StudyLink
A Student Loan helps to pay for course and student services fees. Students may also be eligible for a StudyLink-funded Student Allowance, Student Loan Living Costs, or Student Loan Course Related Costs.
Work and Income New Zealand
WINZ clients receiving specific types of payments may be eligible for a Training Incentive Allowance to help cover fees and study related costs (including childcare).
Final Year Fees Free
If starting tertiary study for the first time, students may be eligible for Fees Free funding after they complete their first eligible qualification or programme. The final year of study must start on or after 1 January 2025.
Students are required to pay their fees, using one of the payment options above, in advance of each year of study. Fees Free is not available if a student is studying a foundation course (i.e. a semester long course) in preparation for studying a diploma or degree. Students will not be eligible for Fees Free if their fees were paid with a Training Incentive Allowance.
Fees Free covers the cost of fees for the last year of study (or the equivalent if studying part-time), up to $12,000. SPCNM will submit the fees’ value, confirmation of the qualification completion and other study details in a government report in late January of each year. We advise that graduates do not apply for Fees Free funding until two months after their completion date to allow time for this data to be processed by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and Inland Revenue.
Fees Free funding will only be paid to a graduate or to the graduate’s Student Loan account if they have a loan balance. If so, the full amount will be paid to the Student Loan account, and any overpayment will be refunded by Inland Revenue. Graduates may not request that the funding is paid to another person or organisation.
For more information, and to apply for Fees Free (from 15 January 2026), see Inland Revenue – Fees Free.
PLEASE NOTE: To be eligible for government support students must be a New Zealand citizen (criteria may apply). If not a New Zealand citizen e.g. a permanent resident, they must meet Inland Revenue and/or StudyLink learner criteria.