Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
The gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes was last measured in Guinea-Bissau in 2006 at 2.62%
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is not tuition-free. In fact, contributions from households account for more than 50% of national expenditure on higher education.
Governance
The Ministry of National Education (MEN) oversees all education systems in the country and controls the overall budget. Within the ministry, the Directorate General of Higher Education coordinates and supervises the activities and quality of higher education.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Subnational funding mechanisms
Funds for public higher education institutions seem to be distributed directly from the central level. As such, no information was found on funding mechanisms for transferring resources from the central government to local governments.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
No information was found.
Allocation and equity
As of 2025, there is only one public university in the country, Amílcar Cabral University. There are two other HEIs, the Higher School of Education and the National School of Health, both of which are managed by the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Health, respectively. Both public and private universities primarily operate with resources from tuition fees and monthly payments from students. No information was found regarding the specific financing mechanism for these public institutions.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Each institution determines its own criteria for admission. No special admission criteria for vulnerable groups were found.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The 2017-2025 Education Sectoral Plan of Guinea-Bissau called for the introduction of scholarships to enable deserving students from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue their studies in higher education. Students from Guinea-Bissau may receive scholarships from external governments to study abroad.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
No information was found.
Accommodation
No information was found.
Textbooks
No information was found.
