Laidlaw College is committed to growing leaders who can renew communities. We are offering Zero Tuition Fees for student teachers to enable more people to enter a rewarding profession where they can positively influence the lives of children, young people, their whanau, and the wider community. 

*Zero Tuition Fees is a fee waiver policy applies to the 2026 academic year for eligible new students in our Initial Teacher Education programmes, namely the tuition fees for: 

• Our Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) programme; or 
• The first year of our Bachelor of Education (Primary) programme. 

Eligibility Criteria:

Under this fee waiver, New Zealand Citizens residing in New Zealand are eligible to study at Laidlaw College in 2026 without paying tuition fees for: 

• Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) programme; or
• The first year of the Bachelor of Education (Primary) programme. 

New Zealand Permanent Residents or Residents will also be eligible for the tuition fee waiver if they: 

• Have held a resident visa for more than three years; AND
• Have resided in New Zealand for more than three years. 

If New Zealand Permanent Residents or Residents do not meet eligibility criteria for the tuition fee waiver, they will be charged domestic tuition fees.

Students who are not New Zealand Citizens, New Zealand Permanent Residents, or Residents on the first day of the semester will be charged international fees. 

The zero tuition fee waiver is conditional on meeting all other programme entry requirements, and Laidlaw College reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any time before enrolment at its sole discretion. 

Exclusions:

The tuition fee waiver, as outlined above, applies only to the base tuition fee. Student Services Fees (SSF) and any other voluntary costs, such as textbooks or activities, remain the responsibilty of the student. 

The tuition fee waiver applies only to the first attempt of a course. Zero Tuition Fees excludes any tuition fees related to repeating a course. 

General:

Study undertaken in 2027 and beyond will not be covered by this fee waiver. Full tuition fees will apply and are the responsibility of the student. 

Any student who takes up Zero Tuition Fees in 2026 and subsequently withdraws from one or more courses will not be eligible to receive a cash refund of the fee that would have been charged. 

Please note that Laidlaw College reserves the right to cap the number of enrolments into the Initial Teacher Education programmes. Acceptance into an Initial Teacher Education programme is subject to applicants meeting the entry requirements (including police vetting clearance, the assessment of the applicant’s disposition to teach, and ability to meet the Code of Professional Responsibility). 

Students who accept the Zero Tuition Fees waiver accept that Laidlaw College reserves the right to place them in any Auckland or Canterbury primary, intermediate, or secondary school, as applicable to the programme they are enrolled in, where there is availability. This is due to Laidlaw College’s dependency on the generosity of schools to host student practicum placements. 

All matters relating to student rights and responsibilities will be managed in accordance with Laidlaw College’s Policies and Procedures. 

** Please note this information needs to be read in conjunction with the Fee Schedule and the General Information and Regulations document.