When to apply
You may need to apply for a US financial aid package each year.
You can apply any time but if you apply for financial aid for:
- Semester One, you get a decision in October
- Semester Two, you get a decision in late March to early April.
Application forms
Each year, everyone applying for US financial aid needs to fill in a:
- financial aid declaration
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
If you're a new student at Massey, you need to fill in the financial aid enquiry form as well.
US financial aid declaration
Fill in this form each year so we can understand your study plans and verify the information on your FAFSA.
US Financial Aid Declaration (PDF, 124 KB)
FAFSA form
Fill in this form each year using information from the previous US tax year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form helps us work out whether you qualify for federal aid and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
When you fill in your FAFSA, you need to give:
- Massey University (G13153) as your school
- your correct level of study – bachelor's degree or graduate degree, called postgraduate in New Zealand, or professional degree
- your correct year of study – for example, first year undergraduate.
You need to complete the right FAFSA for the year you plan to start studying at Massey. If you want to start in:
- Semester Two in 2023, complete the FAFSA 2023 to 2024
- Semester One in 2024, complete the FAFSA 2023 to 2024
- Semester Two in 2024, complete the FAFSA 2024 to 2025.
Complete a FAFSA at Federal Student Aid
Get help filling in FAFSA at Federal Student Aid
Learn about Expected Family Contribution at Federal Student Aid
Apply as a new Massey student
You can apply for federal aid before or after you apply to Massey University. You need to be admitted to Massey and complete the three application steps for federal aid before we send out a financial aid award letter.
1, Complete applications forms
2, Check your Student Aid Report
Federal Student Aid processes your FAFSA application and sends you a Student Aid Report. Check your information is correct and keep a copy.
3, Confirm your Offer of Place
Send your Offer of Place from Massey as soon as you can to the Senior Advisor – International Financial Aid, who is the financial aid administrator at Massey.
If you need an estimate of your financial aid before we send out award letters, contact the Senior Advisor – International Financial Aid.
Email A.Odom@massey.ac.nz
4, We do your financial aid package
Massey works out your financial aid package, which states:
- your Cost of Attendance
- the federal loans you qualify for
- the annual limit for each loan
- your Expected Family Contribution.
5, We send your award letter
If you have completed all the application steps, we send your award letter by email around three months before your first semester. Your award letter sets out your financial aid package.
6, Understand your award letter
Read your award letter carefully. Make sure you understand US financial aid and know what taking out a federal loan means.
7, Accept or refuse your financial aid
Accept or refuse the loan offer by email. You don't have to accept the full amount you're offered.
If you accept, sign the award letter and scan it.
If you want to accept a lower loan amount, make the changes on the award letter. Then sign the award letter and scan it.
Your signed award letter forms a legal contract between you and Massey University.
To accept federal aid, email us a signed and scanned copy of your award letter .
To decline federal aid, you need to email us.
Email A.Odom@massey.ac.nz
8, Complete your loan acceptance
After accepting federal aid, follow the steps in the email with your award letter.
Your financial aid is tailored to your situation so the steps you need to complete are also unique to you.
9, Use your award letter for a visa
You can use your award letter when you apply for a student visa.
All international students need to show Immigration New Zealand they can pay tuition fees and living costs while studying in New Zealand.
or, Use your Receipt of Payment for a visa
Apply for a visa when you have a Receipt of Payment from Massey. Download your Receipt of Payment from the Massey student portal.
10, We certify your financial aid
After you have completed your tasks on the Federal Student Aid website, we certify your financial aid with the Massey admissions office.
11, Get your Receipt of Payment
Download your Receipt of Payment from the Massey student portal. Your Receipt of Payment lets you enrol in your courses.
You can also use it as proof you can pay tuition fees and living costs when you apply to Immigration New Zealand for a student visa.
Financial aid usually covers tuition fees so you don't need to pay your fees. We pay your fees for you when we get your financial aid from the US Government.
Apply as a returning student
1, Enrol in your degree courses
Log in to the Massey student portal to enrol in courses for your degree.
2, Complete your application forms
Fill in your financial aid declaration and FAFSA form.
3, We work out your financial aid package
Massey works out your financial aid package, which sets out:
- your Cost of Attendance
- the federal loans you qualify for
- the most you can apply for this year for each type of loan
- your Expected Family Contribution.
4, We send an award letter
If you have completed the application steps, we send your award letter by email around three months before your first semester. Your award letter states your financial aid package.
5
Read your award letter carefully. Check the latest information about US financial aid so you understand what borrowing a federal loan means.
6, Accept or refuse your loan offer
Accept or refuse the loan offer by email. You can accept less than the full amount you're offered.
If you accept, sign the award letter and scan it.
If you want to accept a lower loan amount, make the changes on the award letter. Then sign the award letter and scan it.
Your signed award letter forms a legal contract between you and Massey University.
To accept federal aid, email us a signed and scanned copy of your award letter .
To decline federal aid, you need to email us.
Email A.Odom@massey.ac.nz
7, Complete your loan acceptance
Then follow the steps in the email with your award letter.
Your financial aid is tailored to your situation so the steps you need to complete are also unique to you.
8, We certify your financial aid
Once you've completed your loan application through Federal Student Aid, we certify your financial aid with the admissions office at Massey.
9, Apply for a student visa
Use your award letter when you apply to Immigration New Zealand to renew your student visa. You don’t get a Receipt of Payment from Massey as a returning student.
Your award letter proves to Immigration New Zealand that you can pay your tuition fees and living costs while studying in New Zealand.
Contact us for help
Email if you have any questions.
Amy Odom
Office location Student Registry Building, Room 1.38
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