Under 24

If you’re under 24 years old, the criteria for student loans and allowances are slightly different.

Student Loan

If you’re under 18, a parent, caregiver, or legal guardian also needs to give their permission for you to get a loan.

If you’re under 18 years old, you can’t get a student loan if you’re either:

  • In receipt of Youth Guarantee
  • Studying a fees-free level 1 or 2 qualification.

Student Allowance

If you’re 16 or 17 years old, you may be able to get a student allowance if either you:

  • Have a child
  • Have no relationship with your parents and don’t live with them
  • Have completed year 13 at college  
  • Have achieved:
    • 42 NCEA Level 3 credits, or
    • 42 or more National Qualification Framework credits at Level 4, or
    • Were accepted onto a course with the entry requirements the same as 42 NCEA credits at Level 3.

If you’re under 24 years old, your eligibility is based on your parents’ income when you:

  • Don’t have any children, and
  • Have a relationship with one or both of your parents.

It doesn’t matter if you have a partner or if you live in the same house as your parents.

If you have one parent or a relationship with one parent, then StudyLink may be able to just use their income to assess your application. Refer to the StudyLink website for more information.

If you don’t have any parents or a relationship with your parents, then you may be able to apply for an Independent Circumstances Allowance instead. Refer to the StudyLink website for more information.

Youth Payment and Young Parent Payments

If you’re 16 or 17 years old, can’t live at home, and your parents can’t support you financially, you may be eligible for a Youth Payment. 

If you’re 16-19 years old and have tamariki (children) in your care, you may be eligible for a Young Parent Payment. 

More information about the Youth Payment can be found here.

If you’re receiving either of these payments, you may still be able to apply for support from StudyLink too.