First-year Fees Free covered fees for your first year of study or two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.
You can read the eligibility criteria for each year in the Frequently asked questions.
The deadline for confirming your eligibility for first-year Fees Free has passed
The deadline for confirming your eligibility for first-year Fees Free was 31 December 2025.
Missed the deadline?
If you have not already emailed us your complete and signed statutory declaration, you cannot get Fees Free for your first year of study or training. However, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year from 2025. To see if you are eligible for final-year Fees Free, visit Fees Free – Inland Revenue.
Submitted your statutory declaration before 31 December 2025?
If your fees have not yet been covered by Fees Free, or you have questions about your entitlement, contact us.
If you used first-year Fees Free, you won’t be eligible for final-year Fees Free – even if you used less than $12,000 for your first year of study or work-based learning.
First-year Fees Free transition period in 2025
First-year Fees Free only covered some fees in 2025, while the policy transitioned out.
If you used Fees Free in 2024, you were able to continue to use your remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement in 2025 if you:
- were continuing study or training towards the same qualification in 2025 as you were in 2024, and
- had Fees Free entitlement remaining.
Your fees were covered until the end of 2025, or until you reached 24 months (work-based learning), one EFTS (provider-based study), or $12,000 (including GST), whichever occurred first.
Provider-based courses that continue across years
Fees Free covered your full course fees within your remaining entitlement where the course started in 2024 or earlier.
For courses that started in 2025, Fees Free only covered the fees for the portion of the course delivered up to 31 December 2025. You will need to organise payment for any fees if:
- you already used one EFTS (120 credits) or $12,000 of Fees Free entitlement before 31 December 2025, or
- you were enrolled in courses that started in 2025 and finish after 31 December 2025, or
- you continue studying in 2026.
Your tertiary education provider will invoice you for any fees you need to cover.
Work-based programmes that continue beyond 2025
If you were enrolled in work-based learning in 2024 and were continuing in the same qualification into 2025, Fees Free covered your fees only up to the end of 2025 (within your remaining 24-month, one EFTS and $12,000 entitlement). Your tertiary education provider may charge you fees for your training after this.
Questions?
Take a look at the Fees Free FAQs. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us.