Create competitive market

Establishing a universal student allowance, at the level of the unemployment benefit, for all full-time students
Work towards establishing a public ‘fee-free’ tertiary education system
Apply zero real rate of interest to student loans

Labour will ensure, through the Tertiary Education Commission, that the tertiary education system fosters the skills that our economy and society needs
Labour will continue to maintain the real value of funding rates (through the Student Achievement Component) for tertiary education providers
Labour will continue initiatives to further lift teaching quality, recognise outstanding teachers, and to promote the spread of good teaching practices including in specific areas such as emerging technologies
Labour will embed benchmarking capability in the sector, initially in institutes of technology and polytechnics

Not
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Introduce the first step towards a universal student allowance and proceed over three years to full implementation
Increase the proportion of the tertiary tuition subsidy to at least that of the 1998 budget, in real terms
Increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for specific courses to increase the number of appropriately qualified graduates
Review the costs of gaining initial medical qualifications, including exploring the option of a 'bonding' system for medical students who are willing to trade-off student loan abatements for staying in New Zealand

Commission research into the long-term impact of student loan debt on the life choices of graduates
Cut tuition fees for those studying medicine and nursing
Establish higher entrance standards for universities and provide funding incentives for universities to limit entry on the basis of academic performance
Increase the government’s contribution to the costs of vocational courses in fields facing a shortage of qualified personnel.