On a benefit

If you can stay on your benefit, you may be able to get a Student Loan to help pay for your compulsory course fees and course-related costs.

Important information

Talk to Work and Income about whether you can stay on your benefit while you study and what help you could get for course costs.

Studying while on a benefit

Compulsory course fees and course-related costs

If you’re on a benefit, you may be able to get a Student Loan for compulsory course fees and course-related costs (eg, books, computer, travel).

If you get a Course Participation Allowance (CPA) or Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) from Work and Income, the amount you get for fees and course-related costs will go down by the amount of CPA or TIA you get. This doesn't include any CPA or TIA you get for:

  • childcare
  • transport
  • disability-related costs.
Find out if you can get a Student Loan

Living costs

If you’re on a benefit, you can’t get a Student Allowance or a Student Loan to pay for your weekly living costs.