Student support

The government provides financial support to learners through student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme.

StudyLink, a service of the Ministry of Social Development, approves individual learners for entitlement to student allowances and student loans.

We are responsible for approving qualifications for learner access to this financial support. This includes reference to the loan entry threshold.

We also advise the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment on the long programmes of study for which TEOs seek extended learner access to student allowances.