What were the eligibility criteria in 2023?

These eligibility criteria apply to study and training that starts or started in 2023. If you started tertiary study or training in a different year, check the criteria for the year you started.

If you meet the criteria, there may be steps you need to take to inform us of your eligibility status. To confirm your eligibility status for either type of study or training, please use our NSN checker.

Provider-based study

Learner criteria

To be eligible for Fees Free while enrolled in provider-based study starting in 2023, 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 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
  3. a person granted refugee or protected person status prior to gaining a residence visa; or
  4. 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; or
  5. a holder of the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
  6. a holder of a residence class visa who would have been eligible for the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
  7. a holder of a residence class visa who is a family member of a Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa holder, or a family member of a residence class visa holder who would have been eligible for the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
  8. a holder of the Afghan Emergency Resettlement Resident Visa.

Prior study and training criteria

  1. You must have been enrolled in a school in or after 2021, 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 and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), 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 work-based programme that consists of fewer than 120 credits that are reported after 1 January 2018.
  4. Any courses or credentials funded by the TEC undertaken after 1 January 2023 that had zero tuition fees and zero compulsory course costs.
  5. Tertiary education and training for which fees were covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF).
  6. Tertiary education undertaken through the Youth Guarantee programme after 1 July 2020.
  7. Tertiary education undertaken through the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training programme after 1 July 2020.
  8. 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:
    1. the Non-Degree Delivery at Levels 3-7 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all Industry Training (DQ3-7) fund, but excludes provision that would previously have been funded through the Industry Training Fund, or
    2. the Delivery on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework at Levels 7 (Degree) and above (DQ7+) fund, or
    3. grants under section S556 of the Education and Training Act 2020 for tertiary provision towards a qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) at level 3 or above, or a 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.

Work-based learning

Learner criteria

To be eligible for Fees Free while enrolled in work-based learning starting in 2023, you need to meet 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 a residence class visa and:
    1. 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
  3. a person granted refugee or protected person status prior to gaining a residence visa; or
  4. 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; or
  5. a holder of the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
  6. a holder of a residence class visa who would have been eligible for the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
  7. a holder of a residence class visa who is a family member of a Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa holder, or a family member of a residence class visa holder who would have been eligible for the Christchurch Response (2019) Permanent Resident Visa; or
  8. a holder of the Afghan Emergency Resettlement Resident Visa; or
  9. employed in a role specified on the Green List or within a sector agreement; and
    1. enrolled in a programme or credential approved for a tuition subsidy by the TEC; and
    2. the TEO in which the learner is enrolled would be eligible to receive tuition subsidies in respect of the learner, and
    3. the learner has a signed training agreement and commences training on or after 1 January 2023.

Prior study and training criteria

  1. You must have been enrolled in a school in or after 2021, 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 and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), 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 work-based programme that consists of fewer than 120 credits that are reported after 1 January 2018.
  4. Any courses or credentials funded by the TEC undertaken after 1 January 2023 that had zero tuition fees and zero compulsory course costs;
  5. Tertiary education and training for which fees were covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF).
  6. Tertiary education undertaken through the Youth Guarantee programme after 1 July 2020.
  7. Tertiary education undertaken through the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training programme after 1 July 2020.
  8. 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 work-based programme must:

  1. be at NZQCF level 3 or above, and
  2. be approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), and
  3. be funded by the TEC through the Non-Degree Delivery at Levels 3-7 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all Industry Training (DQ3-7) fund, and would previously have been funded through the Industry Training Fund; and
  4. comprise of at least 120 credits, and
  5. not be part of a school learning programme or secondary-tertiary programme.

Please contact your tertiary education organisation if you’re not sure about your programme’s 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.

Unsure of some of these terms? Check out our glossary.

Prior study and training criteria
Statutory declarations