Information for secondary students and school leavers
Five ways to figure out what it really costs…
1
Compare education providers and study options
2
Find out about course fees and living costs
3
Talk to someone who has done the course
4
Do a budget
5
Think about how the costs stack up over time
What are the costs?
How much does tertiary education really cost? There are three basic costs to think about:
Find out more about what these costs cover.
Course fees
In general, the course fees charged by the provider are the major tertiary education cost. These fees cover your tuition and can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for each year of study. The actual fee depends on the course you take and the provider you enrol with.
Make sure that you compare the course fees of a few different education providers before you make a decision. Some even offer fee free schemes.
You can use the Sorted website to get an idea of fee structures at universities, polytechs and private training establishments.
Think about whether you can train on the job – employers and industry groups often subsidise course fees for apprenticeships, industry training and workplace learning. Modern Apprenticeship fees are paid by government.
Search for courses that interest you
Contact industry training organisations
Sorted website – information on fee structures
- A lab coat - a course-related cost?
Course-related costs
Course costs don’t just stop with course fees. There are additional costs for things like textbooks, stationery and any tools or equipment that you need to participate in the course.
Find out what the course-related costs are likely to be from the education provider or from your employer. Remember – you may be able to claim your course-related costs as part of your student loan, or buy some things second-hand.
Living costs
Remember to factor in living costs. They’re likely to be your biggest cost if you’re moving away from home to study or train on the job. Before you make your education decision, think about these questions:
- 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 – find out about student loan living cost payments from StudyLink.
Most education providers have helpful information about living costs and budgets on their websites – ask them if you can’t find it.
StudyLink website – information on student loans
Department of Housing and Building website – guide to flatting
