The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free scheme will replace it, starting from January 2025 with the following parameters:
- Learners entering their final year of study or training from 1 January 2025 and who have not received first-year Fees Free may be eligible for the new final-year Fees Free scheme.
- Eligibility will include provider- and work-based study or training at Levels 3 and above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework.
- Repayment will be made after the learner completes their qualification, with refunds starting from 2026.
We are working through detailed policy design and implementation for the final-year Fees Free scheme. Once decisions are made, we will update this information.
First-year Fees Free will continue to operate until 31 December 2025 under the transition settings below.
End of first-year Fees Free policy
The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study and training will finish at the end of 2024. It will be replaced by a final-year Fees Free scheme.
Learners who have already used Fees Free in their first year of study or training won’t be able to access Fees Free under the new final-year policy. However, from now until the end of 2025, first-year Fees Free will operate under ‘first-year transition rules’. We explain below.
First-year Fees Free transition rules
If you used Fees Free in 2024, you may be able to continue to use your remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement in 2025 if you:
- are continuing in the same programme of study in 2025, and
- have Fees Free entitlement remaining.
You will be able to access your entitlement until the end of 2025, or until you reach your 24-month (work-based learning), one EFTS (120 credits), or up to $12,000 (including GST) cap, whichever occurs first.
If you have remaining entitlement you will not be able to access Fees Free in the future if you:
- did not use Fees Free in 2024, or
- used Fees Free in 2024 but are not continuing in the same programme of study in 2025.
Learners who still need to declare their eligibility for 2024
If you studied or trained in 2024 and met the eligibility criteria for Fees Free in 2024, you have 12 calendar months from the start date of your first course or programme to submit your statutory declaration to receive Fees Free for your 2024 study and any continuation of the programme in 2025.
If you do not declare your eligibility for your 2024 study and training within this time, Fees Free will not cover your study or training. Also, you will not be able to access Fees Free in your final year.
Check your eligibility for Fees Free in 2024 by entering your NSN on the Fees Free website homepage.
If you need assistance checking your eligibility for Fees Free for your 2024 studies, contact us.
Provider-based courses that continue across years
Fees Free will cover your fees for provider-based courses that start in 2024 and end in 2025. You will need to organise payment for any fees if:
- you study or train in a different programme in 2025, or
- you have already used one EFTS (120 credits) or $12,000 of Fees Free entitlement, or
- you continue studying in 2026.
Work-based programmes that continue beyond 2025
If you’re enrolled in work-based learning in 2024 and you’re continuing in the same programme into 2025, Fees Free will cover your fees up to the end of 2025 only (within your remaining 24-month, one EFTS and $12,000 entitlement). Your tertiary education organisation may charge you fees for your training after this.
Questions?
Take a look at the Fees Free 2025 FAQs. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us.