Student services fee explained

What is the compulsory student services fee?

All universities in New Zealand charge a student services fee as directed by the New Zealand Government’s Tertiary Education Commission. This gives you access to services that contribute to student life by supporting your study journey and enhancing your academic experience. Massey University also delivers the following services funded by the fee:

student development
career and employment support
health, counselling and care
sport and recreation
student achievement.

This also includes services provided by your students' association, Te Tira Ahu Pae:

representation, advocacy and advice
clubs, cultural groups, and societies
events
student to student communication.

How is the student services fee allocated?

The Tertiary Education Commission tells us that the money can only be spent on specific categories. At Massey the student services fee categories for 2024 are:

Student representation, advocacy and advice 13%

Class representatives can work to address course delivery issues on behalf of your class.
Advocacy services provide independent support to you though your students' association Te Tira Ahu Pae.
Financial support is available to you including budgeting advice and minor hardship grants.
Student representation, advocacy and advice includes:
- Te Tira Ahu Pae executives and student representation
- Rainbow takatāpui
- Student Voice.

Student to student communication 2%

Massive magazine is produced by your students' association Te Tira Ahu Pae and is available on campus and online.
Online communication includes student portals, Te Tira Ahu Pae websites, facebook and instagram.
Student radio is run by students for students – tune in to Manawatū Radio Control 99.4FM.

Student development, career and employment support 12%

Massey Career Centre online offering tools, resources and NZUni Talent Jobs Board
Career readiness events and webinars featuring alumni and employer recruitment presentations
Career development guidance workshops, webinars and programmes
Student Job Search platform for casual employment supporting your study
Development programmes enhancing your personal growth and transferable skills, including Strengths@Massey, Campus Co-Lab, Massey Guides and leadership opportunities.

Student health 22%

Clinics – confidential subsidised health clinics, 15 minute appointments with doctors and nurses
General health services including advice on diet and exercise, blood pressure checks, contraception advice, hearing, eye and skin tests, laboratory tests, minor surgery, repeat prescriptions, treatment with liquid nitrogen, and sexual health
Health promotion including vaccinations, sexual health, and immunisations.

Student counselling and care 23%

Pastoral care and support services to help you overcome obstacles and maintain your personal wellness are provided by a range of staff who run workshops and events to promote wellbeing. These are specific staff supporting Rainbow, Pacific, Māori and International students.
Te Rau Tauawhi and Pacific Student Success services support Māori and Pacific students
Spiritual wellbeing including your sense of meaning, purpose and connection. Our Chaplaincy service, prayer centres, meditation workshops, creative and break out spaces, interest groups and clubs are available to meet your needs.
Counselling by trained and registered counsellors to help you find ways to work through and understand personal, social or psychological issues on a professional basis – if you are living in NZ free counselling is available on campus or online.

Clubs, cultural groups, sport and recreation 16%

Student clubs, cultural groups and events online and on campus arranged through Te Tira Ahu Pae
Admin support including activity grants for clubs
Sport and recreation centres on each campus including social leagues and support for running clubs
Activities promoting engagement in sport and recreation.

Student achievement support 12%

Proactive coaching – reaching out to students who may be facing challenges; helping you unlock your full potential using the GROW model and coaching techniques
Data driven support – using predictive analytics to identify students at risk and provide tailored coaching to help you succeed academically
Comprehensive assistance – whether you’re a new student facing difficulties, returning from academic exclusion, or experiencing life barriers, we offer ongoing support to help you stay on track with your learning journey
Prep 4 Study – easing the transition to study by providing an opportunity for new students to connect to each other, their community and services, reflect on preparedness and get familiar with Stream.

How can you make your voice heard?

There are a number of opportunities for you to have your say. Each year the university and students' association meet to discuss priorities around access to particular student services. Feedback gathered from students' association and the annual student experience survey is also taken into consideration.

Student services fee engagement plan for 2024

We have been working with Te Tira Ahu Pae and the Student Services Fee Advisory Group to collaboratively plan and run our services fee consultation for 2024. This has impacts on 2025 – how and where funds are allocated, the fee amount, and the fee maximum.

We engaged with students through a variety of channels, including:

through questionnaires and online to help you understand what the student services fee is and how it's spent.
campus popups designed to educate students on the student services fee.

In May and June 2024, we asked current students for their opinion about how the compulsory Student Services Fee supports their success, how it could be distributed across services, what services it pays for, and how much the Student Services Fee charges should be for 2025. We promoted our survey by email, advertised in the Student Newsletter, and through on campus pop-up events.

Student Services Fee - student survey results 2024 (PDF)

Infographic - Where does your student services fee go? (PDF, 267KB)

Student services fee end-of-year services report 2023 (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Give feedback through Te Tira Ahu Pae

Feedback through your students' association leader

Give feedback on the student services fee

Feedback to the Director of Student Experience

Reporting and decision making

Student services fees requirements are included in funding conditions administered by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). Changes to student services fees are outlined in The Tertiary Education (Requirements for Student Services Fees) Notice 2022. From 2023, a single compulsory student services fee is charged.

We place importance on encouraging a strong student voice. We achieve this by:

engaging directly with students to learn more about how the levy should be spent and what services are most important
meeting throughout the year with the students' association and the Student Services Fee Advisory Group as an important means of seeking input and feedback
each year we liaise with student leaders over the following year’s priorities for the student services fee budget. This involves a Service Level Agreement between Massey and your students' association so that your association is funded appropriately to deliver particular services to all students, and ensures that the services delivered are important to student success at Massey.

The university reports the student services fee income and expenditure in its annual accounts, and the relevant section covering the student services fees is in Massey University's Annual Report (2023, pages 107-108). Any student services fee surplus is carried forward to the following year to be used solely for providing student services.

Massey University's Annual Report 2023 (PDF, 14.2MB)

Fees

The student services fee is a compulsory non-tuition fee. This includes a fee for each credit you are enrolled in. The maximum number of credits you can be charged for in an academic year is 120. The amount you need to pay will depend on how many credits you are enrolled in, and whether you are studying on campus or distance.

Find information on all fees including the current rates

If you have exceptional personal circumstances, such as an extended hospital stay affecting your ability to study, you may apply to have this compulsory fee reconsidered.

Student services fee reconsideration application form