Source: Tertiary Education Commission
Assessment and verification
Removed ‘award’ from the description of the ‘assessment and verification’ mode.
Technical accuracy.
Changes to programmes and Micro-credentials
Added the requirement that Industry Skills Boards, Polytechnics, and the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology get NZQA approval to make minor changes to programmes and micro-credentials.
Legislative change.
Changes to programmes and Micro- credentials
Replaced the requirement for TEOs to receive a notification of change from Workforce Development Councils with the requirement to receive a notice of change from Industry Skills Boards.
Legislative change.
Embedded literacy and numeracy
Clarified requirement to embed literacy and numeracy as part of work-based mode delivery at Level 3.
Amendments to the funding mechanism.
Exceeding annual EFTS value of qualification
Replaced ‘programme’ with ‘course’ and added Micro-credentials that lead to a qualification as part of the total EFTS factor for learner enrolments.
Technical accuracy.
Fee regulation – polytechnic fees
Added for the purposes of fee limits the definition of:
‘component course’
‘corresponding course’; and
‘corresponding polytechnic’.
Added new condition that allows polytechnics to revert back to previous fees.
Amendments to the funding mechanism.
First-year Fees Free
Removed paragraphs relating to the first-year Fees Free scheme and conditions no longer necessary for the administration of Fees Free.
Amendments to the funding mechanism.
Flexible funding
Added Polytechnics, the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Industry Skills Boards, and certain PTEs delivering work-based learning, and removed Te Pūkenga as qualifying TEOs for flexible funding.
Legislative change, and decisions about qualifying TEOs for flexible funding in 2026.
Industry Skills Boards
Added ‘Industry Skills Boards’ as eligible to receive funding to reflect changes to the Education and Training Act 2020.
Amendments to the funding mechanism
Industry Skills Boards
Replaced Workforce Development Council endorsement with Industry Skill Board endorsement (where appropriate) as a minimum requirement for programmes or micro-credentials delivered using DQ 3–7 funding.
Legislative change.
Learner component
Updated conditions to reflect new eligibility criteria for the learner component; low prior achievement and disability.Removed paragraphs relating to specific performance expectations for Learner Component funding.Simplified references to priorities and expectations for Learner Component funding.
Amendments to the funding mechanism.
New Zealand Apprenticeships (NZA)
Added a condition that you must report a programme as a NZA if it is approved as an apprenticeship.
TEC expectations.
NZSCED and Occupation Code
Added requirement to assign an Occupation Code to new or new versions of programmes delivered in work-based and assessment and verification delivery modes.
Changes to TEC systems.
Overseas learners in Realm countries
Added a condition to allow overseas learners to be funded if the learner is in Tokelau, the Cook Islands, or Niue in 2026 and enrolled in a programme funded in 2025 or earlier.
Amendments to the funding mechanism.
Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR)
Added a condition that DQ3–7 funding must not be used in addition to STAR funding.
Clarity.
Standard Training Measure (STM)
Changed references to STM to EFTS.
Amendments to the funding mechanism.
Refunding fees for Withdrawals
Added a condition that if you’re a registered PTE and need to refund fees, you must follow section 357 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
Technical accuracy.
Work-based: pathway to work mode
Removed references to the “work-based: pathway to work” mode of delivery.
Amendments to the funding mechanism.
