GET IN TOUCH
Email
Phone
Physical address
Unit E, Corinthian Office Park
17 Corinthian Drive, Albany 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
Get in touch with us
Send us a message
Read or privacy statement
Unit E, Corinthian Office Park
17 Corinthian Drive, Albany 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
Final-year Fees Free is ending
The Government has confirmed that final-year Fees Free will end on 31 December 2026. Eligibility for Fees Free is based on when you complete your qualification, not when you enrolled. Learners who complete an eligible qualification in 2027 or later will not be eligible for final-year Fees Free.
New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5)
The New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) offered by Strategi Institute was an eligible qualification under the Government’s final-year Fees Free scheme for eligible learners.
This page is provided for learners who studied the qualification and want information about Fees Free eligibility, application deadlines, and the closure of the scheme.
If you completed your qualification in 2025
You may be eligible for final-year Fees Free, which can cover up to $12,000 of fees for the final year of tertiary study.
To receive final-year Fees Free, you must:
Some circumstances may affect your eligibility. For example, you may not be eligible if you have previously studied or undertaken work-based learning, already received Fees Free, or used the Training Incentive Allowance to pay your final-year fees.
Important: If you completed your qualification in 2025, you must apply for Fees Free by 31 December 2026. This deadline will not be extended, so we encourage you to check your eligibility and apply as soon as possible.
Check your eligibility and apply at www.ird.govt.nz/fees-free
If you completed your qualification in 2026
If you completed an eligible qualification during the 2026 calendar year, you may still be entitled to final-year Fees Free.
Eligible learners can apply for their Fees Free entitlement through Inland Revenue within 12 months of completing their qualification, up to 31 December 2027.
After completing your qualification, you must submit an application through the myIR portal.
For eligibility information, application guidance, and current processing information, visit:
Inland Revenue requires confirmation of qualification completion from Strategi Institute before an application can be processed.
If you complete your qualification in 2027 or later
If you complete your qualification after 31 December 2026, you will not be eligible for final-year Fees Free, even if you started your study in 2025 or 2026.
The Government has confirmed there will be no transition arrangements, and eligibility is determined by the date the qualification is completed.
Eligibility
To receive final-year Fees Free, learners must:
Some learners may not be eligible if they have previously undertaken tertiary study or work-based learning, have already received Fees Free, or have used the Training Incentive Allowance to pay their final-year fees.
Applying for Fees Free
After completing your qualification, you must submit an application through the myIR portal.
For eligibility information, application guidance, and current processing information, visit:
Inland Revenue requires confirmation of qualification completion from Strategi Institute before an application can be processed.
Important
Fees Free is administered by Inland Revenue. Completion of a qualification does not automatically guarantee entitlement, and all applications are subject to Inland Revenue eligibility requirements and assessment.
Need Help?
If you have questions about your study record or qualification completion with Strategi Institute, feel free to contact us at [email protected].