The TTAF, also known as free trades training, supported learners to undertake vocational education and training without fees from 1 July 2020 until 31 December 2022.

TTAF list of qualifications and programmes

Qualifications and programmes included in the TTAF target areas were excluded from Fees Free. Where both could apply, the learner’s fees were funded by the TTAF in the first instance, and not through Fees Free.

Learners undertaking courses or programmes fully covered by the TTAF:

• did not use their Fees Free entitlement on this learning, and
• will not have this learning count as prior study or training when determining Fees Free eligibility in future years.

If a learner is eligible for Fees Free and has undertaken a course or programme fully covered by the TTAF, they will still be entitled to the full Fees Free entitlement (the lower of $12,000, or the equivalent of one year’s study or two years of work-based learning) for any additional eligible study they undertake. If the learner has used some of their Fees Free entitlement prior to TTAF, then they will be able to access their remaining entitlement after TTAF.

Courses and programmes covered entirely by the TTAF do not need to be reported in your Fees Free returns.

Some courses and programmes may only be partially covered by the TTAF, depending on when they start, or when they end. Where a course or programme is partially covered by the TTAF, Fees Free may cover the remaining fees. Find more information below.

TTAF-eligible provider-based courses starting before 1 July 2020            

When a learner who is eligible for Fees Free was enrolled in a TTAF-eligible course that began before 1 July 2020, this is how their course fees and EFTS were allocated between Fees Free and TTAF:

Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) should report the full fees and EFTS for each course in their Fees Free return. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) will apportion these fees and EFTS automatically when calculating Fees Free allocations and entitlement use, to ensure the correct amount has been covered. TEOs do not need to complete this calculation themselves.

TTAF-eligible provider-based courses that started before 1 January 2021

For SAC 3+ funded courses that were eligible for TTAF funding from 1 January 2021 as a result of the new target areas, the TTAF covered courses in eligible programmes and qualifications that started on or after 1 January 2021.

The TTAF covered 100% of the fees for courses in newly eligible programmes for 2021 that:

• started in November or December 2020 where one-third or more of the course occurred after 1 January 2021; or
• started between 1 July and 31 October 2020 where at least 75% of the course occurred after 1 January 2021.

The TTAF also covered 50% of the fees for courses in newly eligible programmes for 2021 that started between 1 July and 31 October 2020 where at least 50% but less than 75% of the course occurred after 1 January 2021.

TEOs should report the full fees and EFTS for each course in their Fees Free return. The TEC will apportion these fees and EFTS automatically when calculating Fees Free allocations and entitlement use, to ensure the correct amount has been covered. TEOs do not need to complete this calculation themselves.

TTAF-eligible provider-based courses that finished after 31 December 2022

The TTAF ended on 31 December 2022. Where a course that is eligible for TTAF started in 2022 and ended after 31 December 2022, the TEC will apportion fees based on the portion of the course that occurred before 31 December 2022, based on the total number of days in the course. This is calculated using the course start and end dates recorded in the Single Data Return (SDR), and the course fees recorded in Services for Tertiary Education Organisations (STEO). 

TTAF will pay the full fees where:

• the course started prior to 1 January 2023 and ended on or before 31 January 2023; or
• the amount payable by the learner was calculated to be $10 or less.

The TTAF also covered 100% of any student services fees associated with enrolments that started in 2022 (ie, we have not apportioned the student services fees).

Where TTAF did not cover the full fees and the learner is eligible for Fees Free, Fees Free may cover the remaining amount. For more information, see Guidance for TEOs on the end of the TTAF (PDF 505 KB).

TEOs should report the full fees and EFTS for each course in their Fees Free return. The TEC will apportion these fees and EFTS automatically when calculating Fees Free allocations and entitlement use, to ensure the correct amount has been covered. TEOs do not need to complete this calculation themselves.

The settings have changed over the years. Whether the study counts towards learner entitlement use depends on when the learner started their MPTT or YG course. 

Settings for 2018 to the current year

• This table shows the calculation for how much of a YG or MPTT-funded course is counted towards Fees Free entitlement use when the course starts prior to 1 July 2020 and finishes on or after 1 July 2020.  

MPTT or YG courses that started on or after 1 July 2020

These will not be counted towards a learner's Fees Free entitlement use. Learners will not need to contact the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for this to be reflected in their Fees Free entitlement use.  

Reporting YG and MPTT

Where a course is partially or fully counted towards Fees Free entitlement, tertiary education organisations (TEOs) should report the full course equivalent full-time students (EFTS) in their Fees Free returns. TEC will apportion the EFTS for the learner as per the rules above. TEOs do not need to report YG or MPTT courses that started after 1 July 2020 in their Fees Free return. If reported, these courses will fail validation and will not use a learner’s entitlement.

How YG and MPTT affects Fees Free eligibility

• To be eligible for Fees Free, a learner must not have undertaken more than half a year of equivalent full-time tertiary education (0.5 EFTS or 60 credits) at Level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), including tertiary education at an equivalent level undertaken in any country. This is known as the prior study and training criteria.
• Credits obtained from MPTT or YG courses that start on or after 1 July 2020 will not be included as part of the 60 credits counted for the prior study and training criteria. 
• Therefore, if a learner enrols in an MPTT or YG course that started on or after 1 July 2020, this study will not impact their eligibility for Fees Free tertiary education, under current policy settings.

Learners undertaking provider-based study who aren’t eligible for Fees Free, or eligible learners whose fees exceed $12,000, may be able to apply for a student loan to cover their compulsory fees.

Learners enrolled in high-cost courses have a limit on the amount they can borrow, which may also be impacted by Fees Free, if they are eligible.  Read more about how Fees Free is applied to high-cost courses such as approved aviation programmes for pilot training (PDF 598 KB).

Fees Free does not cover accommodation costs, or optional and occasional costs associated with tertiary study. Learners eligible for Fees Free may still wish to apply for a student loan or allowance to cover their accommodation or non-compulsory course-related costs.

For more information on student loans and allowances see StudyLink.

Learners undertaking work-based learning are not eligible for a student loan or student allowance.

Eligible learners cannot opt to pay fees, either themselves or using a scholarship or student loan, and bank their Fees Free entitlement for future use. If a learner is eligible for Fees Free and is undertaking eligible study, they are automatically using their Fees Free entitlement.

If your organisation administers a scholarship that covers compulsory fees for first-year study, we recommend allowing Fees Free eligible learners the flexibility to use their scholarships for living or course-related costs other than compulsory fees, or in the second year of study. This will enable Fees Free eligible recipients to benefit from both the scholarship and Fees Free.