Inland Revenue is now responsible for supporting tertiary learners with final-year Fees Free information, assessing learner eligibility and paying entitlements.
Final-year Fees Free covers fees for the final year of study or final 2 years of work-based learning, up to $12,000. This aims to motivate learners to complete their qualification or programme, and reduce the overall cost of their study or work-based learning.
Learners can only get Fees Free once. Usually, they can only get Fees Free if they are starting study or work-based learning for the 1st time, but there are some exceptions.
Learners enrol for study or work-based learning and pay their fees. They can apply for Fees Free after they have completed their qualification or programme.
Learners can apply for Fees Free in myIR from 15 January 2026.
First-year Fees Free
First-year Fees Free finished on 31 December 2024. It was managed by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
Learners should contact the TEC if they have questions about first-year Fees Free.
Contact us - Tertiary Education Commission (feesfree.govt.nz)
More information
More information for learners about final-year Fees Free is on our website.