Applying for an Overseas Study Assessment (for Inland Revenue)

Important notice for Overseas Study Assessment applicants 1 July, 2008 NZQA will only accept paper OSA applications from individuals until 1 August 2008. After that date all applications MUST be submitted online.

What is an Overseas Study Assessment?

This is an assessment of a completed or planned qualification outside New Zealand and is for the purpose of applying for exemption from paying interest on your NZ student loan during the period of study.

If you are studying, or intend to study, overseas at undergraduate or post-graduate level, and wish to apply for an interest-free student loan, you will need to provide Inland Revenue with confirmation from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority that your study is comparable to levels 7, 8, 9 or 10 of the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications under section 253(1)(c) of the Education Act 1989. If currently studying overseas, you will also need to provide evidence that you have been enrolled full-time in that course.

More detailed information on eligibility and the requirements for exemptions is available from IRD. You can view the Terms and Conditions (which is part of an Overseas Study Assessment application) and the Privacy statement.

How long will it take?

If all information requested in this application form is submitted correctly, an Overseas Study Assessment will be issued to you within 20 working days of confirmation of payment & submission of a correctly completed application. There is no fast track option available for this service.

How do I apply?

You apply by completing an online application form. You will be given a user id (i.e. login) with a password and you will be able to return to your application at any time (by logging in) in order to complete it.

You will be able to use the same login to follow the progress of your application once it has been submitted to NZQA. If you already have a NZQA login & password because you have made a previous assessment application, you should log in using those.

The downloadable application guide provides detailed instructions on how to complete the application

Start your Overseas Study Assessment application.

What does it cost and how do I pay?

The Overseas Study Assessment application fee is NZ$175.00.

Fee payment is last step of the online application and is made by credit or debit card (VISA or MasterCard). Once payment is made, the application form is then submitted to NZQA.

Page updated: 29 May 2008