Student Services Fee

Your Student Services Fee explained. Learn what the compulsory fee covers, from health to clubs, and how students decide how it's spent.

The Waikato Student Services Fee (formerly the Student Services Levy) is a compulsory fee which funds a range of student services for students both on campus and online. 

The fee is reviewed and agreed each year. Students are consulted through a process led by the University’s Student Services Governance Committee (SSGC).

Student fee calculation

The Student Services Fee is calculated on a per credit point basis rather than a flat fee for the period enrolled. In 2025, students are charged a levy of $9.00 per credit point.

Example study period

Calculated levy

Full-time student studying 120 credits

$1,080

Student studying 180 credits between March 2025 and March 2026

$1,620

Net student studying 90 credits

$810

Part-time student studying 30 credits in trimester A and 30 credits in Trimester B

$540

Approved funding areas

A directive from the Ministry of Education ensures that the fee can only be used to fund specific designated services.

Areas that the Student Services Fee funds are:

  • 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 legal advice relating to accommodation.
  • Careers information, advice and guidance
    Supporting students’ transition into post-study employment.
  • Counselling services and pastoral care
    Providing non-academic counselling and pastoral care, such as chaplains
  • Employment information
    Providing information about employment opportunities for students while they are studying.
  • Financial support and advice
    Providing hardship assistance and advice to students on financial issues.
  • Health services
    Providing health care and related welfare services.
  • Media
    Supporting the production and dissemination of information by students to students, including newspapers, radio, television and internet-based media.
  • Childcare services
    Providing affordable childcare services while parents are studying.
  • Clubs and societies
    Supporting student clubs and societies, including the provision of administrative support and facilities for clubs and societies.
  • Sports, recreation and cultural activities
    Providing sports, recreation and cultural activities for students.

Governance – decisions on spending

Decisions on Student Services Fee spending are made by students through a consultation process led by the SSGC.

SSGC is made up of the President, both Vice-Presidents and General Manager of the Waikato Students’ Union and the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Student Services.

Any changes to funding need to be proposed to the SSGC and then approved by students through consultation.

Student Service Fee allocation for 2024

Each year, WSU conducts a broad student consultation process to review the levy allocations and potential new services.

Percentage of funding Allocation of Student Services Fee
4% Advocacy and legal advice
16% Careers info, advice and guidance, employment information
22% Counselling services and pastoral care
1% Financial support and advice
27% Health services
4% Media
2% Childcare services
3% Clubs and societies
21% Sports, recreation and cultural activities

Student Service Fee allocation pie chart for 2024 noted in previous table.