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)
According to UIS data (2004 estimates), Vanuatu’s gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education is 4.88%. Government expenditure per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita is 273.42 (2001 estimates).
Tuition-free status
Vanuatu provides free tuition up to Year 13, the end of secondary school. There is no evidence that this policy extends to public tertiary education institutions.
Governance
The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) is the principal government body responsible for allocating and overseeing education budgets in Vanuatu, including higher education. MoET develops sector strategies, manages grants, and supervises budget implementation across all educational levels. In the area of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), MoET maintains a central role, while non-governmental and private sector actors also contribute significantly to provision.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
For higher education, including technical and vocational education and training (TVET), direct funding from the central government is limited. Responsibility for provision and financing largely rests with non-governmental and private providers. There is no documented mechanism for transferring higher education resources from the central government to local authorities, nor evidence of equity-based allocations, such as targeted funding or admission quotas for disadvantaged groups, within public tertiary education.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
The government provides direct funding and subsidies primarily to public higher education institutions, including the National University of Vanuatu (NUV) and its affiliated institutes: the Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education, the Vanuatu College for Nursing Education, and the Vanuatu Agriculture College. These institutions are progressively integrated into the NUV system and are overseen and financed by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). There is no evidence of government subsidies or direct funding for private universities, including in areas lacking public university provision.
Allocation and equity
Government funding is channeled through the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) in accordance with national strategic plans and legislative frameworks, notably the 2021–2030 National University of Vanuatu (NUV) Strategic Plan. Funding priorities include the integration of affiliated training institutes, expansion of academic programmes, and development of infrastructure. While the plan emphasizes broad equitable access and quality improvement, there are no specific allocations targeting particular student groups.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
There is no evidence of specific admission criteria for vulnerable groups in Vanuatu.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The 2014 Education Act establishes the National Scholarship and Training Board (NSTB) under the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to manage post-secondary scholarships, prioritizing national development needs while aiming to eliminate educational disadvantages from geographic, economic, social, cultural, or other circumstances. The 2022 Scholarship Priority Framework aligns awards with Vanuatu People’s Plan 2030 pillars, covering higher education fields like health, education, and infrastructure.
Vanuatu Government Scholarship Programme
The Vanuatu Government Scholarship Programme provides scholarships to Vanuatu citizens who meet academic and institutional entry requirements across multiple educational pathways, including the South Pacific Form Seven Certificate (SPFSC), Diplôme d’Accès aux Études Universitaires (DAEU)/Baccalauréat, University of the South Pacific (USP) Foundation programmes, diploma holders from accredited institutions, and both current and prospective postgraduate students. Eligibility is merit-based, requiring specific grade thresholds and alignment with the 2022 Scholarship Priority Framework. While gender or regional disadvantage is not explicitly considered, the National Scholarships and Training Board (NSTB) has discretionary authority to award scholarships in exceptional cases that demonstrate developmental benefits for the country. The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) oversees this programme, which had a total government appropriation of VT 998,369,211 in 2025.
Significant support is available through the Australia Awards, funded by the Australian government. These scholarships target future leaders and are designed to promote equitable access, including for women and disadvantaged groups. Eligibility and distribution are determined by the donor government, typically in coordination with the MoET.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
Direct support for student living costs (such as transportation, accommodation, or textbooks) is limited within the national system. The main form of support comes from scholarship programmes like the Australia Awards, which generally cover tuition fees, return airfares, a contribution to living expenses (stipend), health insurance, and sometimes additional allowances for study materials and accommodation.
Accommodation
Direct support for student living costs (such as transportation, accommodation, or textbooks) is limited within the national system. The main form of support comes from scholarship programmes like the Australia Awards, which generally cover tuition fees, return airfares, a contribution to living expenses (stipend), health insurance, and sometimes additional allowances for study materials and accommodation.
Textbooks
Direct support for student living costs (such as transportation, accommodation, or textbooks) is limited within the national system. The main form of support comes from scholarship programmes like the Australia Awards, which generally cover tuition fees, return airfares, a contribution to living expenses (stipend), health insurance, and sometimes additional allowances for study materials and accommodation.
This profile has been reviewed by Prof. Lincoln Hlatywayo.
