Scholarship Defaults and Repayment

Repayment of your TeachNZ Scholarship Information and Process Quick Guide

Terms
TeachNZ (TNZ)
Ministry of Education (MOE)
Ministry of Social Development (MSD)
Writing (email or letter posted to the contact details we hold on file)

If you signed your terms and conditions prior to 1 July 2006, you are considered to be a Ministry of Education (MOE) debtor for repayment. Those who signed after this date are considered a Ministry of Social Development (MSD) debtor for repayment.

When you will need to repay your scholarship

You are liable to repay all or part of the funds (fees and allowances) received during your TeachNZ (TNZ) scholarship if you;

• have failed over 50% of your studies in the academic year.
• have postponed your studies over one year.
• withdraw from the scholarship.
• do not complete the required amount of teaching as per your obligations.

Default: As per the terms and conditions you agreed to and signed upon taking up the scholarship, if you do not meet the stated requirements, you will be required to repay all or part of the funds awarded to you. Depending on the exact date you signed your agreement, you must either settle your debt through the Ministry of Education Finance Unit or StudyLink/IRD as a student loan.

Repayment: If you fall into default of the terms and conditions while in study, you shall be liable to repay all funds received during the scholarship (fees and allowances). If you fall into default during your bond period, depending on the amount of teaching that you have evidenced, you will be liable to repay all or a percentage (as per your terms and conditions) of the total funds received during the scholarship.

If you wish to have a copy of or know the year you signed your terms and conditions, please contact us.

The process to repay your TNZ scholarship is set out below.

All amounts are verified by StudyLink before TNZ makes contact regarding the exact amounts in writing for repayment.

MOE repayment process

• TNZ will contact you in writing with a minimum of two letters via post to advise over the repayment.
• A form will be enclosed with the repayment letter to be signed and returned to TNZ confirming you agree with the amounts to repay.
• If you do not agree with the amounts, you must contact TNZ to discuss.
• Once the form is signed and returned to TNZ, an invoice is raised for the repayment through the Ministry of Educations Finance Unit.
• The amount for repayment is then transferred to the finance team, who will be in contact to confirm the amounts and set up a repayment schedule.
• Your TNZ scholarship is then closed and you are not eligible to apply for another as you may only ever have one TNZ scholarship.

MSD repayment process

• TNZ will contact you in writing with a minimum of three letters via post to advise over the repayment.
• A form will be enclosed with the repayment letter to be signed and returned to TNZ confirming you agree with the amounts to repay.
• If you do not agree with the amounts, you must contact TNZ to discuss.
• Once the form is signed and returned to TNZ, the process is started to transfer the amount for repayment to StudyLink (MSD/IRD) as a student loan.
• Should you already hold a student loan, it will be added to; if not, one shall be created for you.
• Your TNZ scholarship is then closed and you are not eligible to apply for another as you may only ever have one TNZ scholarship.
• Once a debt is transferred, it cannot be returned to TeachNZ.

If you do not sign the form agreeing to the amounts for repayment and have been sent the two/three letters, TNZ will contact you in writing (email/post) to advise we shall be seeking manager approval to sign off your debt for transfer for repayment. 

Once approval is given, we shall advise in writing your debt has been transferred to either the MOE finance unit or MSD, and your scholarship will be closed.

Note: If you have experienced exceptional or mitigating circumstances which have made it necessary to cease your studies or teaching, you must contact TNZ to discuss your scholarship prior to any debt being transferred.

Bonding period repayment percentages

If you do not complete the required amount of teaching, the table below outlines the repayment percentages based on how much teaching you have evidenced.

2005 - 2007

2008 - 2009

2010

2011

2012 - 2019

Need help?

Remember, we're here to help. If you have any questions, you can email us on teachnz.admin@education.govt.nz or call us during business hours on 0800 165 225.