Troubleshooting fees and loans

Find out how to solve problems with your tuition fees or student loan application—and get help if you're experiencing financial hardship.

Our Student Finance team are here to help you if:

  • You are having trouble navigating StudyLink requirements.
  • You aren’t sure how to finalise your student loan application.
  • You rely on StudyLink for your living costs but the money isn't coming through.

StudyLink processing times

January—March is an extremely busy time at StudyLink. They are processing tens of thousands of student loan and allowance applications for students throughout the country.

StudyLink recommends students start their loan and/or allowance application by 16 December of the prior year to allow enough time for processing. You do not need to be enrolled to study before starting your application.

If you submitted your application after this date, or if you have been delayed in providing StudyLink with any documentation they require, your application may not be finalised by the time you start your study.

This will mean that your tuition fees won't be paid on time, and you experience delays in receiving your weekly student loan living cost or student allowance payments.

If your application is not completed before you start study

It is important you action any requests from StudyLink promptly and accurately. Log in to MyStudyLink frequently to check your application status and to review any messages or letters StudyLink have sent you.

StudyLink have provided a guide to what each application status means.

Be proactive but also be prepared to wait; at peak times, it can take many weeks for StudyLink to process the documentation they have received. That is why it is important the documentation you submit is accurate and fulfils the requirements specified by StudyLink.

If you aren't sure what your next steps are, contact StudyLink directly, or contact our Student Finance team at student-finance@vuw.ac.nz for help.

If you are struggling with living costs while waiting for StudyLink to process your application, our Finance Advisers can provide emergency financial assistance and support. Email student-hardship@vuw.ac.nz or review our Hardship Fund information.

If your student loan is not approved by the time you start your study, you can still attend class while you wait for it to finish processing. Check your MyStudyLink daily for application updates and keep in contact with our Student Finance team, especially if you receive email reminders about unpaid fees.

Unpaid fees reminder

Students who have not paid their tuition fees by the fees due date (Friday prior to trimester 1 commencing) may receive an unpaid fees reminder email.

If you have experienced genuine or unexpected delays during your student loan application, you may be able to receive an extension before a late payment penalty is charged. Contact our Student Finance team with a short explanation of your circumstances.

If you have received the unpaid fee reminder email but think your student loan application is sorted, double check the following:

  • If you're paying your fees by student loan, go to your Application Details in the MyStudyLink portal. Make sure that you've answered 'yes' to the 'Pay Fees' question. There are different components to a student loan, and it may be that you haven't specified that you want to use your student loan to pay your tuition fees.
  • Check that you've applied for a student loan to pay your tuition fees. You may have had your application for a student allowance approved, but that will only give you a weekly payment for your living costs—it can't pay your tuition fees.

Financial wellbeing

Navigating the student loan process can be stressful, especially if it's your first time studying and if you've submitted your application a bit later than you planned to.

If you are feeling stressed or concerned about your fees or finances, there are people you can speak to:

  • Talk to a trusted friend or family member.
  • Talk to a friend or sibling who has already gone through the student loan process.
  • Our Student Fee Advisers can provide advice on your loan application progress and help with any questions about fees.
    • Email student-finance@vuw.ac.nz, call 0800 04 04 04, or visit the Fees counter, ground floor of the Hunter Building, Kelburn Campus.
  • Our Student Finance Advisers can meet with you one-on-one to discuss money management, budgeting, financial wellbeing and emergency financial assistance.
  • Counselling support is available through Mauri Ora—Student Health.
  • StudyLink Outreach support: a StudyLink outreach officer is based in the Work and Income office on Willis Street in Wellington and available for appointments.
    • Call 0800 88 99 00 or visit the office in-person at 195 Willis Street to make an appointment.