Government Fees-Free

EIT | Te Pūkenga is delighted to be one of the New Zealand tertiary institutions to offer free tuition for eligible first time tertiary learners.

Government Fees-Free for first time learners

EIT | Te Pūkenga is delighted to be one of the New Zealand tertiary institutions to offer free tuition for eligible first time tertiary learners.

From 2019, tertiary education was made fees-free for eligible first time tertiary learners.

You can get the equivalent of one year’s full-time study (up to the value of $12,000) fees-free – that includes tuition fees, compulsory course costs and compulsory student services fees. It does not cover students’ association fees, club memberships, course materials and late fees.

You will need to have your National Student Number (NSN) to confirm your eligibility which you can do online at Fees Free.

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

To meet the requirements for fees-free provider-based study at EIT | Te Pūkenga any learner must:

  1. Be allowed to work and live in New Zealand permanently, or be an Australian or New Zealand resident who has lived here for at least three years, a refugee or protected person, or a sponsored family member of a refugee or protected person; and
  2. Not be enrolled in school when your qualification starts.

Secondary school students or recent leavers

You will be able to get fees-free at EIT | Te Pūkenga if:

  1. You meet the citizenship and residency requirement,
  2. Have been enrolled at a secondary school,
  3. Have not have undertaken previous study or training of more than 60 credits, except while you were at school, and
  4. Enrol in an eligible qualification. The qualification must be at Level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.  (See our programme pages for the levels.)

Other learners

You will be able to get fees-free at EIT | Te Pūkenga if:

  1. You meet the citizenship and residency requirement,
  2. Have not have undertaken previous study or training of more than 60 credits, except while you were at school. You may need to complete a statutory declaration to declare your eligible if you have done less than half a year or tertiary study previously.
  3. Enrol in an eligible qualification. The qualification must be at Level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.  (See our programme pages for the levels.)

Student Allowance and Loans

If you wish to apply for a student allowance or the two non-fees parts of a student loan – living costs and course-related costs – you’ll still need to apply to StudyLink.

StudyLink encourages future learners to apply by the beginning of December, and to provide supporting documents promptly (you can apply online). This will ensure your application can be assessed in time for the start of the academic year.

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 or call the fees-free helpline on 0800 687 775.