Starting tertiary study or training for the first-time? You may be able to get Fees Free for the final year of the first provider-based qualification or work-based programme you complete.
When you enrol for your study or training, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost you may wish to apply for a Student Loan through StudyLink.
Final-year Fees Free
- Fees Free is available for eligible learners who complete their first provider-based qualification or work-based programme
- Fees Free covers the final year of study or two years of work-based training, up to $12,000
- Fees Free aims to motivate and reward learners for completing their qualification or programme, and reduce the overall cost of their study and learning
- Fees Free can only be used once.
For more information visit the Fees Free website, feesfree.govt.nz/final-year.
Eligibility for Fees Free
To get Fees Free on completion of your final year of study or training you must:
- complete a qualification or a programme eligible for Fees Free, and
- meet the residency criteria at the time you complete your qualification or programme, and
- meet the prior study and training criteria, and
- not have already used Fees Free.
You don’t need to do anything to confirm your eligibility until 2026. However, if you would like to check if you meet the residency and prior study and training criteria before you complete your qualification or programme, you can read the eligibility criteria on the Fees Free website, feesfree.govt.nz/final-year.
What do you need to do?
At enrolment:
- When you enrol for your study or training you will need to pay your fees. To help cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a Student Loan.
On completion:
- When you complete your first eligible qualification or work-based programme, you can confirm your eligibility and claim your Fees Free entitlement.
- You have one year to claim your entitlement.
- You will be able to do this through myIR from early 2026.
- If you have a Student Loan, your entitlement will go towards paying off your Student Loan. This will lower the amount you have borrowed. If you don’t have a Student Loan, the entitlement will be paid to a bank account you nominate.
IRD numbers
Your tertiary education organisation may request your IRD number. This will make it easier for you to claim your Fees Free entitlement after you complete your first eligible qualification or work-based programme.
You do not need to provide your IRD number if you have already used your Fees Free entitlement or you know your qualification/programme is not eligible for Fees Free.
Any personal information provided to us during enrolment will be subject to MIT’s privacy notice, available on the Te Pūkenga website.
Shorter qualifications
Keep in mind some shorter qualifications (like certificates) you complete before a degree or diploma may use your Fees Free entitlement.
Started studying or training before 2025?
The Government announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training finished at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy has replaced it, starting from 1 January 2025.
If you used Fees Free in 2024, you may be able to continue to use your remaining first-year entitlement in 2025 if you are continuing study or training towards the same qualification in 2025 as you were in 2024, and you have Fees Free entitlement remaining. For more information on the first-year Fees Free transition rules visit the Fees Free website, feesfree.govt.nz/end-of-first-year.
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