Kore utu
Fees Free tertiary study
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is one of the New Zealand tertiary institutions to offer free tuition for eligible tertiary learners in 2024.
Eligibility for Fees Free study in 2024
If you are a domestic student and a first-time tertiary learner, you may be able to get up to $12,000 of your fees covered for one year’s study. If you are eligible, we’ll organise payment of your first year of fees with the Tertiary Education Commission.
Changes have been announced to the first-year Fees Free policy. Make sure you review the changes for 2025 and first-year Fees Free transition rules on the Fees Free website.
Confirm your eligibility
It is important to confirm your eligibility on the Tertiary Education Commission’s Fees Free website using your National Student Number (NSN). This website also contains instructions to follow if you do not know your NSN or if more information is required to determine your eligibility.
If you are enrolled at Victoria University of Wellington, frontline staff can provide your National Student Number if you do not know it. Email info@vuw.ac.nz.
Studying in 2024
Confirm your eligibility online for 2024 study. If your NSN eligibility check response is ‘Yes’ for 2024, the Tertiary Education Commission will advise us of your entitlement.
If your NSN eligibility check response is ‘Maybe’ for 2024, follow the instructions on the ‘Maybe’ response page. You will need to review the Fees Free eligibility criteria. If you meet the criteria, follow the instructions provided to complete and submit a statutory declaration.
Make sure you have completed all the required steps to apply for admission into your programme and enrol in your courses for 2024.
Read more about 'Learners who still need to declare their eligibility for 2024' on the Fees Free website.
Second-year study and Fees Free
The Government has announced the Fees Free for the first year of study will finish at the end of 2024. It will be replaced by a final-year Fees Free scheme.
If you have already used Fees Free in your first year of study you won’t be able to access Fees Free under the new final-year policy. However, until the end of 2025, first-year Fees Free will operate under ‘first-year transition rules’.
First-year Fees Free transition rules
If you used Fees Free in 2024, you may be able to continue to use your remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement in 2025 if you:
- are continuing in the same programme of study in 2025, and,
- have Fees Free entitlement remaining.
You will be able to access your entitlement until the end of 2025, or until you reach 120 points (1 EFTS), or up to $12,000 (GST inclusive), whichever occurs first.
If you have remaining entitlement you will not be able to access Fees Free in the future if you:
- did not use Fees Free in 2024, or,
- used Fees Free in 2024 but are not continuing in the same programme of study in 2025.
Fees Free study includes
- tuition
- associated mandatory fees
- compulsory student service fees.
Fees Free study does not include
- text books
- club memberships
- course materials
- late fees.
Student Loan or Allowance for other fees
If you want to apply for a Student Allowance or the two non-fee parts of a Student Loan—living costs and course-related costs, you will still need to apply to StudyLink.
Already received a scholarship
If you have already received a scholarship, the money can be put towards accommodation and living costs instead of your fees. If you have any queries about your scholarship, contact the University’s Scholarship Office. If you wish to enquire about accommodation in Wellington, contact our Accommodation services.
Need help
If you have further questions, please review the Tertiary Education Commission’s FAQs on Fees Free. If you would like to speak to the University team about study or Fees Free, you can contact us at 0800 04 04 04, email us at info@vuw.ac.nz, or book a course planning session.