Fees & Student Loan Information - South Pacific College Of Natural Medicine

Fees Payment Options

Course fees and student services fees are paid annually. All fees are to be paid in full, in advance, two weeks prior to the beginning of each academic year. Course fees do not include textbooks and course related materials or equipment.

Students are required to organise one of the following payment options by the invoice due date each year:

Student Loan or Training Incentive Allowance for eligible Domestic students only. NB: Students studying a Certificate of Personal Interest course are not eligible for government study assistance.
Payment by bank transfer.
Credit card payment at reception only. Surcharge applies.

See our Fee Schedule and Admissions & Enrolment – Terms & Conditions for more information.

Support to Study

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.

Fee Protection and Refunds

Fees Protection Procedures

Student fees will be deposited into a Static Trust Account administered by an approved professional as per the NZQA Fee Protection Policy 2022. The amount held in the Static Trust Account will be at least equal to the sum of all the fees paid by each individual student should a refund be required and will be held for a minimum of 10 days after students are required to be in attendance on the course.
If the College voluntarily withdraws, or ceases to offer its programmes, all efforts would be made to protect student interests. Students will be given a choice of receiving a pro-rata refund or assistance to enrol in a similar programme with a transfer of fees.
All students will sign the Student Acknowledgement Form (Student Fee Protection Static Trust acknowledgement). This will be held in the student’s file.

Refund Regulations: All students, including International Students

A student may withdraw from a programme by completing the Withdrawal from Programme form and submitting it to the Student Administration Manager.
There will be no refunds provided for withdrawals from a course or programme after two weeks (14 calendar days) from the semester start date.
A refund of all payments made less costs, that will not exceed 10% of the total fees paid or $500 whichever is the lesser, will be made to a student who withdraws within two weeks (14 calendar days) of the commencement of a semester.
If a student withdraws before the semester commences, they will receive a refund of all course fees and student services fees paid. The enrolment application fee is not refundable.
If a student is excluded, no refund of course fees or student services fees will be provided.

See our Fee Schedule and Admissions & Enrolment – Terms & Conditions for more information.

Withdrawals

All withdrawals require written notice submitted to the Student Administration Manager as follows.

Early Withdrawal

Any withdrawal from a course within two weeks (14 calendar days) (Census Day) of the commencement of a semester shall be without prejudice to the student’s right to apply for re-enrolment in the future.

Withdrawal from a Course

A student may withdraw from a course/s by completing the Change to Enrolment form and submitting it to the Student Administration Manager.
See: Refund Regulations: All students, including International Students, above.
Where a student withdraws or is withdrawn by the Academic Board, their academic record shall record a grade as:
- Withdrawn (WD) in respect of that course;
- A fail grade (i.e. D) is recorded if withdrawal is after an unsuccessful or incomplete assessment attempt.
The College will notify NZ Immigration Service if an international student withdraws from their course/s before the expiry date on their visa.

Withdrawal from the Programme

A student may withdraw from the programme by completing the Withdrawal from Programme form and submitting it to the Student Administration Manager.
See: Refund Regulations: All students, including International Students, above.
Where a student withdraws or is withdrawn by the Academic Board, their academic record shall record a grade as:
- Withdrawn (WD) in respect of that course;
- A fail grade (i.e. D) is recorded if withdrawal is after an unsuccessful or incomplete assessment attempt.
The College will notify NZ Immigration Service if an international student withdraws from their programme before the expiry date on their visa.
All students shall surrender their student ID card upon withdrawal from the programme.
Students wishing to later re-apply for the programme will be required to meet admission and selection criteria. Students should be aware they will need to demonstrate their currency of learning; they may need to repeat some courses or complete competency testing.

Exclusion or Termination from the Programme or a Course

If a student does not comply with SPCNM Regulations regarding assessment, attendance, and standards of behaviour, or with the Clinic Manual Guidelines and Rules they may be excluded from a course and/or the programme by the Chief Executive upon recommendation from the Academic Board.
See: Refund Regulations: All students, including International Students, above.
A student who has been excluded from progression in the BNatMed, will only be considered for enrolment after a period of five years has elapsed.