If you're keen to do some more specialised learning to help you get the job you want once you've left school, your secondary school may already have been helping you with information about what's available.
The good news is that with the right support, it's perfectly possible for you to achieve your education goals. Check out these short videos about the experiences of some FASD-CAN members with FASD who have tried tertiary education.
There are plenty of helpful people out there who know it's going to be a bit harder for you to move towards your goals, and who are keen to support you. This will no doubt include your parents or caregivers – even the government of NZ is ready to help you into further education!
You can choose from lots of different study and training options. You can choose whether you want to learn on the job in an apprenticeship, at home (online), or on campus (in classes with others).
Click here to find out more about all options on the NZQA website.
Types of tertiary education
If you want to attend tertiary education or a training program after high school (often called secondary school since primary school is the first school you go to), there are six main options. All of these are called Tertiary Education Providers together (TEPs).
- Apprenticeships – this is where you learn as you work. Click here to go to the Careers NZ website where you can find out all you need to know about apprenticeships.
- Polytechnics – these are colleges that offer technical and job training. Click here to find out all about what’s available across AoNZ.
- Wānanga – these are Māori tertiary institutions that offer a variety of programs. There are three tertiary main wānanga in AoNZ which provide quality education using tikanga Māori ways of teaching and learning, contributing to the survival and wellbeing of Māori as a people. Click here to find out more.
- Universities – these offer traditional university degrees. We have eight world-class universities across AoNZ – seven of them offer a broad range of degrees, Lincoln University is mostly about agriculture – click here to find out more.
- Private Training Establishments (PTEs) – these are privately-run educational and training schools where you can learn specialised things like hairdressing, massage, performing arts, deep sea fishing or even learning to fly a plane! There are over 400 PTEs in AoNZ – click here to find out more.
- Microcredentials – these are shorter courses usually for quite specific jobs. They are often offered by most of the above TEPs, and sometimes credits gained can be counted towards a degree or further study. Click here to find out more.
Choosing where to study
Find a TEP that has courses you are interested in applying for – your decision will probably be linked to where you live as you will almost certainly need the support of your whānau or caregiver!Ask a trusted adult to help you find one that may:
- be cheaper than others (or free)
- be closer to where you live, or
- have smaller classes to help you achieve your study goal.
Applying for a course
1. Find the course application closing date: You must send or submit all forms and supporting documents by this date.
2. Gather your documents at least a month before the closing date:
- Birth certificate or passport: You'll need proof of your identity.
- IRD number: You’ll need this for a student loan if you get one.
- RealMe login: If you want to study at a TEP, you’ll need a RealMe® login for study link, applying to tertiary education providers, setting up a bank account and other things (find out more about RealMe® on our Identification, checks and licences page.)
- Leaving certificate: This is a document from your high school that shows you've finished your studies. Call your school office and ask them to prepare one for you.
- Family Court guardianship orders (if required). If you’re not in your birth parents’ care and are under 18, you'll need this document.
3. Get your documents certified if necessary: This means having a Justice of the Peace (JP) sign them to confirm they are genuine. A JP in AoNZ is a community member appointed by the Courts to provide document-related services to their community. JPs are volunteers who are unpaid. Click here to find a JP living near you.
4. Scan or take photos of your certified documents: This will allow you to easily attach them to online applications.
TOP TIP! Once you have assembled all your important documents, make copies of them and keep them all together in a special folder. This will be helpful for all kinds of future applications – and for life in general!
Once the TEP accepts your application, the provider will send you an email (this may take up to 5 days). They will give you a new student number. This is not the same as your secondary school student number. When you have finished with that number, you’ll get a new one from your course provider. Keep this new student number safe and accessible!
Study support
Learning support and general help
You may need a trusted adult to support you to talk to your provider about any support you need to reach your study goals. TEPs have some good learning support centres and teams to help anyone with a neurodiversity such as FASD, or a disability of any kind.
See the tab below for links to the disability support pages and email addresses for all the Universities and Polytechs in AoNZ.
Financial support
If you need money to pay for your fees to attend the course, or if you need a student allowance to help you live and pay your boarding or rent, food and bills each week, then StudyLink may be able to help.
Applying for StudyLink – first, go online and see if you meet their requirements (this depends on how much money your parents earn). Funds for accommodation may be requested at the same time. StudyLink will also ask for your RealMe® identity and your new course student number.
They will then send you some papers with a list of documents they need from you. You can post the copies signed by the JP or upload them online using the Connect with StudyLink document delivery service. StudyLink will confirm they are processing your application by email.
Click here to go to the StudyLink website.
More resources
• Click here to go to the Careers NZ website to find out more about what study costs and how to fund it in AoNZ.
• Click here to find an easy-read resource about the support you might need in tertiary education – it’s for students who are neurodiverse, disabled or need other learning support.