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© Copyright 2025

FAQs

Frequently asked questions on first-year Fees Free

  • Who is authorised to witness me signing the statutory declaration?
  • How can I get my National Student Number (NSN)?
  • Do I need to tell my tertiary education organisation (TEO) that I got a ‘Yes’ result when I checked my eligibility status?
Fees Free 2025
  • What’s new for Fees Free in 2025?
  • I’m starting study/training in 2025. Can I get my final year covered?
  • I’m not sure if I can use my remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement in 2025. How can I check?
  • I have Fees Free entitlement remaining from my first year. Will I be able to use it in 2025?
  • I’m able to use my remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement. What do I need to do?
  • I’ve received an invoice for fees. Why?
  • I started studying in 2024 but I want Fees Free to cover the final year of my qualification, not my first year. Can I do that?
  • I’m changing providers in 2025 to continue working towards the same qualification I started in 2024. Will my fees be covered?
  • What does 'same qualification' mean?
Residency criteria
  • I don’t yet meet the residency criteria to be eligible for Fees Free – but part way through my course or programme, I will. Can I get Fees Free for study or training I do before I become eligible?
  • I’m an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident. Am I eligible for Fees Free?
  • I’m not sure of my residency status. Who can I contact to check this?
  • I’m a citizen of the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau. Am I eligible for Fees Free?
Prior study and training criteria
  • What does ‘undertaken study or training’ mean exactly?
  • What are EFTS and how do they work?
  • I’ve already done a course with zero fees. Does this count as prior study or training?
  • I did some tertiary study while I was still at secondary school. Does this count as prior study or training?
  • I did National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 courses at school. Do they count as prior study or training?
  • I’ve done study through the Refugee English Fund. Can I get Fees Free?
  • I haven’t studied in New Zealand before. Does my overseas study or training count as prior study or training?
  • I’ve already undertaken tertiary study or training in New Zealand as an international student. Does this count as prior study or training?
  • I’ve studied before, but it was part time. Does this count as prior study or training?
  • I’ve already undertaken workplace training or an apprenticeship. Does this count as prior study or training?
  • Can I use my NZQA Record of Achievement to find out how much prior study or training I've undertaken?
Course and programme eligibility
  • Is my course, credential or programme eligible for Fees Free?
  • Can I get Fees Free if I study at an overseas tertiary education organisation?
  • Can I get Fees Free for distance or part-time study?
  • What is the difference between ‘provider-based’ and ‘work-based’ learning?
Fees Free eligibility in other years
  • What were the eligibility criteria in 2024?
  • What were the eligibility criteria in 2023?
  • What were the eligibility criteria in 2022?
  • What were the eligibility criteria in 2021?
  • What were the eligibility criteria in 2019 and 2020?
  • What were the eligibility criteria in 2018?
What’s included in Fees Free?
  • How much study or training can I get Fees Free?
  • What fees are covered by Fees Free?
  • Does Fees Free cover fees related to recognition of prior learning (RPL)?
  • Will zero fee courses use my Fees Free entitlement?
  • What fees are not covered by Fees Free?
  • I’m an apprentice and enrolled through a tertiary education organisation. Am I eligible for Fees Free?
  • Can I use Fees Free for both provider-based study and work-based learning at the same time?
Information for learners with a 'Yes' status
  • Do I need to tell my tertiary education organisation (TEO) that I got a ‘Yes’ result when I checked my eligibility status?
  • What do I do if I’m eligible for Fees Free but I’ve already enrolled in study or training?
Information for learners who have started using Fees Free
  • If I did less than $12,000 worth of provider-based study in my first year of study, can I carry the rest over to another year?
  • How can I check how much Fees Free entitlement I’ve used?
  • If I change providers part-way through my study, can I get Fees Free study at my new provider?
  • I know I have some Fees Free entitlement left to use. Do I need to tell my provider?
  • I started Fees Free study/training in a previous year and I’m continuing in 2024. Do I need to re-check my eligibility?
Statutory declarations
  • What is a statutory declaration and how do I get one?
  • What are the terms and conditions when I declare that I’m eligible for Fees Free?
  • How long will it take for my statutory declaration to be processed?
  • Who is authorised to witness me signing the statutory declaration?
  • Where should I email my signed and witnessed statutory declaration?
  • What happens if I give false information on my statutory declaration?
  • Do I need to tell my tertiary education organisation (TEO) when I’ve submitted my statutory declaration?
  • Is there a deadline for submitting my statutory declaration?
  • I submitted a statutory declaration last year, but didn’t start studying. Do I need to submit a new one when I start?
  • Can I use a statutory declaration that wasn’t generated on the Fees Free website?
Student loans and fees
  • Do I need to apply to StudyLink to access Fees Free?
  • What do I do if I’m eligible for Fees Free, but I’ve already applied for a Student Loan?
  • What do I do if I’m eligible for Fees Free but have already paid fees to my tertiary education organisation?
  • I started accessing Fees Free last year, but still have some entitlement left over to use. Do I need to apply to StudyLink to cover the rest of my fees?
  • If I pay my own tertiary fees now, can I use my Fees Free entitlement later?
  • Does Fees Free affect New Zealand scholarships?
  • I’m eligible for Fees Free but have still been invoiced by my tertiary education organisation (TEO). Why haven’t my fees been paid?
  • I am not eligible for Fees Free, what other funding options are available to me?
COVID-19
  • I withdrew from my study because of COVID-19. Can I get my Fees Free entitlement reinstated?
  • My study was impacted by COVID-19. How do I appeal my entitlement use?
  • Will I be notified when my entitlement is reinstated?
  • I’ve used my Fees Free entitlement already, but this was for study in an industry that has been impacted by COVID-19. Can my Fees Free entitlement be reset, or can I access Fees Free to study something else?
Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund
  • Some of my fees were paid through the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), but now I need Fees Free to pay the rest. What should I do?
  • My course fees were partly covered by the TTAF and partly by Fees Free. How is this calculated, and how much Fees Free entitlement have I used?
Where to get more help
  • How can I get my National Student Number (NSN)?
  • How can I make a complaint?
  • How can I contact Fees Free?
  • How can I appeal my Fees Free eligibility or entitlement use?
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