Standard Trust

Most training providers use a Standard Trust, where each student's fees are paid into an individual student trust account. Here's how it works for students enrolling in New Zealand:

1. The provider will give you (at enrolment) an application form to establish your student fee trust account (this includes conditions of the account and a schedule of fee payments to be made to the provider).
2. You sign the application form and the provider sends it to Public Trust.
3. You deposit your fees into the Public Trust account, using a deposit slip or electronic transfer form given to you by the provider. Note that you can request a receipt through your provider.
4. Public Trust establishes a Student Fee Trust Account in your name.
5. Public Trust makes payments to your provider over the duration of your course, commencing on the first day of your course.
   

For international students the order will be different, as you will need to pay your fees before arriving in New Zealand and sign the Public Trust application form once you arrive.

1. The provider establishes your student fee trust account with Public Trust as part of their enrolment process.
2. You deposit your fees into the Public Trust account, by electronic transfer or Telegraph Transfer, using details given to you by the provider (including the Public Trust reference number).
3. Your provider will provide you with the Public Trust receipt to use for your student Visa application.
4. You then sign the application form once you are in New Zealand and the provider sends it to Public Trust.
5. Public Trust confirms the Student Fee Trust Account in your name and starts making payments to your provider over the duration of your course, commencing on the first day of your course.
   

You should know that:

• Public Trust has no responsibility for your fees until they are deposited into the Public Trust bank account and you have completed the necessary student fee trust account application form.
• To make sure your fees are protected from the start, you should deposit them yourself directly to Public Trust.
• If you don't deposit fees with Public Trust directly, you should get a receipt or formal confirmation from your provider to confirm that the fees have been deposited on your behalf.
• Each Student Fee Trust Account is established under a Master Deed between Public Trust and NZQA, which sets out the terms and conditions that apply to each Student Fee Trust Account. Your training provider has signed a participation agreement with Public Trust under this Master Deed. Copies of these documents are available on request.

Payment of fees to providers

Under a Standard Trust, Public Trust pays fees to your training provider as a series of payments over the duration of your course. Tuition related fees are paid in arrears as follows:

• The lesser of $500 or 10% is paid when your course starts.
• 15% of the remaining tuition fees is paid on confirmation that you have completed the first eight days of your course.
• The remaining tuition fees are paid fortnightly or monthly, in arrears, for the duration of your course.
• Accommodation and living expenses are paid to your provider, either monthly or six-weekly in advance, in equal instalments from the course start date. Your provider will then transfer these payments to you or your accommodation provider.
• If you have arranged travel and health insurance through your training provider, then the premiums are paid once Public Trust has received your signed application form and fees. Your provider will then transfer the payment to the insurance provider.