From 2025, Government Fees Free covers the final year of study or training for the first provider-based qualification or work-based programme an eligible learner completes.

To get Fees Free for your final year of study or training from 2025 you must:

• complete a qualification or a programme that’s eligible for Fees Free, and
• meet the residency criteria at the time you complete, and
• meet the prior study and training criteria, and
• not have already used Fees Free.

EIT staff cannot tell you if you are eligible for Fees Free. You confirm your eligibility using myIR on Inland Revenue’s website after your complete your qualifying qualification or programme. This is available to use from early 2026.

How do I get my Fees Free entitlement?

You need to organise payment of your fees to EIT when you enrol. You may wish to apply to StudyLink for a student loan or look for other ways to help cover your fees.

When you enrol at EIT, we will ask you to tell us your IRD number. This will help match you with your qualification completion when you claim your Fees Free entitlement later.

EIT staff cannot tell you if you are eligible for Fees Free. You will be able to confirm your eligibility and claim your Fees Free entitlement after you complete your first qualification or work-based programme using myIR on Inland Revenue’s website, which will be available to use from early 2026. Until then, you don’t need to do anything.

You’ll have 12 months to claim your entitlement once you complete your qualification or programme. If you complete your first qualification or programme in 2025 before the claim process is available, you’ll have until the end of 2026.

What does Fees Free cover?

If you’re eligible, Fees Free covers the fees for the final year of tertiary study or training in the first provider-based qualification or work-based programme you complete after 1 January 2025, up to $12,000 including GST.

Fees Free will only cover the final year of one qualification or programme. If you didn’t use the $12,000 entitlement for the final year of your first qualification or programme, you won’t be able to access Fees Free again for a second qualification or programme.

What is considered the final year?

For provider-based study, the final year is the final 1 EFTS of study (usually equivalent to the final 120 credits/points). The final year may be undertaken over multiple calendar years, so learners studying part time may still receive entitlement for a full year’s worth of study.

However, Fees Free entitlement will only be covered for up to a maximum of 5 calendar years before the completion of the qualification. This means that if your final 1 EFTS of study towards your qualification is done over more than 5 years, you may not receive the full entitlement.

For work-based learning, the final year is the final 24 calendar months of training. We only count months that you are actively training, so if you put your training on hold for any reason, those months will not be counted. However, Fees Free entitlement will only be covered for up to a maximum of 5 calendar years before the completion of the programme. This means that if your final 24 months of training towards your programme is done over more than 5 years, you may not receive the full entitlement.

What does qualification completion date mean?

The date you complete your eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme is defined as the date you meet the requirements to be awarded the qualification. This should align with the date recorded on your New Zealand Record of Achievement.

More information about the eligibility criteria can be found in Fees Free’s FAQs.

 Student Allowance and Loans

If you wish to apply for a student allowance or student loan – fees, living costs and course-related costs – you need to apply to StudyLink.

If you are not eligible for Government free fees, check out and scholarships page and you can apply to enrol online now. 

Questions?

Go to feesfree.govt.nz, Email customerservice@tec.govt.nz, or call the fees-free helpline on 0800 601 301.