On this page:

• First-year Fees Free
• Training Incentive Allowance
• Mana in Mahi

First-year Fees Free

Learners who have already had first-year Fees Free cannot get it again, even if they didn’t use their full entitlement. Learners who have used some Fees Free entitlement and/or have had some fees covered by Fees Free are considered to have already used Fees Free. 

Training Incentive Allowance

Learners who use the Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) to cover some or all of their study fees during their final calendar year of their qualification cannot get Fees Free.

Training Incentive Allowance – Work and Income

Learners can still get Fees Free in their final year if they used the TIA for:

• help with study costs in their final year (such as buying equipment, childcare, or transport), but not for study fees
• study fees before their final year.

If a learner’s final year was across more than one calendar year, they may be able to use Fees Free for any calendar years they did not use TIA for study fees.

Learners cannot get both the TIA for study fees and Fees Free in the same calendar year.

The Ministry of Social Development is working with those applying for the TIA to help them make an informed decision on their use of the TIA and Fees Free.

Mana in Mahi

Learners who trained at Level 3 or above and had their fees covered by an employer through the Mana in Mahi – Strength in Work programme will not be able to access Fees Free for final-year fees.