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Financing for equity in higher education

Introduction

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)

In 2024, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education (both sexes) was 4%.

Tuition-free status

All higher education institutions in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar charge compulsory student fees, which must be approved by the Tanzania Commission of Universities. These include application fees, registration fees, meals and accommodation, books and stationery, field practical expenses, medical insurance, special projects, student union fees, examination fees and tuition.

Governance

In Tanzania Mainland, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) is mainly responsible for financing all levels of education from pre-primary to higher education and training. This includes overseeing the provision of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Teacher Education, Higher Education, as well as adult and non-formal education.

The Higher Education Division oversees the operations of the Higher Education Student Loan Board (HESLB), Tanzania Commission of Universities (TCU), Tanzania Education Authority (TEA) and 19 public universities and constituents’ university colleges in the country. The TCU is the regulatory body which conducts periodic evaluations of both public and private universities, their systems and programmes, ensuring the orderly performance of the universities and maintenance of the set quality standards.

In Zanzibar, the Ministry of Education and Technology (MoEVT) primarily funds higher education, with the Zanzibar Higher Education Loans Board (ZHELB) responsible for the provision of student loans.

1. Education resources to subnational governments

Public universities are funded directly by the central government in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

2. Education resources to institutions

Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions

According to the  2005 Universities Act, which applies to both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, the TCU or the MoEST may offer grants to state or private universities for the ‘promotion of higher education’.

Allocation and equity

Grants are distributed to institutions based on the number of students. According to the 2005 Universities Act, which applies to both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, the government should develop additional funding to higher education institutions that considers gender equity, students with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups. The Grants Committee (under the TCU) advises the TCU on the provision of grants, including the criteria, conditions and objectives to be achieved to ensure cost-effectiveness, transparency, efficiency, fairness, and gender equity.

3. Education resources to students

Admission for vulnerable groups

Higher education institutions in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar develop their own admissions processes, which should be clear, efficient and transparent; with no national quota or criteria for vulnerable groups, as determined by the 2005 Universities Act and 2019 Handbook for Standards and Guidelines for University Education in Tanzania. The Admissions Committee advises the Commission on admission matters.

One of the strategies of Tanzania Mainland’s 1999 National Higher Education Policy was to redress the gender imbalance through some affirmative mechanisms, as long as female candidates academically qualify for entry. This strategy was also highlighted in the 2025/26 – 2029/20 Education Sector Development Plan, which supported the implementation of affirmative action for female students.

Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups

In Tanzania Mainland, the Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB), established in 2004, regulates the student loan scheme, with loans distributed on a needs-basis to students. Resource allocation is prioritized for students from vulnerable socio-economic groups including orphans, students from low-income backgrounds, students with unknown or imprisoned parents, and students with disabilities (or with parents with disabilities). The lump sum provided covers tuition fees, meals and accommodation, books and stationery, special faculty requirements, field practical training and project expenses.

The 1999 National Higher Education Policy and 2025/26 – 2029/20 Education Sector Development Plan further include objectives to provide scholarships to female students in higher education institutions. Currently, scholarships are only offered on a merit-basis, especially in STEM subjects.

In Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (ZHESLB) is responsible for providing financial assistance to low-income, vulnerable students.