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:

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

This also includes services provided by your students' associations, Te Tira Ahu Pae and Ngā Haumi ki te Āo:

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 budgeted student services fee categories for 2026 are:

Student representation, advocacy and advice 15%

Class representatives can work to address course delivery issues on behalf of your class.
Advocacy services provide independent support to you though your students associations.
Financial support is available to you including budgeting advice, minor hardship grants and grants applied for through your student portal.
Student representation, advocacy and advice includes students associations executives and student representation, Rainbow takatāpui and 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, students associations websites, facebook and instagram.
Student radio is run by students for students – tune in to Manawatū Radio Control 99.4FM.

Student career development and employability 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 clinics and health promotion 16%

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 care, Te Rau Tauawhi, Pacific student success, counselling services 27%

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. Free counselling is available on campus or online.

Clubs, cultural groups, sport and active recreation 16%

Student clubs, cultural groups and events online and on campus arranged through your students' associations.
Admin support and 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 active recreation.

Student achievement support 12%

Proactive coaching – reaching out to students who may be facing challenges affecting academic success; helping you unlock your full potential using the GROW model and coaching techniques
Using data and 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' associations meet to discuss priorities around access to particular student services. You can give feedback through a number of sources including:

the students' associations
through our website
MyHub Student Voice page
the annual student experience survey
the annual Student Services Fee survey
attend one of the students' associations regular student forums.

Student Services Fee Advisory Group

The Student Services Fee Advisory Group (SSFAG) is made up of 10 student representatives, 3 Te Tira Ahu Pae staff, 1 Ngā Haumi ki te Ao staff and 4 Massey staff, all working together to share perspectives and help guide how the Student Services Fee is used to support students through their journey at Massey. They meet monthly from February to October to:

discuss the fee, budget and services supported by the fee
carefully consider student feedback relating to the fee and its use.

The SSFAG make recommendations on the Student Services Fee, any changes to the distribution of funds and any issues that may arise around the funds.

Student services fee engagement plan for 2026

We work with the Student Services Fee Advisory Group to collaboratively plan and run our Student Services Fee survey for 2026. This has impacts on 2027 – how and where funds are allocated, the fee amount and the fee maximum.

We engage with students through a variety of channels including:

Student Voice-led initiatives to help you understand what the Student Services Fee is and how it is spent.
Online activities and campus pop-up events designed to educate students on the Student Services Fee.

Our main survey was sent to students on Tuesday 28 April and stayed open until Sunday 17 May. We invited all current students to share their opinion on how the compulsory Student Services Fee will support them in 2027. Thanks so much to everyone who took part. We’re now reviewing your feedback and preliminary results are available.

Student Services Fee - student survey preliminary results 2026

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

Student services fee end-of-year services report 2025 (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.

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

engaging directly with students to learn more about how the fee should be spent and what services are most important
meeting throughout the year with the students' associations 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' associations so that your associations are 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 (2025, pages 100-101). Any student services fee surplus is carried forward to the following year to be used solely for providing student services.

Annual Report

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.

View information about how the student services fee is calculated

This is a compulsory fee that all students pay regardless of whether you use the services or not. The services are there to support you and are available should you require them. Most of the services offer an online and on-campus service.

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