Universities NZ welcomes extension to student borrowing for long courses

Universities New Zealand has welcomed changes announced today that will remove funding barriers currently preventing some students from pursuing long courses of study in medicine, optometry, dentistry and veterinary science.

Chris Whelan, Executive Director of Universities New Zealand describes it as a sensible move.

“For example, it can take eight years of study to qualify as a surgeon, but eligibility for financial support currently runs out after seven years.  This change will allow these students to get that extra year of financial support.”

“In the past universities have had to support a number of these students through hardship funds.  It is great that funding will now be more readily available and students won’t need to worry about their ability to complete that final year of their qualification.”

“We welcome this initiative and encourage the Government to continue identifying ways of increasing access to qualifications for students from all social and economic backgrounds.”