Financial assistance

Fees Free

Learners beginning study for the first time in 2025 may be eligible for Fees Free which covers fees for the final year of tertiary study in the first qualification you complete after 1 January 2025, up to $12,000 including GST.

Fees Free will only cover the final year of one qualification. If you don’t use the $12,000 entitlement for the final year of your first qualification, you won’t be able to access Fees Free again for a second qualification.

You will be able to confirm your eligibility and claim your Fees Free entitlement using the myIR portal which will be available to use from 15 January 2026, after you have completed your qualification. Until then, you don’t need to do anything.

Make sure you organise payment of your fees when you enrol. You may wish to apply to StudyLink for a student loan to help cover your fees.

Please be advised, Inland Revenue is now responsible for supporting tertiary learners with final-year Fees Free information, assessing learner eligibility and paying entitlements. For further information, please visit https://www.ird.govt.nz/fees-free.

Study Link

If you are a full-time student and a New Zealand or Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, you may be eligible for a student loan or allowance through StudyLink to help with your compulsory fees, course related costs and living costs. The student allowance is a weekly payment for full-time students to help with day-to-day living costs. For more information see the StudyLink website www.studylink.govt.nz