What were the eligibility criteria in 2022?

Provider-based study

Learner criteria

To be eligible for Fees Free while enrolled in provider-based study, you need to meet both the residency and prior study and training criteria below.

Residency criteria

You must be one of the following:

1. a New Zealand citizen, or
2. a holder of the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
3. a holder of a residence class visa who would have been eligible for the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
4. a holder of the Afghan Emergency Resettlement Resident Visa; or
5. a holder of a residence class visa and:
   1. have been living in New Zealand for at least 3 years while holding a residence class visa and ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or
   2. a person granted refugee or protected person status, or a family member granted a residence visa with the person granted refugee or protected person status; or
   3. sponsored into New Zealand by someone in their family who, at the time of sponsorship, was a refugee or protected person; or
6. a person granted refugee or protected person status prior to gaining a residence visa; or
7. an immediate family member, without a residence visa and residing in New Zealand, of a person granted refugee or protected person status, as defined as:
   1. the partner and any child in New Zealand, of a person granted refugee or protected person status prior to gaining a residence visa; or
   2. the parent and any sibling in New Zealand, of a person granted refugee or protected person status prior to gaining a residence visa, who is a dependent child.

Prior study and training criteria

1. You must have been enrolled in a school in or after 2020, other than as an adult learner, or
2. You must have not undertaken more than half a year of equivalent full-time tertiary education (0.5 equivalent full-time student (EFTS) or 60 credits) at level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), including tertiary education at an equivalent level undertaken in any country.

The following do not count as prior study or training:

1. Tertiary education undertaken while enrolled in school prior to 1 January 2019 (except for tertiary education undertaken as an adult learner).
2. Tertiary courses undertaken as part of your school learning programme or secondary-tertiary programme on or after 1 January 2019.
3. Credits achieved as part of any industry training programme that consists of fewer than 120 credits that are reported after 1 January 2018.
4. Tertiary education and training for which fees were covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF).
5. Tertiary education undertaken through the Youth Guarantee programme after 1 July 2020.
6. Tertiary education undertaken through the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training programme after 1 July 2020.
7. Tertiary education undertaken through the Refugee English Fund.

Learn more about prior study and training.

Contact us at 0800 601 301 or [email protected] if you have questions about your eligibility, including prior study or training.

Course criteria

To be eligible for Fees Free, your course must be:

1. funded by the Tertiary Education Commission from either:
   1. the Student Achievement Component Level 3 and above Fund, or
   2. grants under section S556 of the Education and Training Act 2020 for tertiary provision towards a qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) at level 3 or above, or a training scheme or micro-credential at level 3 or above approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), and
2. not part of a school learning programme or secondary-tertiary programme.

Please contact your tertiary education organisation if you are not sure about your course eligibility.

Next steps

To confirm your eligibility status, please use the NSN checker on the homepage. There may be steps you need to take to inform us of your eligibility status.

Industry-based training

Learner criteria

To be eligible for Fees Free while enrolled in industry-based training, you need to meet the residency and prior study and training criteria below.

Residency criteria

You must be legally entitled to reside and work in New Zealand.

Prior study and training criteria

1. You must have been enrolled in a school in or after 2020, other than as an adult learner, or
2. You must have not undertaken more than half a year of equivalent full-time tertiary education (0.5 equivalent full-time student (EFTS) or 60 credits) at level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), including tertiary education at an equivalent level undertaken in any country.

The following do not count as prior study or training:

1. Tertiary education undertaken while enrolled in school prior to 1 January 2019 (except for tertiary education undertaken as an adult learner).
2. Tertiary courses undertaken as part of your school learning programme or secondary-tertiary programme on or after 1 January 2019.
3. Credits achieved as part of any industry training programme that consists of fewer than 120 credits that are reported after 1 January 2018.
4. Tertiary education and training for which fees were covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF).
5. Tertiary education undertaken through the Youth Guarantee programme after 1 July 2020.
6. Tertiary education undertaken through the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training programme after 1 July 2020.
7. Tertiary education undertaken through the Refugee English Fund.

Learn more about prior study and training.

Contact us at 0800 601 301 or [email protected] if you have questions about your eligibility, including prior study or training.

Programme criteria

To be eligible for Fees Free, a programme must:

1. be at NZQF level 3 or above, and
2. be approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and
3. comprise at least 120 credits, and
4. not be part of a school learning programme or secondary-tertiary programme.

Please contact your transitional industry training organisation if you are not sure about your programme eligibility.