Studying at university: student loans and allowances (StudyLink)

StudyLink (Ministry of Social Development) / Inland RevenueVerified 14 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

If you study at university or another tertiary provider in New Zealand, you can apply through StudyLink for a Student Loan and a Student Allowance. A Student Loan covers course fees and living costs, and you must pay it back. A Student Allowance helps with living costs, and you do not pay it back. Your student loan has no interest while you live in New Zealand. If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you usually need to have lived in New Zealand for 3 years and held a residence class visa for 3 years before you can apply. Fees Free for the final year of study ends on 31 December 2026.

Key facts

Residence requirement for a student loan: You are a New Zealand citizen. Or you are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, and you have lived in New Zealand for at least 3 years and held a residence class visa for at least 3 years.¹
Living costs loan: Up to NZ$333.48 a week for full-time students¹
Course-related costs: Up to NZ$1,000 (for example, books, stationery and a computer)¹
Course fees: You can borrow for compulsory course fees. If you are 55 or older, you can only borrow for these fees.¹
Establishment fee: A one-off establishment fee of NZ$60 is added to your loan balance¹
Under 18: You need consent from one parent to get a student loan¹
Student Allowance: basic conditions: You generally need to be aged 18 to 65 and studying full-time. The residence requirements are the same as for a student loan. You do not pay this money back.²
When your parents' income counts: If you are under 24 and have no children, your parents' income is checked for the Student Allowance²
Parents' income: allowance starts to reduce: Your allowance starts to reduce if your parents' combined yearly income (before tax) is over NZ$72,108.92³
Parents' income: no allowance: You cannot get the allowance if your parents' combined yearly income is over NZ$131,670.35 (if you live with your parents) or NZ$141,451.55 (if you do not live with them)³
Interest-free loan: If you are in New Zealand for 32 days or more in any 184-day period, you count as New Zealand-based and your student loan has no interest⁴
Being overseas for a long time: If you are overseas for about 5 months out of 6, you may become overseas-based. Interest is then charged from the day after you left New Zealand.⁴
Fees Free amount: Up to NZ$12,000. Only for your first eligible qualification or programme, and you can only get it once.⁵
Fees Free conditions and deadline: Your final year must start on or after 1 January 2025 and finish on or before 31 December 2026. Apply in myIR within 1 year of finishing.⁵

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Student Loan and Student Allowance: you are a New Zealand citizen. Or you are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, have lived in New Zealand for 3 years, and have held a residence class visa for 3 years. Different rules apply to refugees, protected persons and some other groups.
Student Loan: you are studying an approved course at an approved provider, and no more than 2 EFTS a year (about 240 credits).
If you have had a student loan or Student Allowance before, you must also meet the passing requirements. You must not have used up your loan entitlement or your allowance weeks.
You cannot get a student loan if, for example: you are still at secondary school; you are bankrupt; you owe NZ$500 or more in repayments that are one year or more overdue; or your course is shorter than 32 weeks and less than 0.25 EFTS.
Student Allowance: you are studying an undergraduate course (NQF level 7 or below) or a Bachelor degree with honours (or similar) at an approved provider.
Fees Free: this usually only applies if this is your first time in tertiary study. You must meet the residence requirements on the day you finish your studies.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Get your details ready
First, set up a RealMe login. Have your bank account number, IRD number, personal email address, and your course start and end dates ready. If you are under 24, you also need to know your parents' income.
Apply online early
Apply online with StudyLink. You can apply before you have decided where to study. If you apply after your course starts, you are only paid from the date you applied. You must send all documents before your course ends.
Sign your loan contract and send documents
If this is your first student loan, you will get a Student Loan contract. Sign it and send it back with any documents StudyLink asks for. StudyLink checks with your provider only after you are fully enrolled.
Parents fill in a form (Student Allowance)
If you are under 24 and have no children, your parents must fill in the Parents' form and give proof of their income. They can upload this online through Connect.
Manage everything in MyStudyLink
Use MyStudyLink to check your application and payments. To get course-related costs, apply in MyStudyLink after you receive your loan contract.
Apply again every year
If your study lasts more than one year, you must apply again every year for both the Student Loan and the Student Allowance.
Apply for Fees Free after you finish
When you have finished and passed your studies, apply for Fees Free in myIR. If you finished in 2025, the deadline is 31 December 2026. If you have a student loan, the Fees Free payment goes straight to your loan balance. If you do not have a loan, it is paid into your bank account.

What documents do I need?

RealMe login
Bank account number
IRD number
Personal email address
Course details (provider, course, start and end dates)
If you are under 24 and applying for a Student Allowance: the Parents' form filled in by your parents, and proof of their income
Any other documents StudyLink asks for (they will tell you after you apply)

What should I watch out for?

You must pay back a Student Loan. You do not pay back a Student Allowance. You can apply for both, but you cannot get the full living costs loan and a Student Allowance at the same time. If your allowance is approved, your living costs loan is reduced.
A student loan does not cover one-off payments for a hostel or hall of residence. It also does not cover optional costs such as late enrolment fees or student association fees.
If you have held a residence visa for less than 3 years, you usually cannot get a student loan or Student Allowance yet. You will need to pay course fees and living costs yourself.
The Student Allowance is paid weekly, one week in arrears. If it is approved before your course starts, your first payment arrives in the second week.
With Fees Free, you pay your fees first and get the money back after you finish. If you finish in 2027 or later, you cannot get Fees Free, even if you started in 2025 or 2026.
When you start working and earn more than the repayment threshold, student loan repayments must be taken from your pay (add SL to your tax code). See the Inland Revenue student loan pages for details.
If you plan to be overseas for a long time, learn the 32-day rule first so your loan does not start charging interest.
We only explain public information from official sources. StudyLink and Inland Revenue decide whether you qualify and how much you get.

What has changed recently?

2027-01-01
Budget 2026: the government is providing funding so tertiary providers can raise fees by up to 6% in 2027. Coming soonSource: education.govt.nz ↗
2026-12-31
Fees Free is ending, with no transition arrangements. You must finish your studies on or before 31 December 2026 to qualify. If you finish in 2026, you can apply within 12 months of finishing (by 31 December 2027 at the latest). Coming soonSource: ird.govt.nz ↗
2026-04-01
Student allowances and living costs loans are adjusted for inflation every year (Annual General Adjustment). New rates include: a single student under 24 not living with their parents can get up to NZ$333.38 a week (after tax) in Student Allowance; the living costs loan is up to NZ$333.48 a week.Source: studylink.govt.nz ↗
2025-01-01
Fees Free has changed from "first year fees free" to "final year fees free" (up to NZ$12,000). If you got first-year Fees Free before 31 December 2024, you cannot get final-year Fees Free.Source: ird.govt.nz ↗

Common questions

How long after getting my resident visa can I get a student loan in NZ?

You usually need to have held a residence class visa for at least 3 years. You must also have lived in New Zealand for at least 3 years and be ordinarily resident here. Different rules apply to refugees, protected persons and some other groups. Until then, you usually need to pay course fees and living costs yourself.

How much can I borrow each week for living costs on a student loan?

Full-time students can borrow up to NZ$333.48 a week for living costs. This rate is adjusted for inflation every year. If you also get a Student Allowance, your living costs loan is reduced. You can also borrow up to NZ$1,000 for course-related costs, such as books and a computer.

What is the difference between a Student Allowance and a Student Loan? Do I have to pay them back?

You must pay back a Student Loan, but you do not pay back a Student Allowance. A loan covers course fees and living costs. An allowance helps with living costs only. You can apply for both. If your allowance is approved, your living costs loan is reduced.

Can my child get a Student Allowance if we have a high income?

It depends on how much you earn. If your child is under 24 and has no children, your income is checked. The allowance starts to reduce if your combined yearly income before tax is over NZ$72,108.92. There is no allowance if it is over NZ$131,670.35 when your child lives with you, or over NZ$141,451.55 when they do not.

Is the NZ student loan really interest-free? What happens if I move overseas?

Yes, your student loan has no interest while you are New Zealand-based. This means you are in New Zealand for 32 days or more in any 184-day period. If you are overseas for about 5 months out of 6, you may become overseas-based. Interest is then charged from the day after you left New Zealand.

Is final-year Fees Free still available, and how do I apply?

Yes, but only if your final year starts on or after 1 January 2025 and finishes on or before 31 December 2026. It pays up to NZ$12,000, and it usually only applies to first-time tertiary students. After you finish and pass, apply in myIR within 1 year of finishing. If you finish in 2026, the latest deadline is 31 December 2027.

When should I apply to StudyLink? Do I need to apply again every year?

Apply early, even before you have decided where to study. If you apply after your course starts, you are only paid from the date you applied. You must send all documents before your course ends. Yes, if your study lasts more than one year, you must apply again every year for both the Student Loan and the Student Allowance.

My child is turning 18 and starting university. How do we pay fees and living costs?

Your child can apply online with StudyLink for a Student Loan and a Student Allowance, if they meet the residence requirements. The loan can cover compulsory course fees, living costs up to NZ$333.48 a week, and up to NZ$1,000 for course-related costs. If your child is under 18, they need consent from one parent to get a loan. For the allowance, you must fill in the Parents' form and give proof of your income.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Student LoanStudyLink · studylink.govt.nz
Student AllowanceStudyLink · studylink.govt.nz
Student Allowance when you have 2 parentsStudyLink · studylink.govt.nz
I am going overseas - Student loansInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz
New to Fees FreeInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz

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