Information for parents, family and whanau

Leaving home to study

What are my child’s accommodation options?

If your child needs help with accommodation, many tertiary providers have an accommodation office to help your child find a suitable place to live.

There are several accommodation options to choose from:

Living with relatives

This option could be reasonably cheap, and you will be assured your child is living with people you know and trust. It’s best to agree up front whether your child will pay board, and if so, how much. Encourage your child to discuss the ground rules first, so they know what will be expected of them.

Living on campus

Living on campus may mean your child can save time and money getting to class. In fully-catered hostels, students pay for a room and shared bathroom facilities, with meals being provided by the hostel kitchen. Hostels and other forms of on-campus accommodation can be very sociable places, ideal for a first or second-year student making new friends. Spaces can be limited so your child will need to apply for a room well in advance.

Some campuses also have furnished, self-catered, managed apartments. These are usually only available to students in their second year or above.

Private boarding

This is where a family with a spare room in their home offers board to students. Full board usually means all meals are provided. Part board, usually the less pricey option, means some or no meals are provided. Depending on the family’s arrangement, students may or may not be expected to do their own laundry and help around the house. Your child can discuss this with the family before moving in. This can be a good transition for a first-year student who prefers a family-like environment.

Privately run hostel

These are usually located close to the campus, and often run by church or other community groups. They often have a more communal approach, with some shared chores, shared bathrooms and living spaces. These hostels could also have stricter rules than other hostels, so it might pay to check out what these are and how they will suit your child.

Going flatting

Your child will have a choice to either join an established flat or set up one of their own. Setting up their own flat might mean they could be the head tenant, responsible for finding flatmates, and organising electricity and phone accounts. This can be a lot for a first-year student to think about. Remember also that if your child is under 18, many landlords will not allow them to sign a rental agreement.

It can sometimes be easier for a first-year student to move into an established flat rather than set up one of their own. Joining an established flat means your child will share a house and split the rent with others. The group will decide how to divide up expenses.

Living alone

Living alone in a flat, bedsit or studio can be quite expensive, but a good option if your child values their privacy and independence. A place that is attached to or on the same property as a bigger house might be ideal if your child also prefers the security of neighbours close by.

Studylink website – find out if your child is eligible for an accommodation benefit

What are the costs of leaving home to study?

: Living costs are the biggest expense for students living away from home

There are three main costs to think about when leaving home to study:

Living costs

Living costs are estimated at between $14,000 - $17,000 a year (based on living in a student flat or hostel in a New Zealand city).

Your child may borrow up to $150 a week for living costs as part of a student loan. They could also be entitled to a student allowance if your income is under a certain amount. If your child is eligible for a student allowance, they may also apply for an accommodation benefit which is additional to the student allowance.

Course fees

Course fees range from $4,000 to $11,000 a year depending on the course of study. Your child could apply for a student loan to help with this cost. Fees are paid directly to the tertiary provider.

Course-related costs

These are costs for things like textbooks, stationery, tools and equipment. Some courses require more expensive equipment than others. As part of their student loan, your child may borrow up to $1,000 a year to help cover course-related costs. They will need to present StudyLink with written quotes for the items they require, and receive the money in cash to purchase the equipment.

Are they ready to leave home?

Only you will know if your child has the skills to manage away from home. Here are some examples of skills they will need:

: Before you throw out old furniture - could it be used in a student flat?

Cooking skills – Can they cook a meal for themselves and for a group? This will help them stay healthy and save money.

Social skills – Do they make friends easily? Could they get along in a group flatting situation?
Budgeting skills – Can they manage their own money? Can they say ‘no’ to things they can’t afford? Are they resourceful enough to acquire what they need?
Personal safety skills – Do they have common sense when it comes to keeping themselves safe?

Study or work skills – How well do they manage time, deadlines and pressure? Can they prioritise their tasks?
Self-care skills – Do they know their own limits, and how to cheer themselves up if they get down?
Navigation skills – Can they find their way around in a new place?
Housekeeping skills – Do they know how to do their own laundry? Can they clean up after themselves?

Remember, if they haven’t yet mastered some of these skills, they will learn as they go!

How can I prepare my child for leaving home?

Here are some things that may be helpful to do before the big day arrives:

: A phone call from home can help them with adjusting to a new place

Encourage them to develop the skills they need to manage away from home. But don’t worry if you haven’t covered everything.

Visit the city they are moving to beforehand so they are familiar with it and know their way around.
Set aside any second-hand furniture (eg bed, dresser, desk, chair, sofa). This can be handy if they need to furnish a room or flat.
Make sure they know how they will get around. If there is no suitable public transport in the city, talk to them about getting a bike or car; help them get their driver’s licence if necessary.

Show encouragement and support. Talk about the move to a new place. What are they looking forward to? Help them focus on the positives. What are they hesitant about? Talk about what they could do in that situation.
Keep in contact. Make sure they know your home telephone number or mobile number. Some parents set up an 0800 number so their child doesn’t have to make a toll call home.
Plan to visit. If your child knows you are visiting soon they have something to look forward to if they get homesick.
Get a course calendar so you are up to date with holidays, study breaks, exam weeks and other important dates for your child.
Go hunting for accommodation together. Check out the place they are going to move into. Help them out on moving day.
Help them to get home occasionally. If you can afford it, pay for all or part of their plane, bus or train ticket home. A home-cooked meal can be welcome during the winter months.
Talk about the possibility of holiday work as a way of earning and saving money. Make sure that study remains a priority for them, however.

What if they struggle with being away from home?

Sometimes there are unforeseen things that your child may struggle with once they move away from home. Before they decide to give up and move back home, here's some things you can do:

Talk through what they’re struggling with and see how you might be able to help.
Encourage them to talk to friends who have also moved away from home, or to make use of free support services on campus like counselling. This can be a good place to get immediate help.
If you have friends and family in the area, ask them for support. A familiar face can make a big difference.

Struggling with your study - case studies