The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.

If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.

The current key facts for 2025 students are:

• Students need to pay for their fees up front through Studylink or themselves

• If you’re eligible, Fees Free covers the fees for the final year of tertiary study or training 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 didn’t use $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.

• Students' will be able to confirm their eligibility and claim their Fees Free entitlement after they complete their qualification using the myIR portal which will be available to use from early 2026. Until then, they don’t need to do anything. 

For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit FeesFree.govt.nz