Apply online for first-time students

If you start study in 2024, you may be able to get Fees Free to pay for your first year. If you can get Fees Free for your first year, you may not need a Student Loan to pay for your course fees. However, you’ll still need to apply for a Student Loan if you want course-related costs or living costs.

From 2025, Fees Free will be available for your final year of study instead (if you meet the criteria). You’ll need to pay for your course fees before you start your final year. The Fees Free scheme will then return the fees when you complete your qualification.

If you need help to pay your course fees, you may be able to get a Student Loan.

Fees Free is run by the Tertiary Education Commission. Check out the website for more information.

When you apply online, there are 3 things you'll need to do.

Read through the below steps and when you're ready, select the 'Log in to apply online' button to start.

1. Create a RealMe Login (if you don't already have one)

RealMe login is a secure service used by many government agencies and other organisations. It gives you a single login to multiple online services. If you upgrade to a RealMe verified identity, it also works as your online ID.

If you already have a RealMe login from another agency, you can use this to apply online.

If you don't have one, you can create one when you select the 'Log in to apply online' button. You must have an email address to create a RealMe login.

2. Complete eligibility test

Once you've created your RealMe login, you'll start the eligibility test. This will let you know what type of assistance you may be eligible for.

If you stay on the same page for more than 5 minutes, you'll be logged out.

When you've finished, your answers are transferred into the online application. You won't be able to change them once this happens. Your answers will be saved for 5 days.

3. Complete your online application

Once you've finished the eligibility test, you'll move on to complete your online application.

Here are some tips about the online application:

• Make sure you save your application as you go - you can come back to it later if you don't finish it.
• 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.
• Your form will be deleted after 59 days if you don't submit it.

Start your application

Make sure you have all the information you need before you start.

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).

We'll send you the relevant information

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

• an email which tells you:
  • your client number
  • 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.

We can't progress your application 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 can upload and send documents online using Connect, instead of having to post them to us.

You'll need to send us evidence of who you are so you can log in to MyStudyLink.

You don't need to send us evidence of who you are if you:

• used a RealMe Verified identity to apply, or
• verify your identity with RealMe after you submit an application.

RealMe verified identity

You may have used a RealMe Verified identity to apply. If so, you can log in to MyStudyLink as soon as you get a confirmation email that we've received your application.

You may want to verify your identity after you submit your application. If so, you can log in to MyStudyLink after your identity is verified with RealMe, 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.

What you can do in MyStudyLink

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.

We’ll send you a letter to tell you the outcome of your application. 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.