The Minister for Tertiary Education invites submissions on proposed fee regulation settings for tertiary education providers in 2027. 

This includes a proposed Annual Maximum Fee Movement of 6%, as well as other minor changes to the fee regulation settings intended to improve the clarity of the regulations.

The Annual Maximum Fee Movement#

The Government regulates the fees tertiary providers can charge domestic students each year through the Annual Maximum Fee Movement (AMFM) and the micro-credential fee cap. The AMFM sets the maximum percentage increase allowed on fees for existing provider-based courses at Level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).

The Minister for Tertiary Education has proposed an AMFM rate of 6.0% for 2027. This would permit up to a 6% increase on the fees (GST exclusive) charged in 2026 to domestic students. The proposed increase aims to strike a balance between supporting providers to manage cost pressures and supporting the affordability of tertiary education for students and their whānau | family.

The micro-credential fee cap#

The micro-credential fee cap sets a per-credit cap on the fees that providers can charge domestic students enrolled in micro-credentials. The Minister has proposed to keep the micro-credential fee cap at $64 per credit for the 2027 calendar year.

Fee regulation policy changes#

Other changes to fee regulations have also been proposed to improve clarity of the settings for 2027, including:

• a change proposed for clause 6, which sets out when a tertiary education organisation (TEO) may return a course fee to a previously approved level. The clause has been amended to include that a TEO may return to a previously approved fee where a course has not been offered for one or more calendar years, in addition to circumstances where the fee for a course has been reduced.  
• a change proposed for clause 13, which sets out the low and zero fee provision. The revised clause now allows providers charging low or zero fees to increase fees up to the 75th percentile of the fee range charge for similar courses, as determined by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

Student services fees#

No change is proposed to the conditions on student services fees. Contact the TEC for more information.

Email: [email protected] 

Consultation process#

The Minister for Tertiary Education invites submissions on proposed fee regulation settings for tertiary education providers in 2027. The proposed settings have been published in the New Zealand Gazette.

The Tertiary Education (2027 Fee Regulation Settings) Notice 2026 – New Zealand Gazette

Submissions close 13 July 2026.

Following consultation, the Minister for Tertiary Education will make a final decision on the fee regulation settings for 2027.

How to make a submission#

Submissions can be sent by email.

Email: [email protected]

Submissions can also be sent by post.

Fee Regulation Settings Submission 
Tertiary Education Policy 
Ministry of Education 
PO Box 1666 
Wellington 6140