StudyLink FAQs

You should apply for your student loan or student allowance at least two months before your study starts. This is to ensure that your loan is approved by the due date for your fees. 

For more information, please see Fees due date.

Should you apply at least two months before your study starts, your student loan application will take a minimum of four weeks to be approved and paid.

If you apply during StudyLink's busy period from mid-December to March, your application could take longer to be processed.

For more information about the processing time for your loan, please use StudyLink's contact us page.

If your student loan application is taking longer than four weeks, you should contact StudyLink directly.

If you have not heard anything from StudyLink, there is a strong possibility that something is causing a delay in the assessment of your application. You may need to provide additional information to support your application.

For more information about the processing time for your loan, please visit StudyLink's contact us page.

If you find yourself in a situation where your fees will be due for payment before your StudyLink loan has been approved, please visit Troubleshooting your student loan or allowance application.

If you are eligible for StudyLink funding and have applied for and had approved a StudyLink loan for the period of the outstanding fees, we will be advised by StudyLink that you have an active loan.

Once your loan application has been approved by StudyLink, they will issue you a Loan Entitlement Advice letter (LEA).

This will state your entitlements under the Student Loan Scheme and the date your fee payment will be released to the University.

Fees payments are normally made 10 days after the date the LEA letter is issued. The earliest payment will be released is 2 weeks before your study start date, as stated on your loan application.

You can also see when payments are due to be released through your RealMe login.

You do not need to do anything further at this time.

You will need to provide documents to support your student loan or allowance application before it can be finalised. For student allowances, this can include:

• Evidence of your own income
• If you are under 24, evidence of both your parents' incomes

If information that StudyLink require from you is missing, there will be delays in processing your application, and payment of your fees may not be made by the due date.

Please ensure you supply all of the required evidence such as, but not limited to:

• Your birth certificate
• Your IRD number
• Your Passport

More information is available on the StudyLink website Documents supporting your application.  

For more information regarding your student loan repayment obligations, please visit the Inland Revenue Student Loan website.