Application for Student Assistance Fund

If you are experiencing unexpected or significant financial hardship, and have no other means to pay course fees, we may provide limited funding to enable you to commence or continue your study. We understand that asking for support can be difficult. All applications are considered with care, fairness, and respect, aligned to the purpose and requirements of the fund.

You may be eligible to apply for Student Assistance if you:

Have submitted an application to enrol in one or more courses with Open Polytechnic
Are experiencing genuine financial hardship and currently have no other means to pay your course fees
Are 18 years or older, and a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, living in New Zealand for the duration of your enrolment
Are not currently receiving another scholarship
Priority is given to learners studying towards their first qualification.

Important: Funding is limited, and meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee support.

How to complete this form

Please answer all questions and provide clear, honest detail
Upload supporting evidence where requested
Incomplete applications or applications without evidence cannot be considered

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First Name(s)

Surname

Student Number

Home Address

Country

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Address

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Please explain why you want to study this programme and how it will support your future employment or career goals.

Describe any previous studies you have enrolled in with another education provider.

Explain the financial hardship you are currently experiencing and why you are applying for the Student Assistance Fund.

Explain why you currently have no other means to fund your study.

If financial support is approved (e.g. a discount on the fees for one or two courses), how do you intend to pay the fees for the rest of your studies in this programme?

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your personal situation that may support your application?

Supporting documents:

A recent bank statement from your everyday account.
An overview of your bank account balances.
Evidence that you have no other means to pay the course fees at this time.
This may be a letter of decline for support from StudyLink or MSD, a budget, or other evidence of financial hardship.
Other evidence

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Please note:

Applications will only be considered where a complete application is submitted with supporting evidence.
Applications will not be considered for debt for outstanding fees.
Where applicants do not make satisfactory progress with their courses after a reasonable period the enrolment may be cancelled and the Student Assistance withdrawn.

Declaration

I declare that I am not currently receiving any other academic grant or scholarship, and all details on the application are true and correct.

I understand and accept that:

My application will not be considered if all required documentation is not provided when submitting this application.

Funding is limited, and all decisions are final.

The personal information you provide on this application is protected by the Privacy Act 2020. It will not be used for any purpose other than assessing your eligibility for Student Assistance funding and for compiling statistics.