The New Zealand Government provides one year of fees-free study for students who are doing university for the first time. To get Fees Free support, you need to meet certain eligibility criteria.
The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study and training finishes at the end of 2024. It will be replaced by a final-year Fees Free policy. If you’ve already used Fees Free in your first year of study or training, you won’t be able to access it under the new final-year policy. However, until the end of 2025 first-year Fees Free will operate under ‘first-year transition rules’.
If you used Fees Free in 2024, you may be able to continue to use your remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement in 2025 if you:
You can access your entitlement until the end of 2025, or until you reach 120 credits or up to $12,000 (including GST), whichever occurs first.
If you have remaining entitlement you won’t be able to access Fees Free in the future if you:
If you'd like to check how much Fees Free entitlement you've used so far, enter your National Student Number (NSN) on the Fees Free website and follow the instructions.
If you've studied or trained in 2024 and met the criteria for first-year Fees Free, you can still declare your eligibility.
You have 12 calendar months from the start date of your first course or programme to declare your eligibility to receive Fees Free for your 2024 study and any continuation of the qualification into 2025 that falls within your remaining entitlement. If you don’t declare your eligibility for your 2024 study within this time, Fees Free won’t cover your study.
Check your eligibility for Fees Free in 2024 by entering your NSN on the Fees Free website.
Starting university study for the first-time? You may be able to get Fees Free for the final year of the programme you’re completing.
To get Fees Free when you complete the final year of your studies you must:
You don't need to do anything to confirm your eligibility just yet. However, if you want to check if you meet the residency and prior study and training criteria before you complete your qualification, you can read the eligibility criteria on the Fees Free website.
If you’re studying a 60-point certificate at AUT and have applied for Fees Free (or are planning to), there are some things you need to know.
Fees Free covers the final year of study, up to $12,000. This includes:
It doesn’t include other costs like textbooks and course materials.
Use myIR on Inland Revenue’s website to:
After you complete your eligible qualification, you’ll be able to confirm your eligibility and claim your entitlement.
You’ll be able to do this through myIR on Inland Revenue’s website from early 2026. You can’t claim before 2026. You’ll have one year to claim your entitlement.
If you have a student loan, your Fees Free entitlement will go towards paying off your student loan. This will lower the amount you have borrowed. If you don’t have a loan, the entitlement will be paid to a bank account you nominate.
Check out the official Fees Free website for: