Find out more about final-year Fees Free including eligibility criteria, entitlement and implementation:

Final-year Fees Free

First-year Fees Free continued to operate until 31 December 2025 under transition settings. Find out more about the end of first-year Fees Free:

End of first-year Fees Free 

Information about first-year Fees Free

End of first-year Fees Free – the settings for the end of first-year Fees Free and the transition rules for learners with remaining first-year entitlement

Payments and reporting – how we made payments and how tertiary education organisations reported fees to us

Eligibility criteria and what first-year Fees Free covered – the Fees Free eligibility criteria, and what fees were covered

First-year Fees Free interactions with other funds – how Fees Free interacted with the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) and Youth Guarantee (YG), as well as student loans and student allowances

First-year Fees Free entitlement – how much learners could get, and how they could use their Fees Free entitlement across years

Guidance – FAQs, information guides and other resources to help you understand first-year Fees Free

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 can also call 0800 601 301 or email customerservice@tec.govt.nz.