If I pay my own tertiary fees now, can I use my fees-free entitlement later?
No, you can’t save your fees-free entitlement to use later. If you are eligible for Fees Free and doing eligible study, you will automatically use your fees-free entitlement first.
However, you can study part-time and spread your fees-free entitlement over more than one year.
Unsure of some of these terms? Check out our glossary.
- I did some tertiary study while I was still at 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?
- How do EFTS work?
- I’m going to become eligible part way through my study/training by meeting residency requirements, can I get fees-free for any study or training I do before I become eligible?
- What do I do if I’m eligible for Fees Free but I’ve already enrolled in study or training?
- Can I get Fees Free if I study at an overseas tertiary education organisation?
- I’m eligible for Fees Free. Can I access Fees Free for distance or part-time study?
- 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?
- Is my course or programme eligible for Fees Free?
- Do I need to tell my tertiary education organisation (TEO) that I got a ‘Yes’ result when I checked my eligibility status?
- I’ve done study through the Refugee English Fund. Can I get Fees Free?
- I’m a citizen of the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau, am I eligible for Fees Free?
- I haven’t studied in New Zealand before, does my overseas study or training count as prior study or training?
- What does ‘undertaken’ mean in the context of prior study and training?
- What is the eligibility criteria for provider-based study?
- What is the eligibility criteria for industry-based training?
- I have previously undertaken tertiary study or training in New Zealand as an international student, does this count as prior study or training?
- I have studied before, but it was part-time. Does this count as prior study or training?
- I have previously undertaken workplace training or an apprenticeship. Does this count as prior study or training?
- I’ve previously undertaken a course with zero fees, does this count as prior study or training?
- Can I check use my NZQA Record of Achievement to find out how much prior study/training I've undertaken?
- Can I access Fees Free at more than one provider?
- Can I access Fees Free at both a provider and industry training organisation at the same time?
- I’m an apprentice and enrolled through an industry training organisation (ITO). Am I eligible for Fees Free?
- I’m an apprentice and enrolled through a provider. Am I eligible for Fees Free?
- How do EFTS work?
- I’m eligible for Fees Free but have still been invoiced by my TEO. Why haven’t my fees been paid?
- 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?
- I need to submit a statutory declaration to declare I am eligible for Fees Free. Do I need to do this by a certain date?
- I submitted a statutory declaration last year, but did not begin studying. Do I need to submit a new one when I begin studying?
- I withdrew from my study because of COVID-19. How can I get my fees-free entitlement reinstated?
- My study was impacted due to 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?
- 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 provider?
- I started accessing Fees Free last year, but still have some fees-free 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?
- If I did less than $12,000 worth of 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 have used?
- I started study in 2018 or 2019 but still have some fees-free entitlement left over to use. Do I need to apply to StudyLink to cover the rest of my fees?
- If I change providers part-way through my study, can I get fees-free study at my new provider?
- Can I get Fees Free if I enrol at both a provider and an industry training organisation?
- Can I use my remaining fees-free entitlement for distance study? For example, online study?
- Can I use my remaining fees-free entitlement if I study part-time?
- If I pay my own study fees now can I use my remaining fees-free entitlement later?
- I started fees-free study/training in 2018 or 2019. I’m continuing study/training in 2020, do I need to re-check my eligibility?
- I know I have some fees-free entitlement (dollars) left to use, do I need to tell my provider?
- I’ve done study through the Refugee English Fund. Can I get Fees Free?
- I’m eligible for Fees Free and have done study/training which had no costs. Does this count as me using Fees Free?