Youth Guarantee Eligibility and How to Apply

Who's Eligible for Youth Guarantee?

To qualify to study under the Youth Guarantee scheme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
  • Be 16 to 24 years old before the start of the course. 15-year-olds who hold Ministry approved early exemption from their school may also be eligible. This exemption must be in place before the course starts.
  • Priority places will be given to students who have not yet achieved NCEA Level 1 or NCEA Level 2
  • Priority places will be given to students who:
    o    have not yet achieved NCEA Level 1 or NCEA Level 2
    o    have completed a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification through a Youth Guarantee provision programme

How to Apply for Youth Guarantee

There are two steps in the process and they must be completed in the correct order.

  1. Apply online for a Youth Guarantee-funded course (note that the list shown on that page will change as courses are added and removed, or reach capacity).

  2. Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) by emailing [email protected]. Please use 'Expression of interest’ in the subject field. You'll be contacted by our Youth Guarantee Coordinator within 7 working days.

Please note: As there are no guarantees you'll be entitled or eligible for Youth Guarantee, we encourage you to explore other funding options as well e.g. scholarships.

Student Loan Scheme/Allowances

  • An applicant MUST have reached 16 years of age and be under the age of 25 years by the first day of their chosen programme.
  • Youth Guarantee students are not eligible for any kind of loans or allowances from Studylink if you are 16-17 years old. (18-19 year olds may be able to access the Student Loan Scheme for living costs and Student Allowance, on a case-by-case basis) or allowances from Studylink if you are 16-17 years old. (18-19 year olds may be able to access the Student Loan Scheme for living costs and Student Allowance, on a case-by-case basis).

For information about whether you can get access to student loans (for costs other than the fees), please contact StudyLink.