Ways to fund your study

Let's be honest, none of these people are going to fund your study. But we can – we're StudyLink (a part of the Ministry of Social Development), and we can help with your Student Allowance and Student Loan.

Making decisions, like planning on studying after you finish school, can be overwhelming.

Start thinking now about what your study will cost and how to pay for it.

Let's find out how we can help.

What you can get

These are the main payments you can get to help you pay for your study:

Student Allowance

A weekly payment to help pay your living expenses while you're studying. You don't have to pay it back. There's a few things to check to find out whether you can get it, and how much you can get.

If you're under 24, it also depends on your parents' income. Estimate how much Student Allowance you could get with our parental income calculator.

A photo of a man dress as a pirate with sky behind him and a parrot on his shoulder

Student Allowance

Student Loan

A loan (that you need to repay) to help pay for:

  • course fees - compulsory fees your education provider charges.
  • course-related costs - up to $1000 a year for things like textbooks, laptops or equipment
  • living costs - up to $316.39 a week for things like rent, food and power - you don't have to borrow the full amount.
A photo of a woman dressed as a queen with gold jewellery and red velvet curtains behind her

Student Loan

Check if you can get a Student Allowance or Student Loan through our StudyLink eligibility test.

Fees Free

The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. From 2025, Fees Free will cover the final year instead.

How to apply for Student Loan or Student Allowance

Applying is easy and all online. Start by taking our eligibility test, which also works out what you can get.

You can update your application after you submit it, for example if you change where you're going to study. You can also withdraw your application later if you need to.

How to apply online if you're a first time student

If you're still at school

The best time to apply is before 16 December. Most people start applying in term 3 and term 4.

You don't need to wait until you get your NCEA results. You can even apply if you haven't decided where you want to study yet, or you're waiting on confirmation of your course.