Student services fee explained , Ngā whakamārama mō ngā ratonga utu āwhina tauira

Find out how the student services fee is used to support your study journey and make your academic experience better.

Two students walking outside library

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:

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 2024 (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

Related content

Fees & funding

What your fees at Massey will be and how to pay them, what funding support is available, and how to be money smart.

Fees Fees Fees Fees

Students' association

The students' association gives you a helping hand and ensure your voice is heard.

Three students talking and laughing on campus Three students talking and laughing on campus Three students talking and laughing on campus Three students talking and laughing on campus