Get sorted
Me whakarite koe
StudyLink
It’s important that you work out how you are going to fund your study and living costs. Here’s an idea about what you’ll need to apply to StudyLink. All the details on the financial support are available on the StudyLink website.
Student loans – Help you to pay for your course fees (the compulsory fees charged by your education provider), study materials (e.g. books, computer) and living costs. Just remember it’s a loan. You’ll have to pay this back.
Student allowance – This is a weekly payment that can help with your living expenses while you are studying if you are eligible. You don’t have to pay the money back BUT there are conditions.
You can apply for student loans and allowances online. Make sure you have:
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RealME account to apply online and access your My StudyLink
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RealME verified identity
The documents you’ll need to provide for a RealME account include evidence of:
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who you are (birth certificate or passport)
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name change if you’ve changed your name
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your bank account number (verified)
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your IRD number
If you’re under 18, you’ll need to supply some additional information.
The StudyLink eligibility test is part of the application process. This tells you what you may be eligible for. You’ll need to provide the following information:
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course details (including start and end dates and study break period)
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citizenship/residency details
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income information, if applicable
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parents’ income information (if you’re under 24). If you have a child or you’re over 24 and you have a partner, you’ll need to provide additional information
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IRD number and tax code
Parents: StudyLink can only give you information about your part of your child’s application (e.g. your income evidence) unless they have appointed you as their agent. Check the StudyLink website for more information.
www.studylink.govt.nz | 0800 889900 www.realme.govt.nz | 0800 664 774 www.ird.govt.nz | 0800 775 247
Scholarships
Scholarships are a smart way to fund your tertiary education. The exact value and benefits of a scholarship will depend on the type of scholarship you are awarded, along with your personal circumstances.
All eight New Zealand universities offer scholarships and have school liaison officers and/or scholarships advisers to help you. Other scholarships are provided by various industries, trusts, other funders and of course Universities New Zealand!
Academic achievement is important, but many scholarships also have other selection criteria. Think about these points when looking at scholarship opportunities:
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Remember you can apply for as many scholarships as you like, at multiple universities. If you are lucky enough to be awarded more than one scholarship check the scholarship regulations to see if you can hold more than one scholarship. If you are unsure, contact your chosen university scholarships office and they will help you.
- Always read the scholarship regulations to see if you are eligible for selection. As part of your application, include information showing your eligibility, along with information relating to the selection criteria.
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Make sure you have a current curriculum vitae available to include with your application if requested. This should list your accomplishments, awards and leadership positions.
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Most scholarships require references; these could be academic, character or both. Check with your referees that they are willing to be contacted to supply a written reference (these are usually confidential and submitted directly to the scholarships administrator). Make sure you have your referee’s contact email, as you may need to supply that as part of your application.
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Give your referee information about the scholarships you are applying for and the closing dates. Always make sure your referee has plenty of time to write your reference.
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Apply for every scholarship you are eligible for, allow enough time to complete the application, and only supply information that is requested.
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Not all scholarships are the same; they have different values, closing dates, eligibility criteria and selection processes. The regulations are your guidelines – read them thoroughly.
If you are of Māori descent, check to see if your iwi offers education scholarships. There are lots of scholarships available. Whānau should really encourage their rangatahi to apply.
UNZ School Leaver Scholarships
Universities New Zealand administers several undergraduate scholarships. Further details are available on the UNZ website.
University Scholarships Offices
Each university has its own Scholarships Office. Check out the university websites for more information or email the offices:
Other funding opportunities
Maori Education Trust and GivMe are other options to check for scholarship funding:
