Apply online for first-time students

• Set up a RealMe login or RealMe verified identity
• Make sure the course you’re interested in is a recognised course or programme for Student Loan and Student Allowance.
• You need your course details handy, eg:
  • course start and end dates (you can estimate the dates and update them later)
  • education provider or campus.
• Make sure you have all the other required information handy before you begin so you can easily complete the eligibility test and application.
  Information you'll need to complete the online application

• You start with the eligibility test.
• Your answers in the eligibility test are transferred into the application. If any are wrong you’ll need to start again.
• To save your answers, you’ll need to use your RealMe login. Your answers will be saved for 5 days.
• Based on your answers you'll find out if you could qualify for:
  • Student Allowance
  • Student Loan
  • Jobseeker Support Student Hardship
  • Accommodation Supplement
  • Disability Allowance
  • Child Disability Allowance
  • Childcare Subsidy
  • OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation).
• If you stay on the same page for more than 5 minutes you’ll be logged out.
• You can change your answers before you continue to apply online.
• You won't be able to change your answers once you select 'Apply Online'.

• You’ll need your RealMe login
• Make sure you save your application as you go.
• If you stay on the same page for more than 5 minutes you’ll be logged out.
• If you don’t enter anything on a page for more than 5 minutes, you may not be able to continue. You’ll need to log out and log back in again.
• You can save a partly completed form and come back to it later.
• You can change your answers, but not for the ones you've answered in the eligibility test.
• Your form will be deleted after 59 days if you don't submit it.
• We receive your application when you submit it.

Help completing an application

Once you submit your application

You'll get a confirmation page that shows:

• what you applied for
• your next steps
• any other form you may need to download and complete (a printed form will be included in the letter we send you).

After we receive your application, we’ll send you:

• an email which tells you:
  • that we’ve started processing your application
  • when you can start using MyStudyLink so you can check how your application is going.
• a letter in the post (allow at least 5 working days) which:
  • tells you your client number
  • tells you the status of your application
  • includes other forms that need to be completed
  • asks for additional or correct information
  • lists all the documents you need to send us to support your application

Student Loan application

We’ll send you a Student Loan contract in the mail. You’ll need to sign this and return to us as part of your application.

Your Student Loan contract and how to return it to us

A list of documents you need to send us will be in the letter we send you. All documents you send us must be a verified copy, not an original.

We can't approve your application or make any payments until we've seen your supporting documents. You need to send these to us:

• as soon as possible so you can get your payments on time
• by the end of the course you're applying for, or your application will be declined.

You'll need to send us evidence of who you are so you can log in to MyStudyLink, unless you used a RealMe Verified account to apply or verify your identity with RealMe after you submit an application

Once you have access to MyStudyLink:

• you can check:
  • application status
  • what else we need from you
  • if we've received documents you've sent us
• you can update your:
  • contact details
  • bank account
  • education provider
  • course start and end dates
  • student ID number
• your mail will be in MyStudyLink
  • you’ll get a text or email to tell you that you have a new mail
  • if you don’t want to get your mail online, you can change this setting in MyStudyLink
• if your application has been approved, you can check:
  • how much you'll get
  • when your payments start.

If you used a RealMe Verified account to submit an application

You can log in to MyStudyLink as soon as you get a confirmation email that we've received your application.

If you verify your identity with RealMe after you submit an application

After your identity is verified with RealMe, you can log in to MyStudyLink. When you log in for the first time, you’ll be asked to agree to share your identity information with us before you can access your information in MyStudyLink.

We’ll send you a letter to tell you if your application has been approved or declined. If you disagree with our decision, there's a review process you can follow.

If you decide not to go into study or don’t get accepted, email us or call us to cancel your application.

Student Loan application

Once your loan is approved and the first payment has been made, your loan details will be transferred to Inland Revenue.