The Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) is an additional levy to your programme or course fees.
The Education Act 1989 was amended in 2011 to allow the Minister of Education to issue directions in relation to compulsory student service fees. The purpose of these changes was to ensure transparency in setting the fees and accountability for their use.
1) What is the Ministerial Direction?
- Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) can charge a compulsory student service fee to help fund the costs of delivering student services such as health care and recreational activities.
- How these fees are set and used are informed and regulated by Ministerial Direction that the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment introduced to improve transparency in setting the fees and accountability for their use.
- All Tertiary education organisations that charge a compulsory student service fee must comply with the provisions of the Ministerial Direction.
- The Ministry of Education regularly reviews the compulsory student service fees framework to make sure it is fit for purpose
The Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) at MIT is an additional levy to MIT domestic and international students’ programme fees. The CSSF funds key services for students to assist their success, retention and overall wellbeing while studying at MIT. All students, except distance and exchange students, must pay the fee and can borrow the amount against their student loan.
2) What the fee covers
By Ministerial Directive the CSSF can only be spent on specific permitted categories of spend. The following categories of spend are permitted for providers to provide a fee to support.
- Advocacy and Legal Advice
- Careers information, advice and guidance
- Counselling services
- Employment information
- Financial support and advice
- Health services
- Media
- Childcare services
- Clubs and societies
- Sports, recreation and cultural activities
The fee funds key services for students to assist their success, retention and overall wellbeing while studying at MIT. All students, except distance and exchange students, must pay the fee and can borrow the amount against their student loan.
3) CSSF Fee
- In September 2024, the CSSF for 2025 was set at $336.96 (GST inclusive) per domestic and international full-time student.
- This is a 4% increase from the 2024 fee of $324 (GST inclusive) per domestic and international full-time student.
- The fee is less for students studying part-time.
- All students, except distance and exchange students, must pay the Fee and can borrow the amount against their student loan, alternatively if eligible this fee is covered under the fees free policy.
4) Student Consultation
Consultation meetings were held with Student Council in 2023 to seek feedback, recommendations and endorsement on how the CSSF could be spent and allocated across various services. The following services were endorsed by the Student Council for delivery in 2024 under the permitted CSSF categories of spend.
| Type | Description | Services provided |
| Advocacy and Legal Advice | Advocating on behalf of individual students and groups of students, and providing independent support to resolve problems. This includes advocacy and referral support to specialist services. | Student Advocacy services
Student Council and Student Voice Representatives per campus and selected schools Complaints support and resolution process |
| Careers and employment information, advice and guidance | Supporting students’ transition into post-study employment.
Providing information about employment opportunities for students while they are studying. |
Career guidance services
Careers and Employment Solutions Career planning resources |
| Counselling services | Providing non-academic counselling and pastoral care, such as chaplains. | Counselling service (Mental health and wellbeing support)
Student Advisors (Pastoral Care) Chaplains (Spiritual advice/support) |
| Financial support and advice | Providing hardship assistance and advice to students on financial issues. | Student Advisors (Pastoral Care & Wellbeing advice)
Hardship support (e.g. Food-bank) |
| Health care support | Provision of limited health care subsidies through MIT’s external partner providers for urgent and emergency care needs | Student emergency fund for urgent or immediate medical care (i.e. same day doctors fee or ambulance fees)
External agency liaison and referral support |
| Media and communications | Supporting the production and dissemination of information by students to students, including social media and other forms. | Student Life team services, resources and media engagement platforms |
| Childcare services | Providing affordable childcare services while parents are studying. | MIT Children’s Education Centre (discounted fees for enrolled students) |
| Clubs and societies | Supporting student clubs and societies, including through the provision of administrative support and facilities for clubs and societies. | Sponsorship fund for registered student clubs/groups (i.e. conferences, activities)
Governance training and leadership development opportunities |
| Sports, recreation and cultural activities | Providing sports, recreation and cultural activities for students. | Pōwhiri and Whānau events
Campus experience and transition events such as Orientation Wellbeing events on campus Cultural celebration events on campus |
If students wish to be involved or provide feedback on how the CSSF is set or used, please contact the Student Voice Coordinator on studentvoice@manukau.ac.nz or email studentlife@manukau.ac.nz
