Learners can get Fees Free if they complete a qualification or programme and meet:

• residency requirements, and
• qualification and programme requirements.

The final year of the learner’s completed qualification or programme must have started on or after 1 January 2025 to be eligible.

Learners may not be able to get Fees Free if they have already:

• done previous study or work-based learning
• received other payments towards fees in the past.

The eligibility criteria are published in the final-year Fees Free policy parameters.

Final-year Fees Free policy parameters (PDF 236 KB)

Provider-based and work-based learning

The residency requirements and qualification and programme requirements are slightly different for provider-based study and work-based learning.

Provider-based study means courses where a learner is studying mainly on campus and/or online.

Work-based learning means programmes where a learner is studying mainly in the workplace.

Qualification completion date

Learners must meet the eligibility requirements on the day they complete their qualification.

The qualification completion date is defined as the date the learner has met the requirements to be awarded the qualification (whether an eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme). This should align with what is recorded on the learner’s New Zealand Record of Achievement.

Provider-based tertiary education organisations (TEOs) must submit the qualification completion date as part of their Single Data Return (SDR) submission.

Work-based TEOs report programme completion dates to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), which provides the dates to TEC.

Learners may contact you for their qualification completion date if they are not able to find it on their Record of Achievement.