Have you started your application to study at AUT or are thinking about applying to join us in the future? This page has answers to some of the most frequently asked questions around applying to AUT and the application process.
To follow the progress of your application simply log into Arion (AUT's student system) using your AUT student ID and password.
What you need to log into Arion:
Keep your student ID and password at hand, so you can log into Arion and follow the instructions you receive from the admissions team as you go through the application process.
Click the link below and enter your AUT student ID and password.
If you've forgotten your login details and need to reset your Arion password, click the link below and enter your AUT student ID. Follow the instructions to have your new password emailed to you.
You can check all your official communications about your application (s) from AUT in Arion. This might be easier than searching in your email inbox for updates from us.
To view your correspondence:
Want to change your programme preferences for your application to study at AUT? Follow these simple steps:
Already submitted an application but changed your mind? Don't worry; you can still apply for a different programme. Follow these steps:
Your AUT student ID number is a unique identifier sent to you once you have applied to AUT. Check your email inbox for emails from AUT. Your AUT student ID number is usually placed at the top of the document attached to your email.
You can log into Arion, AUT’s student management system, using your AUT student ID number and password.
You can view correspondence from AUT and check the progress of your application.
You will receive your AUT network login in the Orientation invite email that will arrive approximately four weeks before semester starts.
You use your network login to access the learning and support systems you need while studying, including:
If you're logging in for the first time, your password will be the two-digit day of your birthday, followed by the first three letters of your birth month. For example if you were born on the first of January, then your password will be 01jan (all lowercase).
You must register your IT account after your first login.
AUT classes are taught in English. If English, Māori or NZ Sign Language is not your first language, we need to assess your level of English to ensure you can succeed in your programme.
If you are an international student, we may ask you to provide an IELTS result to ensure that you can study successfully.
As you progress through your online application in Arion, you will be asked to supply supporting documents. These supporting documents are required to provide proof of ID or previous qualifications, for example.
All applications to study at AUT require:
AUT accepts your certified academic credentials from some online verification platforms. This is an effective way to streamline your application to AUT.
You may be asked to provide documentation as proof of your identity (passport or birth certificate) or proof of your previous study (academic transcript).
To supply documents:
See below for options to certify your document. You must take the original document(s) and the copy to any of below so it can be checked.
See below for options to certify your document.
A certified copy certified as true and correct by:
Scan your document and save it as a PDF file. It's a good idea to name your file as the type of document you are uploading, for example yourname-passport.pdf for your passport or yourname-transcript-collegename for your transcript.
To upload your document:
You can check on Arion if your document has uploaded successfully:
During the online application process, you can only upload ONE document. When you have multiple documents to upload it's easier to upload these through Arion. Save your documents as PDF s before uploading.
It's a good idea to name your file as the type of document you are uploading, for example yourname-passport.pdf for your passport or yourname-transcript-collegename for your transcript.
To upload your documents in Arion:
You can add up to 5 documents under each document type.
Things can change. If you've received an Offer of Place but this isn’t the right time for you to study, you can postpone your study to a later intake.
To defer your studies to a later intake:
To defer your studies to a later intake:
If you have received an Offer of Place to study at AUT, you can accept your offer immediately. Accepting your offer indicates your intention to come to AUT but you aren’t liable for any payment of fees at this stage.
Once you choose 'Accept', this option will disappear and will be replaced with 'Withdraw'. This is an option that remains available for two weeks after the semester starts.
After this time, the 'Withdraw' option will disappear. You then see 'No Action Required'.
If you have an Offer of Place for a double degree, you can accept only one Offer of Place online in Arion (see instructions above).
To accept your second Offer of Place:
Don't try to accept the second offer online in Arion - the system will withdraw you from the programme you have already accepted an offer for.
Follow these steps to decline your offer:
If you have a second Offer of Place that you prefer to accept, you decline your current offer and accept the offer for your preferred programme. To do this:
Your photo is required so that we can create an AUT student ID card for you. Before you start the upload process it's important to make sure that your photo is the correct filetype.
We can't accept:
If you have an iPhone or iPad, your photos are probably being saved as HEIC or HEIF file formats, which is an Apple format. Check the Info about the photo to make sure it is not an HEIC or HEIF files before you upload.
If your photo is one of these formats you have two options:
You can change your save photos settings on your iPhone to JPEG by going to:
Revert to the previous settings after taking your photo/s.
You don’t need to use a third-party provider to convert your photo to JPEG. There are two easy ways to convert.
To upload your photo:
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is credit granted towards your AUT programme from previous tertiary studies or through life or work experience.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
Once you have completed the application process and accepted your Offer of Place, you can apply for recognition of prior learning. There may be fees associated with RPL.
You will be asked to provide proof of your previous studies during the application process. The communication from AUT will let you know what is required.
The easiest way to find how much your programme of interest will cost to study is to check the highlight box on the programme page of the website. Two types of fees are shown:
The amounts shown give you an indication of the fees you will need to pay. The amounts are shown for domestic and international students.
The amount provides an estimate for the range of costs associated with full-time study as a domestic student, based on estimates from the course selection of previous student enrolments within each qualification. This is an estimation assuming full-time study (120 points), unless otherwise indicated.
Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
Each year you will be invoiced for the year’s courses you're enrolling into, as well as the annual Student Levy.
Fees are subject to change year to year. If you’re planning study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated. All fees are in New Zealand dollars and include GST.
Domestic student fees are subsidised by the New Zealand Government which is why they are less than international student fees.
In addition to the fee information on the programme pages on the website you can find a full list of the fees you need to pay as an international student at AUT in the link below:
The list provides an estimate for the range of costs associated with full-time study as an international student, based on estimates from the course selection of previous student enrolments within each qualification. This is an estimation assuming full-time study (120 points), unless otherwise indicated.
All fees are in New Zealand dollars and include GST. Fees are subject to change year to year. If you’re planning to study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
Domestic student fees are subsidised by the New Zealand Government, which is why they are less than international student fees.
Study Abroad fees are different from programme fees as students can choose single courses from multiple programmes.
The Study Abroad fee is a flat rate which is set each year.
All international students enrolled at AUT must hold an acceptable insurance policy as a condition of their study visa for the period of enrolment until the expiry of their student visa. Your policy must meet the requirements outlined in The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).
The Compulsory Student Services Fee (or Student Services Levy) is added to your tuition fee and must be paid at the same time. The Student Services fee contributes to funding student services, student association activities (AUTSA), and other facilities that students use. All the money collected for the student services levy can only be used for the benefit of students.
Some courses may charge additional fees for materials, equipment or field trips where applicable. If there is a charge it will be shown on your invoice.
Your fees are due once you receive your Invoice from AUT. The timing of this will differ for international students or domestic students.
All AUT students must pay their fees in full by the due date on their fees invoice. AUT does not accept instalment payments. You need to pay your fees in full as early as possible.
If we don't receive payment of the overdue amount the following outcome may occur:
All domestic students will have their fees calculated on an enrolment invoice with indicative payment due dates, based on the number of courses they have enrolled in.
New international students are required to pay, in full, the amount detailed in their Offer of Place prior to commencing study at AUT. In the first year this will be the annual cost of the programme.
All returning international students will have their fees calculated on an enrolment invoice with indicative payment due dates, based on the number of courses they have enrolled in. All returning international students will need to pay one-year fees to renew their Student Visa, unless they have one semester left to complete their qualification.
Paying by instalments is not an option.
All students are required to pay the fees detailed on their enrolment invoice by the due date. Failure to do so will result in the university debtor management processes commencing ,which will include withdrawal of services. Continued non-payment of fees may result in any subsequent re-enrolment being disallowed.
Part payments, for example the first semester up front and the rest of the year in instalments is not an option.
All domestic and returning international students have a specified due date of payment on their enrolment invoice.
If your tuition fees are sponsored by an external scholarship, trust fund, employer or other third party, you should send them your fees statement/invoice.
If your sponsor would like a tax invoice in the organisation's name, they will need to provide a purchase order number or a financial guarantee letter. We will need the following information from your sponsor:
If your sponsor is unable to provide the information for the tax invoice, your fees statement/invoice will be addressed to you (student) and you are responsible for ensuring your fees are paid by the due date.
If you are sponsored by foreign governments/organisations, you need to provide AUT with a copy of the financial guarantee prior to the start of the programme. Please ensure that the financial guarantee always covers your full period of study.
Email your financial guarantee to feesandenrolments@aut.ac.nz
If your Offer of Place was issued with the estimated fees for the current year, then you will be notified when the new fees for your academic year are confirmed. At this stage you can request a new Offer of Place with the updated fees. You will be re-issued a new Offer of Place to accept with the new fees outlined in the offer.
There will be a deadline to pay your fees stated in the letter or advice to pay immediately. This is to ensure there is enough time for you to process your visa to be able to start at your preferred semester. You may have already paid your fees in which case these will be credited against the new fees and if there is a balance still owing you will be advised.
At this point you can also defer your offer if you are not ready to study.
If you're a domestic student and you have not undertaken tertiary study of more than 60 credits, you may be eligible for fees-free study.
To check if you’re eligible, visit the Tertiary Education Commission’s Fees Free website and enter your National Student Number (NSN), or read the full eligibility criteria. The site describes what to do if you don’t have an NSN.
If you're a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may qualify for a student loan or allowance to help pay for course-related costs or living expenses while you're studying.
If you're applying for a student loan for course fees, check if you can get fees-free study
If you can get fees-free study, you may not need a student loan for your course fees. However, you'll still need to apply for a student loan if you want course-related costs or living costs.
Your student loan application will take at least four weeks to be approved and paid. Apply for your student loan or student allowance at least two months before your study starts. You can apply for a student loan even before you have decided where or what you want to study. You can update these details when you decide.
You need a RealMe login to apply online and access MyStudyLink. RealMe login is a secure service used by many government agencies and other organisations. It gives you a single login to multiple online services, and if you upgrade to a RealMe verified identity, it also works as your online ID.
You may already have a RealMe account if you have used another government service.
Keep your RealMe details up to date so you can easily recover your username or password if you need to.
As soon as you have accepted your loan, StudyLink will contact AUT to request details of your course of study, and AUT will confirm your details with StudyLink to allow payment of fees directly to AUT.
If you're applying for living costs, course-related costs or a student allowance, but paying tuition fees yourself, AUT will only confirm with StudyLink on your study details after all your fees are paid.
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