Studying while overseas
If you're studying overseas, you may be able to get a Student Loan or Student Allowance.
Going overseas as part of your course
If you're enrolled in a course in New Zealand at an approved education provider, and you need to go overseas as part of your course, you may be able to get a Student Loan or Student Allowance.
Your overseas study needs to be:
- approved by your education provider
- credited to your New Zealand qualification.
You also need to meet the criteria for Student Loan and Student Allowance
If you're a New Zealand permanent resident, you also:
- can't be enrolled extramurally
- must have, in the last 5 years, spent less than 6 months in the country you're going to.
If you're studying a course that's run by an overseas education provider and you're not enrolled at a New Zealand provider, you can't get a Student Loan or Student Allowance.
What you need to do
Getting Student Loan and Student Allowance
- Apply online for a Student Loan and Student Allowance (if you haven't already).
- You and an authorised staff member at your New Zealand education provider need to fill out an Overseas study application form.
- Log in to Connect and upload your form.
Getting other payments
You need to email us or call us
We'll let you know if you can keep getting these payments or not.
Payments
Usually, your payments will be the same as when you're in New Zealand.
If you're getting a Student Allowance and you were living at home with your parents and are now going overseas, your rate could change. You may also be able to get an Accommodation Benefit
Enrolled at an overseas campus
If you're going to enrol at an overseas campus or delivery site through your New Zealand education provider, you may be able to get a Student Loan or Student Allowance.
You need to be:
- studying a full-time course at level 7 or above on the National Qualifications Framework
- going to a country that's approved for overseas study by the Ministry of Education
- studying at the overseas campus or delivery site
- studying part of your qualification in New Zealand.
You also need to meet the criteria for Student Loan and Student Allowance
If you're a permanent resident in New Zealand, you must also have, in the last 5 years, spent less than 6 months in the country you're going to.
What you need to do
Getting Student Loan and Student Allowance
- Apply online for a Student Loan and Student Allowance (if you haven't already).
- You and an authorised staff member at your New Zealand education provider need to fill out an Overseas study application form.
- Log in to Connect and upload your form.
Getting other payments
You need to email us or call us
We'll let you know if you can keep getting these payments or not.
Payments
Usually, your payments will be the same as when you're in New Zealand.
If you're getting a Student Allowance and you were living at home with your parents and are now going overseas, your rate could change. You may also be able to get an Accommodation Benefit
At secondary school and going on an exchange programme overseas
If you're studying at secondary school and thinking about applying for an exchange programme overseas, you may be able to apply for Student Allowance.
You need to meet the eligibility criteria for Student Allowance as well as be studying a recognised exchange programme
What you need to do
Getting Student Loan and Student Allowance
- Apply online for a Student Allowance (if you haven't already).
- You and an authorised staff member at your New Zealand education provider need to fill out an Overseas study application form.
- Log in to Connect and upload the form.
Getting other payments
You need to email us or call us
We'll let you know if you can keep getting these payments or not.
Payments
Usually, your payments will be the same as when you're in New Zealand.
If you're getting a Student Allowance and you were living at home with your parents and are now going overseas, your rate could change. You may also be able to get an Accommodation Benefit
Living overseas
If you live overseas and decide to study a course through distance learning that's based in New Zealand, you may be able to get a Student Loan and Student Allowance.
You need to be:
- a New Zealand citizen
- studying a course that's run by a New Zealand education provider.
You also need to meet the criteria for Student Loan and Student Allowance
What you need to do
- Apply online for a Student Loan and Student Allowance (if you haven't already).
- You and an authorised staff member at your New Zealand education provider need to fill out an Overseas study application form.
- Log in to Connect and upload your form.
New Zealand permanent residents studying from 1 January 2017
From 2017, if you live overseas and decide to study a course through distance learning that's based in New Zealand, you won't be able to get a Student Loan and Student Allowance.
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