Study overseas
Tertiary students who meet all the eligibility and entitlement requirements and are studying overseas as part of their approved programme in New Zealand, can access Student Loans.
Study at an overseas campus or delivery site
For study starting on or after 1 January 2017, tertiary students who are studying at an overseas campus or delivery site must be:
- studying part of their course of study or programme overseas
- studying in an approved specified country
- enrolled in intramural (face to face) study
- enrolled in a course of study or programme level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework
An overseas campus or delivery site is where a New Zealand tertiary education provider delivers, or has an agreement with another institution to deliver, their recognised course(s) of study overseas.
For more information see:
Residence class visa holders
Tertiary students who hold a residence class visa, and are studying overseas, must be enrolled in face to face study, and only be studying in a country they are not familiar with (from 1 January 2017).
'Not familiar with' means the student:
- has never been to that country or
- has been to that country but has spent less than 6 months in total in the 5 years before the date on which their overseas study begins
The above rules for residence class visa holders also apply to tertiary students studying overseas who are a refugee or protected person, hold a valid temporary entry class visa under the Immigration Act 2009 and whose study started on or after 1 May 2022.
Immediate family member of refugee or protected person
A student who is an immediate family member of a refugee or protected person, and who holds a temporary entry visa, is not eligible to get a Student Loan for study overseas.
This is because they must reside (be present) in New Zealand to meet the residency criteria for Student Loan.
