Who is StudyLink?
Are you Eligible for Assistance from StudyLink?
What will Student Loan pay?
Who do I contact?
Who is StudyLink?
StudyLink is a service provided by the Ministry of Social Development who manage all applications and payments for Student Loans and Allowances.
Website: www.studylink.govt.nz, or
Phone: 0800 889900
Are you eligible for assistance from StudyLink?
If you’re enrolled in a full year programme with 0.8000 EFTS or greater, you’ll be considered a full time student. If your programme is for one semester, then you will need to be enrolled in a course of study with 0.4000 EFTS or greater to be considered full-time. You should check your eligibility for loans and/or allowances with StudyLink.
Postgraduate students enrolled in a dissertation (at either Honours or Masters level), should check eligibility for loans and allowances with both Lincoln University and StudyLink if the submission date (according to the House Rules and/or Lincoln University calendar) is after the published semester end date.
There are also some circumstances when research students may NOT be eligible for allowances or the living component of the student loan. It is important that you discuss your enrolment with both Lincoln University and StudyLink before you start your study to ensure you fully understand you eligibility for financial assistance.
Examples of students who should seek advice prior to enrolment include:
- Students who start their research after March 1 (full or part time)
- Students who suspend their research
- Students who take an extended break between their taught studies and research within the same academic year (e.g. finish taught courses at the end of Semester 1 but do not start research until August).
It is expected that research students apply to StudyLink for their loan/allowance when enrolling for their last year and before handing in their thesis.
What will student loan pay?
Student Loans will pay for compulsory tuition related course costs, for example tuition fees, practical work fees, student services levies. The student loan will NOT cover other charges like late fees, service fees and fines.
Who do I contact?
For all questions relating to loan and allowance applications you must contact StudyLink.
If you select the Student Loan payment option when you register the Student Finance staff at Lincoln will expect that you have applied or are in the process of applying to StudyLink to pay your fees. Lincoln and StudyLink then communicate electronically to confirm your enrolment and your fees are paid. If your student loan is declined then you are responsible for ensuring that your fees are paid.
If you are eligible for a loan, you may use it to pay all or part of your fees. Important points to note are:
- Indicate on the application form that the loan is to pay course fees.
- Provide all the necessary supporting documentation (verified by a JP or Student Finance staff) to StudyLink for the loan to be approved.
- Any changes to courses or programme may impact on loan/ allowance eligibility.
Staff at Lincoln are able to assist you with some Student Loan and Allowance questions and issues. A dedicated computer and phone for contacting StudyLink and making applications are also available in Student Administration, located on the ground floor of the George Forbes Memorial buiding.
If you need information or assistance about Student Loans and allowances from staff at Lincoln then please contact Student Finance, 03 325 2811 extn 8523, or email studentfinance@lincoln.ac.nz.