Fees Free for the first year of study or training is ending. However, if you started tertiary study or training in 2018 to 2024 and have not already checked your eligibility for Fees Free, you can still check now.

Read the eligibility criteria for the year you started your study or training. If you meet the criteria, you’ll also need to check your eligibility status by entering your NSN into the NSN checker on the home page.

There may be additional steps you need to take to inform us of your eligibility before Fees Free can cover your study.

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 policy.

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 study or training towards the same qualification in 2025 as you were in 2024, and
  • have Fees Free entitlement remaining.

You will be able to access your entitlement until the end of 2025, or until you reach 24-month (work-based learning), one EFTS (provider-based study), or up to $12,000 (including GST), 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 qualification 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.

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 full course fees within your remaining entitlement where courses start in 2024 or earlier.

For courses that start in 2025, Fees Free will only cover the fees for the portion of the course that is delivered up to 31 December 2025. You will need to organise payment for any fees if:

  • you have already used one EFTS (120 credits) or $12,000 of Fees Free entitlement, or
  • you are enrolled in courses that start in 2025 and finish after 31 December 2025, or
  • you continue studying in 2026.

Your tertiary education provider will invoice you for any fees you need to cover.

Work-based programmes that continue beyond 2025

If you’re enrolled in work-based learning in 2024 and you’re continuing in the same qualification 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 provider may charge you fees for your training after this.

Questions?

Take a look at the Fees Free FAQs. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us.