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)
No information is available regarding the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes, the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita, or the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita.
Tuition-free status
Article 81 of the 2009 Plurinational Constitution establishes that public education is free at all levels up to higher education. This is reinforced by Article 77, which states that education constitutes a supreme function and primary financial responsibility of the State, obligating it to sustain, guarantee, and manage education. Law 070 of 2010 further codifies the right to education, affirming that everyone is entitled to education in a universal, productive, free, integral, and intercultural manner, without discrimination.
Governance
The Ministry of Education is the line ministry responsible for higher education, regulated by Law 070 of 20 December 2010, specifically through the Directorate General of University Higher Education under the Vice Ministry of Higher Education and Professional Training. Bolivia’s higher education landscape includes universities, technical institutes focused on industry, natural resources, trade, and services, and teacher training schools. Universities are broadly categorised into four groups: Public Autonomous Universities, universities under special regimes (together forming the National System), indigenous universities (UNIBOL), and private universities, including some foundations.
Higher education institutions collectively form the Sistema de la Universidad Boliviana (Bolivian University System), coordinated by the Comité Ejecutivo de la Universidad Boliviana (CEUB), established in 1978 to represent and manage the system. Private universities are organised through the National Association of Private Universities (ANUP) and are supervised by the Ministry of Education for programme and institutional accreditation. Governance in private universities is managed by authorities appointed by their boards, primarily controlled by their corporations or shareholders.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Public universities are fully autonomous in their economic, academic, and educational decisions. The public autonomous universities receive state funding based on a percentage of the national budget set by the Constitution, which includes 5% of the revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) and Customs Revenue. This allocation varies according to changes in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation rates, and levels of tax evasion. Direct state subsidies are also a key component of their funding, negotiated annually to maintain a historically established baseline.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
No funding has been found.
Allocation and equity
Supreme Decree No. 29664 of 2008 established three Bolivian Indigenous Intercultural Productive Community Universities (UNIBOL)—“Aymara,” “Quechua,” and “Guaraní and Lowland Peoples”—under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Cultures, with specific funding to serve indigenous populations. These public universities provide comprehensive higher education grounded in indigenous worldviews, contributing to science, technology, and spiritual development. Their community character is defined by territorial and cultural identity, and they operate as non-profit institutions promoting reciprocity and participation of indigenous social organisations. UNIBOLs are free, operate on a boarding school basis, offer production-oriented training integrating theory and practice, provide multilingual instruction, conduct productive activities, and encourage the creation of community enterprises.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
The 2012 General Law for Persons with Disabilities requires the Ministry of Education to provide vocational qualifications at no cost to students with disabilities. It mandates the implementation of evaluation instruments adapted to the degree and type of disability across technical institutions, higher education centres, private universities, special regime universities, and indigenous universities. The law also ensures the availability of trained teachers to support inclusive education.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Article 82 of the 2009 Constitution establishes that the State shall prioritise support for students with limited economic opportunities, providing access to education through feeding programmes, clothing, transport, school materials, and similar measures.
The Solidarity Scholarships programme, administered by the Ministry of Education and awarded through private universities, aims to provide higher education opportunities to students from low-income backgrounds, social organisations, indigenous and aboriginal farming communities, and intercultural and Afro-Bolivian groups, in accordance with Supreme Decree No. 1433.
The three Indigenous Universities (UNIBOL) offer full scholarships covering tuition, room and board, and related costs.
No other grants or loans targeting specific groups in higher education have been identified.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
Support for student transportation has only been identified in the comprehensive scholarship programme given to students who attend UNIBOL.
Accommodation
Support for student accommodation has only been identified in the comprehensive scholarship programme given to students who attend UNIBOL.
Textbooks
Support for student textbooks has only been identified in the comprehensive scholarship programme given to students who attend UNIBOL.
