The association is one of 27 signatories to an open letter to members of Parliament, part of the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations’ debt-free future campaign which launched last week.
Association president Melissa Lama said study and living cost loans could deter would-be students, while those who enrolled faced difficult conditions.
"Dunedin students have had a tough year with rising living costs[and] Covid and then still needing to meet academic requirements," she said.
"Fees-free will allow less stress and more assurance that they are protected."
The campaign, which also includes a petition, aims at a future where everyone has access to free tertiary education.
In 2017, the Labour Party campaigned with a fees-free programme to cover costs for three years of study by 2024, but this rollout was paused in 2020 with one year fees-free.
The letter asks the Government to implement the rest of the three-year scheme, to implement free taught postgraduate degrees, and to increase the repayment threshold to allow those with student debt to keep more income before having to pay back loans. It also asks for a universal education income to be introduced.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said more could be done for students, but "good progress" had been made.
“Whether to expand on the current fees free programme would need to be balanced against other priorities when Labour develops its election manifesto next year.”
Progress he pointed to included making the first year of university free, raising student allowances and student loan living costs by $75 a week since 2018, and creating the Technology Access Fund for Learners and Hardship Fund for Learners to help those studying through Covid-19.
