Eligibility criteria

AEWV holders that undertake work-based learning may be eligible for TEC funding. To be eligible, they must:

• be a ‘domestic student’, as described under paragraph 2(g) in the Tertiary Education (Domestic Students) Notice 2024 – New Zealand Gazette, and
• meet the criteria set out in the funding conditions for the relevant year for the Delivery at Levels 3–7 (non-degree) on the NZQCF and all industry training (DQ3-7) Fund. (Note that DQ3-7 also includes work-based learning provision at Levels 1 and 2.) See the Funding conditions by year.

For more information about ‘domestic student’ requirements, see:

Other valid domestic enrolments

Which programmes are funded?

TEC publishes a list of funded programmes for work-based learners with AEWVs here:

List of funded programmes for eligible AEWV work-based learners (XLSX 53 KB)

If a work-based learner with an AEWV meets the eligibility criteria, funding will apply. To determine when a specific programme becomes eligible for funding, see the 'Programme list' section under the 'Instructions' tab. Check this list regularly. It changes in response to policy, immigration and programme changes.

What if a learner is not eligible?

If an AEWV holder does not meet the criteria to be an eligible learner, they do not qualify for funding.

Learners ineligible for funding may still be able to access both provider-based and work-based learning. However, international fees will apply. Individuals with holiday or work visa types do not meet the criteria; the visa must be an AEWV.

Eligibility for Fees Free

AEWV learners who are eligible for TEC funding for work-based learning are treated as domestic learners, so they may be eligible for Fees Free.

Find the complete list of Fees Free eligibility criteria at: 

Eligibility criteria – Fees Free

Note: The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free scheme will replace it, starting from January 2025. For more information, see FeesFree.govt.nz.

Learners enrolled in work-based learning before 1 January 2023

Before 2023, all individuals working legally in New Zealand and enrolled in work-based learning were eligible for TEC funding under the Industry Training Fund. This included individuals with visas other than residency visas.

From 1 January 2023, limits were placed on funded work-based learning for international workers, to align eligibility more closely with funded provider-based study. As a result, the only international workers who can now get this work-based funding are AEWV holders who meet the eligibility criteria at the top of this page.

However, any learner who enrolled in work-based learning before 1 January 2023 is still eligible for TEC funding until they complete their programme of training, if they meet all other fund requirements. This is because they started their training under the previous policy settings.

If the learner changes employers but continues the same programme, they will remain eligible for TEC funding.

However, if the learner withdraws from or changes their programme, any new enrolment will be subject to the eligibility criteria in place at the time they enrol.