Final-year Fees Free

Final-year Fees Free

Last updated 6 October 2025
Last updated 6 October 2025

Final-year Fees Free aims to reward and motivate learners to complete their first qualification or programme by covering fees for their final year of study or final two years of work-based learning.

Final-year Fees Free covers up to $12,000 in fees for the final year of tertiary study or the final two years of work-based learning completed from 1 January 2025.

Fees Free only covers the learner’s first completed qualification or programme.

Learners can only get Fees Free once. If they have already had Fees Free, they cannot get it again.

Learners need to pay their fees on enrolment.

For information on the first-year Fees Free policy, see First-year Fees Free.

Information about final-year Fees Free

Keep up to date

We will update tertiary education organisations (TEOs) on policy changes and decisions via the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) website and Fees Free Focus newsletter.

Sign up to the Fees Free Focus newsletter for policy, process and reporting updates.

Who to contact

If you have any questions, please contact your Relationship Manager or Advisor, or the Customer Contact Team on 0800 601 301 or customerservice@tec.govt.nz.

Learners should be directed to Fees Free – Inland Revenue.