Fee-setting limits for new courses

This page explains fee-setting limits for new courses.

Fee limits apply to new courses funded through the following funds:

Delivery at Levels 3 to 7 (non-degree) on the NZQCF and all industry training (DQ3-7)
Delivery at Levels 7 (degree) to 10 on the NZQCF (DQ7-10).

Note: fees charged for industry training (ie, programmes or micro credentials funded under DQ3-7 in the work-based modes of delivery) are exempt from fee-setting limits for new courses.

Fees must be no more than the 75th percentile of the range of fees charged for similar courses.

When identifying similar courses we consider the course:

funding category
classification under the New Zealand Standard Classification of Education (NZSCED), and
equivalent full-time students (EFTS) factor.

In exceptional circumstances you may apply for an exception to the limit on new course fees. The exception criteria are published in the funding mechanisms.

Funding mechanisms and delegations

In determining exceptions, we consider the following criteria:

The course would not be financially viable without a higher fee.
Where the course is part of a programme at Levels 3 to 7 (non-degree) or 7 to 10 on the NZCQF that has been delivered previously, the programme has a cohort-based qualification completion rate that meets or exceeds the median performance benchmark for that NZQCF level in the previous year.
You can demonstrate that the course is in some way unique or special, for example, there are no or very few similar courses to compare fees with.
The course is aligned to Government priorities set out in the Tertiary Education Strategy.

Applying for an exception to the fee-setting limit

For information about how to apply for an exception, please see the guidance below.

Email your application to our Customer Contact Team at customerservice@tec.govt.nz with the subject line [EDUMIS] – Exception to fee-setting limits for new course fees application.

The deadlines to submit an application are:

5.00pm on the last Friday of November 2026
5.00pm on the first Friday of February 2027
5.00pm on the first Friday of June 2027
5.00pm on the first Friday of August 2027.

We will advise you in writing of the outcome of your application.

If you have any questions about the application process, please email customerservice@tec.govt.nz or your relationship manager.