A students' group is welcoming the Tertiary Education Commission's decision to reject Victoria University's bid to increase student fees by 8%.
The commission says the university applied to break the fee cap so it could increase fees for next year's courses in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, and the Faculty of Education.
Te Mana Akonga (the National Maori Tertiary Students' Association) says it's delighted with the decision.
Tumuaki (principal) Ivy Harper says the rise would have affected programmes undertaken by many Maori and Pasifika students.
She says the decision is also a warning for any institution wishing to step outside the annual fee cap policy.
The application was denied because the commission says only one of four so-called exception criteria had been partially met.
Victoria University will now only be able to raise fees by the maximum 4% that's allowed under the fee cap.