The TTAF, also known as free trades training, supported learners to undertake vocational education and training without fees from 1 July 2020 until 31 December 2022.

Qualifications and programmes included in the TTAF target areas were excluded from first-year Fees Free. Where both could apply, the learner’s fees were funded by the TTAF in the first instance, and not through Fees Free.

Learners undertaking courses or programmes fully covered by the TTAF:

• did not use their Fees Free entitlement on this learning, and
• did not have this learning count as prior study or training when determining first-year Fees Free eligibility in future years.

If a learner was eligible for Fees Free and has undertaken a course or programme fully covered by the TTAF, they would still be entitled to the full Fees Free entitlement (the lower of $12,000, or the equivalent of one year’s study or two years of work-based learning) for any additional eligible study they undertake. If the learner had used some of their Fees Free entitlement prior to TTAF, then they would be able to access their remaining entitlement after TTAF.

Courses and programmes covered entirely by the TTAF did not need to be reported in tertiary education organisations' (TEOs) Fees Free returns.

Some courses and programmes could only be partially covered by the TTAF, depending on when they started, or when they ended. Where a course or programme is partially covered by the TTAF, Fees Free could cover the remaining fees. Find more information below.

TTAF-eligible provider-based courses starting before 1 July 2020            

When a learner who was eligible for Fees Free was enrolled in a TTAF-eligible course that began before 1 July 2020, this is how their course fees and EFTS were allocated between Fees Free and TTAF:

TEOs needed to report the full fees and EFTS for each course in their Fees Free return. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) apportioned these fees and EFTS automatically when calculating Fees Free allocations and entitlement use, to ensure the correct amount had been covered. TEOs did not need to complete this calculation themselves.

TTAF-eligible provider-based courses that started before 1 January 2021

For SAC 3+ funded courses that were eligible for TTAF funding from 1 January 2021 as a result of the new target areas, the TTAF covered courses in eligible programmes and qualifications that started on or after 1 January 2021.

The TTAF covered 100% of the fees for courses in newly eligible programmes for 2021 that:

• started in November or December 2020 where one-third or more of the course occurred after 1 January 2021; or
• started between 1 July and 31 October 2020 where at least 75% of the course occurred after 1 January 2021.

The TTAF also covered 50% of the fees for courses in newly eligible programmes for 2021 that started between 1 July and 31 October 2020 where at least 50% but less than 75% of the course occurred after 1 January 2021.

TEOs needed to report the full fees and EFTS for each course in their Fees Free return. The TEC apportioned these fees and EFTS automatically when calculating Fees Free allocations and entitlement use, to ensure the correct amount had been covered. TEOs did not need to complete this calculation themselves.

TTAF-eligible provider-based courses that finished after 31 December 2022

The TTAF ended on 31 December 2022. Where a course that was eligible for TTAF started in 2022 and ended after 31 December 2022, the TEC apportioned fees based on the portion of the course that occurred before 31 December 2022, based on the total number of days in the course. This is calculated using the course start and end dates recorded in the Single Data Return (SDR), and the course fees recorded in DXP Ngā Kete. 

TTAF paid the full fees where:

• the course started prior to 1 January 2023 and ended on or before 31 January 2023; or
• the amount payable by the learner was calculated to be $10 or less.

The TTAF also covered 100% of any student services fees associated with enrolments that started in 2022 (ie, we have not apportioned the student services fees).

Where TTAF did not cover the full fees and the learner was eligible for Fees Free, Fees Free may have covered the remaining amount.

TEOs needed to report the full fees and EFTS for each course in their Fees Free return. The TEC apportioned these fees and EFTS automatically when calculating Fees Free allocations and entitlement use, to ensure the correct amount had been covered. TEOs did not need to complete this calculation themselves.

The settings have changed over the years. Whether the study counted towards learner entitlement use depended on when the learner started their MPTT or YG course. 

Settings for 2018 to 2025

• This table shows the calculation for how much of a YG or MPTT-funded course is counted towards Fees Free entitlement use when the course starts prior to 1 July 2020 and finishes on or after 1 July 2020.  

MPTT or YG courses that started on or after 1 July 2020

These were not counted towards a learner's Fees Free entitlement use. Learners did not need to contact the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for this to be reflected in their Fees Free entitlement use.  

Reporting YG and MPTT

Where a course was partially or fully counted towards Fees Free entitlement, tertiary education organisations (TEOs) should have reported the full course equivalent full-time students (EFTS) in their Fees Free returns. TEC apportioned the EFTS for the learner as per the rules above. TEOs did not need to report YG or MPTT courses that started after 1 July 2020 in their Fees Free return. If reported, these courses would have failed validation and did not use a learner’s entitlement.

How YG and MPTT affects Fees Free eligibility

• To be eligible for Fees Free, a learner must not have undertaken more than half a year of equivalent full-time tertiary education (0.5 EFTS or 60 credits) at Level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), including tertiary education at an equivalent level undertaken in any country. This is known as the prior study and training criteria.
• Credits obtained from MPTT or YG courses that start on or after 1 July 2020 were not included as part of the 60 credits counted for the prior study and training criteria. 
• Therefore, if a learner enrols in an MPTT or YG course that started on or after 1 July 2020, this study did not impact their eligibility for first-year Fees Free tertiary education.

Learners undertaking provider-based study who weren’t eligible for Fees Free, or eligible learners whose fees exceeded $12,000, may have been able to apply for a student loan to cover their compulsory fees.

Learners enrolled in high-cost courses have a limit on the amount they can borrow, which may have been impacted by Fees Free, if they were eligible.

Fees Free did not cover accommodation costs, or optional and occasional costs associated with tertiary study. Learners eligible for Fees Free could apply for a student loan or allowance to cover their accommodation or non-compulsory course-related costs.

For more information on student loans and allowances, see StudyLink.

Learners undertaking work-based learning were not eligible for a student loan or student allowance.