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 in 2025 or 2026.

Fees Free only covers the learner’s first completed provider-based qualification or work-based programme.

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

TEOs will need to charge their learners fees for the final year, as normal.

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

Fees Free will end on 31 December 2026. Eligible learners will be able to apply for their Fees Free entitlement within 12 months of completion of an eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme, up to 31 December 2027.

Information about final-year Fees Free

• Learner eligibility 
  • Residency requirements 
  • Previous study or work-based learning 
  • Previous payments
• Qualification and programme eligibility
• Entitlement 
• Agency roles and responsibilities
• TEO roles and responsibilities
• Communications pack for TEOs

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.