Fees Free policy announced
The new Fees Free policy was announced on Tuesday and applies to all tertiary study including apprenticeships. However, there are eligibility criteria for both the learner and the apprenticeship they are enrolling into, so not every new apprentice will be able to access fees-free training.
The Government has published information on a new website: www.feesfree.govt.nz. This website has a tool for learners to find out whether they are eligible by entering in their National Student Number. It also outlines the eligibility criteria, and has a FAQ section.
For apprenticeships, fees-free for 2018 covers eligible programmes beginning in 2018 for up to two years. An apprentice can begin their training any time in 2018 and be eligible for the next 24 months fees-free.
To be eligible for fees-free for an apprenticeship for 2018, you must:
- be enrolling in a New Zealand Apprenticeship or other programme of at least 120 credits that starts in 2018, is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission, recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and is at New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) level 3 or above; and
- be entitled to work in New Zealand; and
- not be currently enrolled in a school at the start date of the programme; and either
- have been enrolled in a school at any time during 2017 or 2018; or
- not have previously undertaken more than 60 credits at level 3 or above on the NZQF, including tertiary education at an equivalent level undertaken in any other country, but excluding any tertiary education undertaken while enrolled in a secondary school.
For eligible enrolments from 1 January 2018 there will be no fees to pay to MITO for the apprentice’s first two years in their training agreement.