Student Services Levy

What the Student Services Levy is, what it pays for, and how much your contribution is.

Calculating your levy

Whether studying full time or part time, every student at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington needs to pay student levies.

Because the Student Services Levy is a compulsory charge, domestic students can pay for it using their student loan.

Levy for 2022

From 2022, the Student Services Levy will be calculated on a per-point basis capped at 150 points. How much you need to pay will depend on how many points you are enrolled in and where you are based for your study.

If you will be primarily studying from within the Wellington region, and if you are able to attend most of your required lectures and tutorials in person, your Student Services Levy will be calculated at $8.48 per point.

If you will be primarily studying from elsewhere within New Zealand or from overseas, and if you are unable to attend most of your lectures and tutorials in person, your Student Services Levy will be calculated at $4.24 per point.

To facilitate the move to this new structure, some students enrolled in 2021 will be eligible for a rebate in 2022. Details will be outlined in the 2022 Student Service Levy Policy.

Levy for 2021

If you are enrolled at the University in 2021, your Student Services Levy will continue to be charged as follows:

• students enrolled in 25 points or more, on-campus or off-campus within the Wellington region: $843.00
• students enrolled in 25 points or more, off-campus outside the Wellington region or off-campus outside New Zealand: $421.50
• students enrolled in less than 25 points, on-campus and off-campus within the Wellington region: $421.50
• students enrolled in less than 25 points, off-campus outside the Wellington region or off-campus outside New Zealand: $210.75.

Services included

The Student Services Levy is used to fund services for students that are not covered by tuition fees. This includes counselling, health services, financial advice, career guidance, student advocacy, student publications, and student representation.

The levy ensures equitable access to these services for all students, supporting academic achievement and providing valuable self-development opportunities.

Services funded by the levy include:

a. Advocacy and legal advice

• University resolution activities in relation to student complaints, disputes, appeals, pastoral (including accommodation) issues and academic disputes
• VUWSA delivering an independent advocacy service and training and supporting class representatives and Faculty delegates

b. Career information, advice, and guidance

• assisting students make study and career choices though career and course advice and assessment activities
• assisting with preparing job applications and CVs and practising interview skills

c. Counselling and pastoral care

• student counselling that supports students, so they can succeed both personally and academically
• Āwhina
• student support coordinators based at halls
• welfare services such as community pantry delivery provided by VUWSA
• Pasifika student services

d. Employment information

• information on jobs through publications, career expos, employer/industry presentations and through an online service called CareerHub

e. Financial support and advice

• assisting students with budgeting and Studylink issues
• administering the Hardship Fund

f. Health services

• Mauri Ora Student Health and Counselling support for students, so they can achieve their best academically
• Disability Services assistance for students with temporary and ongoing impairments, to ensure they are able to fully engage and achieve in their studies

g. Media

• a weekly Salient magazine published and circulated by VUWSA and produced entirely by students
• Salient FM, a student-run radio station

h. Childcare services

• Early Childhood Services, providing up to 72 FTE places for children of students at the University

i. Clubs and societies

• providing support to over 130 political, cultural, sports, faith-based, and academic clubs and societies on campus
• providing meeting rooms, activity spaces and resources, training programmes, and advice on club financial management

j. Sports, recreation, and cultural activities

• services operating largely from the Hub and the Recreation Centre
• sports leagues, tailored fitness programmes, and other programmes, along with recreational facilities and venues for student events and activities.

Studying only one trimester

Students enrolled in one trimester during 2021 to complete their degree are eligible to apply for a 50% refund of the levy. They must apply no later than three months after their course concludes.

Once you have received your grades for your final course, email student-levy@vuw.ac.nz to request the refund.

Trimester 3 only

Students enrolled only in the third trimester of 2021 will be able to claim a two-thirds refund of their Student Services Levy. This refund must be claimed before the last day of the official exam period for the academic year in which the levy was charged.

Withdrawing from study

If you withdraw fully from university within the first two weeks of your first term, you will get a fees refund and a refund on the Student Services Levy.

VUWSA services

The Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) is contracted to provide several services to the University, including student advocacy, student representation, and student media. These are funded from the Student Services Levy. VUWSA provides these services to all students, whether they are VUWSA members or not.

Student input

Victoria University of Wellington staff work in partnership with the Advisory Committee on the Student Services Levy (ACSSL). The ACSSL is an oversight body with student representatives from VUWSA and Ngāi Tauria who—via the Student Assembly—consult with faculty- and equity-based student representatives before presenting their recommendations on changes to the levy.

VUWSA also runs an independent survey of all students prior to considering any recommendation on changes to the levy.

Download the Student Services Levy Report for more information.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the Student Services Levy, email student-levy@vuw.ac.nz.