how you’ll pay for it. Use StudyLink’s eligibility test to work out what kind of help you could get while you’re studying – studylink.govt.nz

APPLY BY 16 DECEMBER AT STUDYLINK.GOVT.NZ

YOU DON’T NEED TO WAIT ‘TIL YOU GET YOUR NCEA RESULTS IN JANUARY TO APPLY! IT’S BEST TO APPLY BY 16 DECEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE SORTED WHEN YOUR STUDY STARTS. AROUND 160,000 STUDENTS WILL BE APPLYING, SO THE EARLIER YOU GET YOUR APPLICATION IN, THE FASTER IT WILL BE SORTED OUT FOR YOU. DON’T WORRY IF THINGS CHANGE. YOU CAN UPDATE YOUR APPLICATION DETAILS, LIKE YOUR EDUCATION PROVIDER OR COURSE, OR EVEN WITHDRAW YOUR APPLICATION AT ANY TIME. IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR APPLICATION IN ON TIME, EVEN IF YOU HAVEN’T DECIDED ALL THE DETAILS YET.