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What are the costs?

How much does tertiary education really cost? There are three basic costs to think about: course fees, course-related costs, and living costs while you are studying or training.

Course fees

Course fees charged by education providers are one of the main costs of tertiary education. Tuition fees can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars for each year of study. Fees vary depending on the course you take and the provider.

Compare the course fees charged by several education providers before you make a decision on where to study. Some may offer fee free schemes.

You can use the Sorted website to compare fee structures at universities, polytechs and private training providers.

Also think about whether you can train on the job. Employers and industry groups often subsidise course fees for apprenticeships and workplace training. Modern Apprenticeship fees are paid by government.

Course-related costs

Course costs go beyond tuition fees. You also have to pay for things like textbooks, stationery and any tools or equipment needed for the course.

Check with your education provider or employer about what the course-related costs are likely to be. You may be able to claim your course-related costs as part of your student loan, or buy some things secondhand.

Living costs

Living costs are likely to be your biggest cost if you’re leaving home to study or train. Living costs are estimated at $14,000 - $17,000 a year (based on living in a student flat or hostel, in 2007).

Before you make your education decision, think about these questions:

Groceries are a significant living cost to consider.
How much will your groceries cost?
  • How much will accommodation cost?
  • What are your accommodation options? Can you stay with family/whānau, board, stay in a hostel, go flatting or stay at home?
  • What about transport to and from campus or work every day?
  •  How will you make sure you have enough money for food, power and a phone? What about clothing and entertainment?

You may be able to use a student loan to support some of your living costs, or you may qualify for a student allowance or an accommodation benefit.

Hear students talk about how they manage their living costs - video, 1.53 mins

 

How to cut down on your costs

  • Look into scholarships, grants and awards. There's a huge range of scholarships out there - so it's worth checking into.
  • Live at home - it will cut back on your living costs.
  • Plan a budget and stick to it. If you work out how much money you really need each week or month, you can work out how much you'll need for the year.
  • Work part time. Even if you can't fit in the time during the year, you may be able to work full time during the holidays, and save up to cover some of your expenses. Student Job Search can help you find opportunities - you may even find something that relates to your degree or gain skills you can use in the future.
  • See if you can get qualified while working - tertiary study isn't the only way to earn a qualification. Some employers and industry training organisations will subsidise  your course fees.