Is the qualification value for money?
Choosing a career is exciting, and what you'll earn may not seem that important. But if you're running up student debt, then make sure your future job can afford to pay for it.
Know the value of your qualification
Putting a dollar value on your earning potential will help you determine if borrowing for your qualification is money well spent.
Doing a reality check doesn't mean you have to settle for a less interesting career, just try to keep things in perspective. Borrowing $100,000 to train for a career that tends to be poorly paid is not a good idea.
For more help, use our qualification value calculator to compare your potential earnings with the full cost of your loan.
How do you choose a course?
Before you enrol in a course, make sure it's one recognised by future employers. A good place to start is a course approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority but talk to those already in your chosen career. What do they think of the course? What sort of salary is potentially available to graduates?
The knowledge of people in the workforce is generally more objective and realistic than advice given by the training establishment itself.
If you want to get a student loan, make sure the Ministry of Education has approved the course before you enrol.
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