On this page: 

• Exemptions for learners with a qualification at Level 5 or above
• Exemptions for asynchronous delivery due to exceptional circumstances

Exemptions for learners with a qualification at Level 5 or above

You can only enrol learners with a Level 5 or above qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) (including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees) if they have literacy and/or numeracy challenges that justify their enrolment, and with our written approval.

Literacy and numeracy challenges that justify enrolment

For a learner to be eligible for an exemption, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) must be confident that:

• they have literacy and/or numeracy challenges, and
• the challenges are sufficient to justify their enrolment, despite holding a Level 5 or above qualification.

Apply for an exemption

To apply for an exemption for a learner, please fill out the application form and send it to customerservice@tec.govt.nz with the subject: [EDUMIS #] L5 exemptions request.

Application form literacy and numeracy Level 5 exemptions process (DOCX 155 KB)

Please ensure the learner meets all other learner eligibility criteria in the funding conditions before applying.

Funding conditions by year

If you have any questions about this process, please contact us at customerservice@tec.govt.nz or 0800 601 301. 

Exemptions for asynchronous delivery due to exceptional circumstances

From 2026 you must deliver TEO-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (TEO-led WLN) synchronously (online or face-to-face), unless you have received our prior written approval for asynchronous delivery due to exceptional circumstances.

Asynchronous delivery

You must apply for written approval if your mode of delivery is mainly asynchronous.

Asynchronous delivery refers to a mode of learning where the teaching and learning activities mainly occur without real-time interaction. The facilitator is not physically or virtually present when the learner engages with the material. Learners engage with material, access resources and complete tasks independently. Feedback typically occurs through delayed channels such as forums, email or recorded media. 

Examples of asynchronous delivery include: 

• pre-recorded videos or audio 
• self-paced online modules 
• paper-based learning materials 
• discussion boards and forums 
• email-based learning 
• digital learning materials 
• collaborative documents.

Foundation-level learners usually require more pastoral care and learning support than higher-level learners. This can be more difficult to provide through asynchronous delivery.

To ensure TEO-led WLN provision is suitable, TEC must be confident that providers can ensure sufficient pastoral care and learning support for learners, including appropriate formative assessment, access to learning equipment, and high levels of engagement. 

We must also be confident that programmes meet the intent of the fund, which is to improve workplace productivity by raising adult literacy and numeracy learning in the workplace.

Assessment of exemption applications for asynchronous delivery

You can apply for an exemption under exceptional circumstances that relate to a group of learners or individual learners. We can approve an exemption at the programme level, and would expect the programme to be tailored to provide the necessary learning support and pastoral care.

Assessment

We will assess applications case-by-case based on the following requirements:

• exceptional circumstances
• pastoral care and learning support.

We will also consider the policy intent of the fund. The intent of funding literacy and numeracy provision is to raise adult literacy and numeracy skills and opportunities for engagement, particularly for those in low-skilled employment, and improve the quality and relevance of provision, including the ability to identify learner need.

The intent of the Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund is to increase literacy and numeracy skills of employees and contribute to workplace productivity through the provision of literacy and numeracy in a workplace context. 

Exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances exist where:

• the programme meets the policy intent of the fund, and
• there are circumstances that are out of the ordinary and are:
  • significant in the context of the programme, foundation education or the learner/s, and/or
  • comparatively rare.

Pastoral care and learning support

We must be confident that any exemptions for asynchronous delivery have factored pastoral care into the design of the programme(s) to ensure learners are supported to succeed. This includes providing appropriate learning support and learning materials for asynchronous delivery.

Learners at this level are gaining foundational skills so require a higher level of more tailored pastoral care and learning support.

Regardless of the method of delivery, TEOs must provide pastoral care in relation to learners’ needs while studying and in accordance with the Code of Practice for Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners.

Code of Practice for Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners (PDF 1 MB)

Apply for an exemption for asynchronous delivery

To apply for an exemption please contact us at customerservice@tec.govt.nz with subject: [EDUMIS #] asynchronous exemptions request.

In your email, please briefly outline:

• the fund you are applying for the exemption under;
• the programme/s you are applying for;
• the exceptional circumstances; and
• information about how you are factoring in pastoral care and learning support for impacted learners.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact us at customerservice@tec.govt.nz or 0800 601 301.