Get all the information you need

What to think about first

You're thinking about tertiary study.  Congratulations!  

It's one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your life. It's like getting married, having children and buying a house - what you decide now will affect the rest of your life. 

If that seems scary, don't be put off.  The information here will help you make the best decisions by: 

• finding all the ways to finance your study
• finish your course with the minimum debt necessary
• pay any debt back as fast as possible
• have the best chance of reaching your study goals

Choosing your course and career path

This video is 1 minute and 41 seconds long.

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Choose study for the right reasons

It’s important that you’re deciding to study, and what to study, for the right reasons. Choose carefully. A bad decision could cost you.

If you get a Student Loan and later drop out, you will still have the loan to repay and no qualification. It could take a long time to pay back. If you’re getting a Student Allowance, and you don’t pass more than half your course, you won’t get it the next year.

So don’t just follow what other people say or do – really think about it, ask around, and decide carefully.

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Ask around

When you are planning to study, the more you find out, the easier it will be to make good decisions.  Get all the information you can about education providers and courses. 

How did you choose the course - following your friends?  Your parents?  Is it something you're passionate about?  Or are you thinking it's not that interesting, but it'll earn you heaps when you graduate? 

If you're going to study, you could be doing it for two, three or more years - as long as it takes to get your qualification.  It's really important you enjoy it enough to stay with it. 

If it's not something you really like, will you be able to keep going? 

Now is not the time to be shy.   Ask around - talk to your school careers advisor, teachers, uncles and aunts, family friends and even other people in your community who have studied.  Look for people working in the career you're thinking about.  Contact them and ask questions - they will probably be really happy to help.  

Ask about all kinds of stuff around study and student life. 

• What subjects did they do, and what were they like?
• How were the lectures, the tutorials, the exams?
• Where did they live - a hostel, a hall of residence, a flat?
• How did they manage their money?
• What was it like shifting to a new place?
• Did they have a job while they studied?
• What was it like balancing work and study?
• Did they have time for other stuff?

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Your qualification and work

When you’ve finished studying, will your qualification help you get a job? How much will you be able to earn?

What do employers think of the course you’re planning? Do they think another one is better – or would they hire an apprentice instead of a graduate?

Talk to people in the field you’re planning to study. If you’re thinking of accounting, talk to accountants at local firms. Ask an employer what they think of the course you’re planning. Compare different education providers (such as universities and institutes of technology) offering the same course – compare papers as well as costs for fees and textbooks. Try to talk to someone who’s done the course.

If your course didn’t lead you straight into work, would you still think it was worth doing?

There are no clear right or wrong answers. You have to decide for yourself, and the best way is by collecting as much information as you can.

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Inland Revenue information

• Find out about your rights and responsibilities as a Student Loan borrower
• Find out about repaying your loan, interest write-offs and what happens if you go overseas
• Use the calculators to understand how much you need to borrow and how long it will take to pay off  

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Where to go to find out more

Some places to go, and options to think about: 

• Careers New Zealand - www.careers.govt.nz
  - information about jobs, the qualifications they need, what they pay, and interviews with people in different careers
  - information for school leavers about study and career planning
  - a search tool for finding courses and providers throughout New Zealand
  - scholarship information
  - you can also visit their offices, or ring them on 0800 222 733
• Sorted - www.sorted.govt.nz
  - Calculators to help you plan your finances, understand the true cost of study and work out whether you'll get a return on your investment
• Inland Revenue - www.ird.govt.nz/studentloans
  - Find out about your rights and responsibilities as a Student Loan borrower
  - Find out about repaying your loan, interest write-offs and what happens if you go overseas
  - Use the calculators to understand how much you need to borrow and how long it will take to pay off
• Tertiary education providers - universities and other institutions
  - course and fee information
  - information about the local area - accommodation, work, lifestyle and more
  - from student support services and Student Associations
• Apprenticeships
  If you want to earn while you learn a trade
  - talk to local people in the industry
  - look at websites like www.modern-apprenticeships.govt.nz
• Employer-funded study
  If you want to earn while you get a tertiary qualification.
  If you study through the Army, Navy or Air Force you will be fed, housed and have a job to go to when you finish.
• Your school careers advisor will have loads more information, websites and resources.
• Parents and family.

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It’s worth the time

It might seem like there just isn’t time to spend on this. But the questions you ask and the information you get now will help you make these big decisions.

You’ll be investing a lot in your studies, so make sure you get the best value for your money.