Fees Free

From 2025, Fees Free will cover the final year of study or training for the first provider-based qualification or work-based programme an eligible student completes. Unlike first-year Fees Free, students don’t need to confirm their eligibility until after they complete their first eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme. 

When students complete their provider-based qualification or work-based programme, they will be able to claim their Fees Free entitlement by logging onto myIR on Inland Revenue’s website. This will be available from 2026. The student’s Fees Free entitlement will then be paid against their student loan if they have one or, if not, it will be paid to the bank account the student provides in their application.

Students will need to organise payment of their fees

When enrolling students will need to organise payment of their fees with their tertiary education organisation. The student may wish to apply for a Student Loan to help them cover the fees.

Student Loan – StudyLink

What study costs and how to fund it – careers.govt.nz

Qualifications and programmes eligible for Fees Free

Provider- and work-based study or training at Levels 3 and above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) are eligible for Fees Free.

Some qualifications are excluded from final-year Fees Free, such as secondary tertiary programmes such as STAR and Gateway, certificates of proficiency, and pathway qualifications like UniPrep. 

For the full criteria, visit Qualification and programme eligibility – final-year Fees Free | Tertiary Education Commission.

Training Incentive Allowance (TIA)

Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) supports sole parents on benefits, as well as disabled people and carers getting Supported Living Payment to study courses at levels 1-7 on the NZQCF. 

Ministry of Social Development will be supporting learners to consider their options, including for their final year of study or training.

To learn more, visit Training Incentive Allowance – Work and Income.

How will final-year Fees Free be delivered

The Ministry of Education leads the policy work for final-year Fees Free. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and Inland Revenue, with support from the Ministry of Social Development, lead the implementation work.

The TEC will continue to support students through their customer service channels for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025. Students can also access information on the Fees Free website, www.feesfree.govt.nz.

For more information visit, Implementation – final-year Fees Free | Tertiary Education Commission.

Keep up to date with the latest Fees Free information

The Tertiary Education Commission regularly updates information on the Fees Free and TEC websites as decisions are made on the final-year Fees Free scheme and its implementation.  

Tips

• The best source for final-year Fees Free information for you is Final-year Fees Free | Tertiary Education Commission

• Subscribe to receive notifications when new final-year Fees Free information is published to the TEC website. Simply go to Subscribe to notifications | Tertiary Education Commission and complete the form selecting ‘Fees Free’ from the Fund options.

Read full post on CareerWise >