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Fee Free Study Options
Your ticket to the world could be closer than you think. Check out our fees-free options!
Fee Free Study Options
Youth Guarantee & Foundation
Take the first step with our Level 3 course. If you are aged 16-24 you might be eligible for Youth Guarantee Funding.
Find out more about Youth Guarantee here.
*All free study is subject to funding confirmation.
First Year or Final Year Fees Free
You may be able to get Fees Free for the final year of the first provider-based qualification or work-based programme you complete.
When you enrol for your study or training you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost you may wish to apply for a Student Loan through StudyLink.
To get Fees Free on completion of your final year of study or training you must:
complete a qualification or a programme eligible for Fees Free
meet the residency criteria at the time you complete your qualification or programme
meet the prior study and training criteria
not have already used Fees Free
You don't need to do anything to confirm your eligibility until 2026. However, if you would like to check if your eligibility before starting study, you can read the eligibility criteria on the Fees Free website, www.feesfree.govt.nz/final-year.
Claiming Fees Free
If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.
If you have a Student Loan, your Fees Free entitlement will go towards paying off your Student Loan. If you don’t have a loan, the entitlement will be paid to a bank account you nominate.
Started studying or training before 2025
The Government announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training finished at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy has replaced it, starting from 1 January 2025.
If you used Fees Free in 2024, you may be able to continue to use your remaining first-year entitlement in 2025. For more information on the first-year Fees Free transition rules visit the Fees Free website, www.feesfree.govt.nz/end-of-first-year.
Get Started with Fees Free
Interested in finding out more? The NZST team are here to help. Fill in your details and we will give you a call to chat through your options.
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To be eligible for fees-free study, you must meet certain criteria and be enrolled in an eligible course.
All NZST Certificate and Diploma programmes are eligible for fees-free study under the current government scheme. To access Youth Guarantee funding (for ages 16-24) you must apply for our Level 3 Certificate in Tourism only.
To check if you meet the requirements for fees-free, visit the Fees-free website and enter your National Student Number (NSN). If you don’t have an NSN, contact your Student Support Advisor.
Find out more about Youth Guarantee options here.
You may be eligible if you haven’t previously undertaken more than 60 credits (half a year of equivalent full-time tertiary education, 0.5 EFTS) at Level 3 or above on the NZQF. For more information please visit FeesFree.govt.nz.
Study for FREE* with one of our eligible courses below
Certificate in Tourism (Aviation, Tourism and Travel)
Level 3
24 weeksTake off on an adventure with our tourism, travel, and aviation program! Gain customer service and communication skills, and learn about tourism destinations, aviation law, and more. The perfect place to start your career in the travel and tourism industry, or launch your dream job in flight attending.
Certificate in Tourism
Level 416 weeksElevate your tourism game! Gain a deep understanding of NZ's tourism industry, special interest tourism, hotel and hospitality operations and more. Your tutors are industry experts and you'll learn from them in a fun and collaborative environment. Take that next step towards an exciting career in tourism.
Certificate in Flight Attending & Aviation
Level 416 weeksThis course covers all things aircraft aviation, from grooming to customer service, safety and emergency procedures and more. Ideal for those dreaming of a career as a flight attendant or cabin crew member, or in airline operations.
Ready for take off?
© 2025 New Zealand School of Tourism is one of the trading names for the registered PTE Yoobee Colleges. Your enrolment is with Yoobee Colleges Ltd and your qualification is issued by Yoobee Colleges.
