Source: Tertiary Education Commission
Last updated 6 October 2025
This page sets out what previous study or work-based learning is allowed under the Fees Free learner eligibility.
On this page:
Learners can only get Fees Free for the first qualification or programme they complete. If they have studied or done work-based learning previously, they may not be able to get Fees Free for their current qualification or programme.
Qualifications and programmes completed after 1 January 2025
Fees Free is for the first qualification or programme a learner completes on or after 1 January 2025.
If a learner has completed a previous qualification or programme in New Zealand, in most cases they cannot get Fees Free.
If a learner has completed any overseas tertiary qualification or programme from 1 January 2025, of any length of time and at any level, they cannot get Fees Free.
Exceptions – previous study and work-based learning allowed
There are exceptions where learners may get Fees Free even if they have already completed a qualification or programme in New Zealand from 1 January 2025.
Previous study and work-based learning allowed:
certificates of proficiency
pathway qualifications
zero-fee programmes
school learning programmes
secondary tertiary programmes (like trades academies)
qualifications funded through the Youth Guarantee (YG) Fund, Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) Fund or the ILN Refugee English Fund
qualifications or programmes at Levels 1 or 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF)
provider-based qualifications and credentials under 0.5 equivalent full-time students (EFTS)
work-based programmes under 120 credits.
From 1 January 2025 any study or work-based learning learners do not complete will not impact their eligibility for Fees Free.
Study or work-based learning before 1 January 2025
Learners generally cannot get Fees Free if they have undertaken study or work-based learning before 1 January 2025 that is:
more than half a year of equivalent full-time tertiary education (0.5 EFTS or 60 credits), and
at Level 3 or above on the NZQCF, and
any tertiary education at an equivalent level and duration undertaken in any country before 1 January 2025.
This also includes study or work-based learning that:
was undertaken in New Zealand and/or overseas
was not funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)
was undertaken part-time or full-time
was workplace training or an apprenticeship
was New Zealand study or work-based learning that pre-dated the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or NZQCF
was not completed, including where the learner withdrew after the refund period
received a fail grade
was undertaken as a domestic or international student
before 2023, had no fees associated with it
was paid for by the learner by accessing a student loan, using a scholarship, or paying for it themselves
was a Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF)-funded programme.
If a learner started in 2024 or earlier but has done less than half a year, they may be able to get Fees Free.
Exceptions – previous study and work-based learning allowed
There are exceptions where learners may get Fees Free even if they have already undertaken study or work-based learning before 1 January 2025.
Learners may be able to get Fees Free if their previous study or work-based learning was:
any tertiary education while enrolled in secondary school
credits achieved after 1 January 2018 as part of a work-based programme – if it was less than 120 credits in total
a course studied after 1 January 2023 – if it had zero tuition fees and zero compulsory course costs for all learners
any tertiary study or work-based learning that was funded through the Youth Guarantee, Māori and Pasifika Trades Training or Refugee English Funds.
