Apart from programme specific requirements, the Ministry of Education has rules regarding identity and eligibility. So, in order to enrol you on one of our programmes we need to verify your identity and your eligibility as a domestic student.

The Ministry of Education considers a domestic student to be one of the following:

  1. a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident; or
  2. an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident currently residing in New Zealand; or
  3. an international student involved in post graduate research (who meets the requirements in paragraph (c) below); and

is either (i):

  1. aged 16 years and over; or
  2. aged under 16 years and meets the criteria in paragraph (d) below; and
  • (ii) is studying in New Zealand, unless the student meets the criteria in paragraph (e) below; and(iv) has paid or committed to pay his or her fees (if fees apply), unless the student meets the criteria in paragraph (f) below.
  • (c) An international student involved in postgraduate research is a valid domestic enrolment, if the programme of study in which he or she is enrolled is:(i) a PhD (level 10 on the NZQF)[1]; and(ii) wholly research.

(d) A student aged under 16 years old at the time that the programme of study or training in which the student is enrolled begins is a valid domestic enrolment if he or she meets the following criteria:

(i) you are satisfied that the student is capable of completing the academic requirements of the programme of study or training in which the student is enrolled; and

(ii) you have ensured that the student has a school exemption certificate from the Ministry of Education; and

(iii) if the student is, or will be, enrolled in a secondary school at the time the programme of study or training starts, you have ensured that the student's principal has signed a letter that approves the programme of study or training, and that either specifies that:

    1. the student is not required to be absent from school during school hours; or
    2. if the student is required to be absent from school during school hours for more than five hours per week, the school will seek reduced funding for the student from the Ministry of Education; and

(iv) if the student is, or will be, home schooled at the time that the programme of study or training starts, you have ensured that the parent of the student who is primarily responsible for the student's home schooling has signed a letter that approves the study or training.

  • .

(e) A student studying outside New Zealand is a valid domestic enrolment if he or she meets the following criteria:

(i) the student is:

    1. A. a Domestic Student[2]; and
    2. B. enrolled in a course(s) leading to the award of a recognised qualification offered by a New Zealand TEO; and

(ii) the student meets the following criteria if they are studying at an overseas campus or delivery site (irrespective of whether they are enrolled at the TEO’s New Zealand campus or overseas campus):

    1. the student is enrolled at a New Zealand TEO in a programme leading to the award of a qualification at Level 7 or above on the NZQF; and
    2. the study outside New Zealand is full time and face-to-face (ie not an extramural enrolment) in an approved country identified on the Education New Zealand website; and
    3.  is undertaking part (but not all) of the programme outside New Zealand.
  • .
  • (f) A student who has not paid his or her fees (if fees apply) is a valid domestic enrolment if you pay for the student’s fees through a scholarship, or if the student is eligible for fees-free tertiary education, and you are prohibited from charging the student the amount that we have paid you under Condition 8 which may be some or all of the fees.

  • Above conditions are from www.tec.govt.nz

Enrolment contact

Enrolment Administration
Student Information Management Team