7 ways to fund your study

Want to enrol in a course, but worried about funding it? Here are seven ideas to help.

Scholarships may:

• pay your course fees
• give you money
• provide benefits such as free entry to a conference where you can network with employers.

Every year, some scholarships aren't paid out because people haven't applied for them.

Taking time to apply for scholarships can be an investment in your financial future, as some scholarships are worth thousands of dollars a year. 

• How to find and apply for scholarships 

Fees Free is for first-time learners. If you’re doing tertiary study or training for the first time, you may be eligible for the equivalent of one year's study to two years’ training, paid through the Fees Free initiative.

• Fees Free website - check your eligibility

Apprenticeships are available for many jobs including hairdressing, flower arranging, crane operation, panel beating and shearing.

You learn and earn as you work so you don't need a student loan.

Find out more about apprenticeships.

• Apprenticeships 

You can see all the occupations with apprenticeships in the "New Zealand Apprenticeships Register" on the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) website.

• TEC website - New Zealand Apprenticeships Register - occupations with possible apprenticeships

Apprenticeship Boost will support employers with related costs until 2023.

If you're already in a job, and would like to progress, consider talking to your manager about your future career goals, as they may be able to support you.

If your goals fit with the organisation's, your manager may be able to offer:

• new work in the field you want to progress in
• time off to study
• payment of your fees.

• How to have a career discussion with your manager

You might be eligible for financial and other support from targeted schemes. See if you're eligible for one of these schemes:

• Ministry for Pacific Peoples' Tupu Aotearoa – support for Pacific people to access learning and work opportunities
• Te Puni Kōkiri Cadetships – for employers to train permanent Māori staff and for cadets to progress into higher-skilled roles.

Work and Income has these funds to support people to train or work:

• Course Participation Assistance – if you're on a benefit and need to do a short-term course to help develop skills to get into work
• Job and Training Support Funds - if you're disabled or have a health condition which means you have extra costs to be able to work or train
• Training Incentive Allowance – if you're on a benefit and want to complete a course at Level 1 to 7.

See if you're eligible for StudyLink:

• loans – which you have to pay back
• allowances – which you don't have to pay back.
  
  
• Sorted website – find out about student loans and allowances

Consider if you could:

• contact Student Job Search to see if you're eligible to use their services as an intending student, so you can work while you study
• continue working while you study
• ask family and whānau if they could support you
• use your savings
• Student Job Search website - who can use Student Job Search

• What study costs and how to fund it
• Connected website - financial support to work, study or train