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Financial assistance for national secondary school qualifications
If you are a secondary school candidate and are entering standards on the National Qualifications Framework, and Scholarship you may be eligible for financial assistance. The purpose of this assistance is to ensure that fees are not a barrier to entering for qualifications for candidates in low to middle income families.
Note that financial assistance is not available to foreign fee paying candidates.
Eligibility for financial assistance
To be eligible for financial assistance the person applying (normally the parent or guardian of the candidate but may be the candidate themselves if they are a beneficiary) must be the fee payer and meet at least ONE of the following criteria:
- For a benefit-based application you must be receiving a Work and Income (WINZ) or Study Link benefit, or have a Community Services Card.
- For an income-based application you must be eligible for a Community Services Card (but do not currently have one).
- For a multiple candidate application you must have two or more children ( 2 ) taking these qualifications in the same year, regardless of your income.
How much will I need to pay?
| Beneficiary-based assistance |
Income-based assistance |
Not eligible for beneficiary or income-based assistance |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| One child who is a candidate | $20.00 |
$20.00 |
$75.00 for NQF standards and up to 3 Scholarship subjects (full fees) |
| Two or more children who are candidates | A maximum of $30.00 per family (1) |
A maximum of $30.00 per family (1) |
A maximum of $100.00 per child and $200.00 per fee payer (where fees are payable for more than one candidate) |
Most fee payers with two candidates entering for NQF standards this year are not eligible for multiple candidate financial assistance. The fee for most candidates will be $75.00 unless they:
- enter for more than three Scholarship subjects
- are international candidates
How do I apply for financial assistance?
| You will need to complete and submit an application using this form before September: |  |
 |
 |
The completed application must be sent to the first school you list on the form. Contact this school to find out when they require the completed form for processing. Schools must send all financial assistance application forms to NZQA by 13 September.
What are the income thresholds for entitlement to a Community Services Card?
Refer to Work and Income for up-to-date details.
Notes:
1 A family means caregiver(s) and children living together
2 This applies only if the total fees for a fee payer are greater than the $200 multiple-candidate maximum
Need more information?
If you need more information on how to apply for financial assistance please contact your school.
For more detailed information regarding fees see the Assessment and Certification Rules and Procedures for Secondary Schools, which includes information on supplementary fees.
Last updated: 27 September 2007