New Zealand - Guidance to Apply for Student Loan

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Procedure

Applying for the Government's Student Loan Scheme

To get a student loan you usually have to be:

• enrolled on a tertiary course
• studying full-time or limited full-time, or meet StudyLinks requirements for part-time study
• a New Zealand citizen, or meet residency requirements
• under 55 when your course starts, for course-related costs and living costs borrowing theres no upper age limit for course fees borrowing.

Youll also need to:

• sign a contract with the government
• nominate a contact person in New Zealand.

If you get a student loan, youll need to pass at least half the work of your previous study to get it again.

Go to Who can get it for more information on getting a student loan and situations where you cant get a loan.

Applying for a Student Loan Banks

Bank Loans are easily available for higher studies anywhere in the world. Loans should be preferably taken from a nationalized bank. The term & condition for educational loans may vary from Bank to Bank.

• Visit your nearest branch
• Fill in the application form
• The bank will contact you by phone or email to arrange an appointment at local branch.
• Visit your local branch to complete the process.

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Required Documents

If youre applying for the first time, youll need:

• your birth certificate or passport to show your date of birth
• your passport or citizenship papers to show your residency status
• a printed note from your bank with your account name and number if youre applying for course-related costs or living costs to show your bank account details
• your marriage certificate or deed poll papers if youve changed your name.

Go to the Documents supporting your application page to find out about verifying copies of original documents. Other forms to complete your application

When you apply online, youll answer questions about whether you:

• plan to study overseas
• need to apply for an extension to your lifetime limit
• want to apply for limited full-time status.

Depending on your answers, the online application will give you the other forms you need to complete for your application.

If you cant apply online, download the other forms you need and contact StudyLink. Youll need to complete these other forms and an application form for a student allowance and a student loan.

• Overseas study application form
• Student Loan EFTS extension application form
• Limited full-time application form

Office Locations & Contacts

StudyLink Contacts

Eligibility

Student loans are interest-free while borrowers are New Zealand-based (including those borrowers treated as being New Zealand-based). Interest amounts charged are written off.

In most cases, borrowers who are living overseas wont qualify for an interest-free student loan if they are overseas for 184 days (about 6 months) or more. However, they may still qualify for their existing loan to remain interest-free if they meet the conditions for specific situations. Borrowers must provide proof to support an exemption application.

Find out more about interest-free student loans while overseas on the Inland Revenue website.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

You need to apply for a student loan each time you enrol for a new study period usually each year.

Apply as soon as you can, even if youre still deciding what or where youre going to study, so you get paid on time.

The quickest and easiest way to apply is online.

Each time you apply, you can apply to borrow for course fees and living costs.

For information on eligibility, or to apply for a student loan, go to the StudyLink website.

Required Information

• First name, Middle name(s), Surname or family name
• Date of birth
• Client number
• Where you will live while studying
• Details of the courses
• Students signature

Need for the Document

Under the Student Loan Scheme you can borrow money from the government to help pay for your tertiary study, but you have to start paying the loan back once you earn over a certain amount.

Information which might help

Verifying copies of original documents

StudyLink need to see original or verified copies of documents. If youre sending an original document theyll return it to you by courier.

If you're sending a copy of a document, each page needs to be verified by someone who can confirm that the copy is the same as the original.

If you fax documents to StudyLink, they can accept them only if they have been verified and faxed from an approved source. This could be a StudyLink or Work and Income office including Community Link and Heartland Services or your education provider.

Copies of your documents can be verified by:

• a StudyLink or Work and Income staff member
• a registrar or officer of a tertiary education provider
• a school principal, teacher, careers advisor or guidance counsellor
• a notary public
• a medical doctor
• a police officer
• a church minister or rector
• kaumatua
• a court registrar or officer
• a solicitor or lawyer
• a justice of the peace
• a member of a board of trustees
• a commissioner of oaths
• a local authority employee designated for the purpose of taking oaths and declarations
• a government department
• a member of parliament
• the Public Trust.

The person must have seen the original document and checked that the copy is a genuine unaltered copy of that original.

The person verifying the copy must sign, date, and print their name and title on each page. They must also write that it is a true copy of the original.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Student Loan can help you finance your study. Its made up of three parts:

• course fees for the compulsory fees charged by your education provider
• course-related costs to buy materials or services for your course
• living costs to help with your weekly expenses.

You choose which parts you need.

You have to pay back your student loan, so borrow only what you need.

External Links

Student Loans

StudyLink

Student Loan at a glance

Others

Changes in your circumstances

You must report any changes in your circumstances. These changes could include, for example:

• your personal details change
• where you live changes
• you go overseas
• you start or stop getting assistance from Work and Income or any other government agency.

The quickest and easiest way to report any changes is through your MyStudyLink account.