use the link below for all you need to know
As you gear up for a life after high school, it soon becomes clear just how big a part money plays in this next stage of your life.
You are going to be working for it, using it to pay for your studies, using it to have somewhere to live and to eat regularly, funding your gap year with it or buying a car.
It is likely you will need to get a student loan to help pay for your course.
For potential students, living costs is another huge consideration. The cost of a year in a hostel, costs for books and other study materials, the price of your entertainment and fun – it all adds up. A student allowance might be useful here and the beauty of these is that they don’t need to be paid back like the student loans do.
Use this excellent budget calculator from Sorted
Work out exactly where your money goes
If you are heading straight to work or to start an apprenticeship and are earning money, great. Be aware though that you are going to need to pay tax on what you earn, and if you are earning, join Kiwisaver. It’s a smart move.
You need to get your finances sorted early in order to prepare yourself for a successful start to your tertiary study. You can apply to Study Link well ahead of time but you can go to their link to find out more, or you can ring the StudyLink Hot Line on:
0800 88 99 00
First time students should go here to find out what information you need to gather before you even apply to Study Link. You need to create a RealMe login (so you can prove who you are without paper). To find more information and how to manage your RealMe, this link will help.
Once you have the documentation and the RealMe identity, you will be ready to login at Study Link and go through the steps to apply for financial help.
Obtain an IRD Number Early:
If you are applying for next year you should do this well before the start of the academic year as it takes time to process all applications for NZ if they arrive at once. You will need to have an IRD number for all applications. To apply for an IRD number you can do it online by filling out an IR595 or call them on 0800 377 778.