Some of the free English classes that are funded by the Tertiary Education Commission have other eligibility rules. For example, rules relating to your employment status or previous experience learning English.
English for Employees
About the programme: English for Employees
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Visa status: If you hold a temporary visa, you are not eligible to enrol in English for Employees unless you are a convention refugee, an asylum seeker ora diplomatic visa holder.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: Before being offered a place in the English for Employees programme we will check your NZQA Record of Achievement and ask you to sit an assessment to confirm your eligibility. You cannot have a qualification gained in NZ that is above Level 4. In practice, the eligibility criteria mean that people enrolled in our English for Employees programme typically have a low level of English.
- Your work status: You must be in paid work - full or part-time work or self-employed or a New Zealand apprentice. We cannot enrol people in voluntary roles.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student. If you are studying English already, please let us know. This may affect your eligibility for this free programme.
English for Jobseekers
About the programme: English for Jobseekers
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: It doesn’t matter what your English level is.
- Your work status: It doesn’t matter what your work status is, but this programme is best for people who are unemployed and seeking work.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student.
English Language Groups
About the programme: English Language Partners | In class
English Language Groups are group classes that are focused on English for everyday life. You can learn online or in the classroom.
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: It doesn’t matter what your English level is.
- Your work status: It doesn’t matter what your work status is.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student.
ESOL Literacy
About the programme: ESOL Literacy & ESOL Intensive
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: ESOL Literacy is for learners with fewer than six years of schooling who have a low level of English speaking and literacy. Before being offered a place on an ESOL Literacy programme we will check your NZQA Record of Achievement to confirm eligibility.
- Your work status: It doesn’t matter what your work status is.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student.
ESOL Intensive
About the programme: ESOL Literacy & ESOL Intensive
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: Low level of English speaking and literacy. Before being offered a place on an ESOL Intensive programme we will check your NZQA Record of Achievement to confirm eligibility.
- Your work status: It doesn’t matter what your work status is.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student.
ESOL Road Code
About the programme: ESOL Road Code
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: It doesn’t matter what your English level is.
- Your work status: It doesn’t matter what your work status is.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student.
- Other criteria: We prioritise learners from a refugee background.
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (NZCEL)
About the programme: NZCEL
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: We currently offer courses for pre-intermediate/intermediate learners. Before being offered a place on an NZCEL course, we will check your NZQA Record of Achievement. If you have gained a qualification in NZ at level 2 or above, please talk to us about this. We will also ask you to sit a placement test to assess your English level and suitability for this programme.
- Your work status: It doesn’t matter what your work status is.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student. You must be committed to achieving a formal qualification in English.
An English tutor in your own home
About the programme: Home tutoring
- General eligibility: You must be eligible for free English lessons.
- Age requirement: You must be 16 or older.
- Your level of English: It doesn’t matter what your English level is.
- Your work status: It doesn’t matter what your work status is.
- Your study status: You must not be enrolled as a full-time secondary school student.
- Other criteria: We prioritise learners who find it difficult to travel to a class and who can’t study online.
