Source: Tertiary Education Commission
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Funding for micro-credentials
We want to invest in micro-credentials, delivered by highly capable TEOs, that meet the needs of industries and communities, and support government priorities. To be funded, micro-credentials need to meet a clearly established industry or community need, be tightly focused on a set of skills, and have stand-alone value.
Not all quality-assured micro-credentials can be funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as we have to prioritise how we distribute funding. Our investment in micro-credentials will complement rather than replace existing privately funded training. Alongside the micro-credentials we fund, we expect employers, industries, and learners will cover the full cost of others themselves.
We are open to funding micro-credentials at any level of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), but we want to ensure learners are supported to make good choices, including enrolling in full qualifications where appropriate.
For more information on the micro-credential funding conditions, see the DQ1-2, DQ3-7 and DQ7-10 funding conditions for the relevant year.
Eligible organisations
All TEOs eligible for Delivery on the NZQCF funding, at any level (DQ1-2, DQ3-7 (non-degree) and DQ7-10), can apply for funding to deliver micro-credentials.
If your organisation is not currently approved to receive any funding from us via an Investment Plan, you will first need to apply for funding as a new provider. For more information about this, see Application to receive TEC funding.
Talk to us early
If you are a TEO creating a new micro-credential, you may choose to get in touch with us early in the development process before submitting it to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
We may be able to advise you if it is something we could potentially fund before you invest resources into developing it.
Any advice is provisional, based on the information known to us at the time, and does not replace the application and assessment process.
To receive guidance from the TEC on funding eligibility for your micro-credential, please email micro-credential@tec.govt.nz.
How to apply
The current TEC criteria and guidelines for the approval of TEO-developed micro-credentials came into effect on 1 November 2022. All applications must meet the approval criteria and use the form below.
How to submit your application
Please read the criteria and guidelines carefully and submit your completed application through DXP Ngā Kete.
Let us know when you’ve submitted, by emailing micro-credential@tec.govt.nz.
You can apply at any time. We expect to advise outcomes within six weeks. It may take longer in some circumstances or if we require additional information.
WDC-developed micro-credentials
Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) developing micro-credentials for which TEOs may seek TEC funding approval will need to be familiar with what we will and won’t fund.
Funding requirements can be found in the DQ1-2, DQ3-7 and DQ7-10 funding conditions for the relevant year.
You can also find more information at:
WDC-developed micro-credentials and qualifications
Please be aware that where a WDC-developed micro-credential does not meet our investment requirements, we will not fund its delivery.
A TEO wanting to gain accreditation to deliver a micro-credential developed by a WDC must first apply to NZQA. If granted accreditation by NZQA, the TEO can then enter the micro-credential into DXP Ngā Kete.
If you have any questions about this, please call us on 0800 601 301 or email customerservice@tec.govt.nz.
Fee limits on micro-credentials
For information on fee limits on micro-credentials, including exception criteria, see Fee cap for micro-credentials.
Re-prioritising funding from existing allocation
If we approve a micro-credential for funding, we expect that in most cases TEOs will re-prioritise funding from within their existing allocation. To do this, you need to make an in-year Plan Amendment via a Mix of Provision (MoP) change in DXP Ngā Kete.
You can increase the number of learners you enrol in the micro-credential over time (and make any necessary changes to the MoP), but you need to ensure the micro-credential continues to meet the priorities set out in the Tertiary Education Strategy, Plan Guidance and Supplementary Plan Guidance in force at the time of the proposed increase.
If we approve your micro-credential for funding and you would like to seek additional funding for it, you can submit an additional funding request either at the time of your micro-credential application, or after it is approved. You will need to follow the standard process for additional funding. You can do that as part of the annual investment round or as an in-year additional funding request.
We may consider investing additional funding to support micro-credentials if there is an exceptionally compelling case for strong employer or community demand and a clear contribution to government priorities.
In considering further funding, we will look at your TEO’s performance in existing provision, including whether existing allocation can be reprioritised from lower-performing provision to the micro-credential.
