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)
Data on the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes, the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita, and the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita are not available through UIS.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education in the Solomon Islands is not tuition-free according to national laws and policies. The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is the country's only state-funded higher education institution. The SINU Council determines annual fees for tuition in credit courses, graduation, equipment, and other charges.
Governance
The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is the primary government authority responsible for financing higher education and for allocating and overseeing education budgets. The Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA), established under the 2017 Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority Act, oversees tertiary education policy, develops the national tertiary education and skills plan, and manages the government scholarship program. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury is responsible for releasing funds and overall budget allocation.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Higher education financing in the Solomon Islands is centralised, with funds allocated directly to the Solomon Islands National University (SINU). The governance structure for tertiary education also operates at the national level through MEHRD and SITESA rather than through provincial administration.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
The 2010 Policy Statement and Guidelines for Tertiary Education in Solomon Islands established a policy framework to guide financial support for private higher education institutions alongside the Solomon Islands National University, with Article 10.7 stipulating the government’s relationship with private tertiary providers. The framework further specifies that the government will set the conditions under which funding may be provided to support the operational costs of tertiary institutions. Such financing is limited to accredited providers recognised by the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education Commission (SITEC). The regulatory framework allows private institutions to be registered and licensed and to be eligible for government assistance if they meet SITEC’s criteria.
Regarding government scholarship funding, students with government-administered scholarships through the National Training Unit of MEHRD must complete their study programmes at SINU. Where the course programmes are not offered at SINU, students may study at other institutions under the scholarship award.
Allocation and equity
Government subsidies to public higher education institutions are primarily delivered through direct budget allocations to the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and through scholarship funding administered by the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA). The 2010 introduced a block grant funding system based on a per-student unit cost. Allocation of student financing is guided by national workforce priorities set out in the 2017 Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority Act. Equity considerations are primarily addressed through the scholarship selection process, which includes explicit targets for marginalised groups, rather than through direct institutional grants.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
The Solomon Islands National University Academic Policy details entry requirements for students. It states that “the general admission requirement for programmes of study shall be that the applicant for a particular programme should show the ability to achieve the standards required for the respective award.” Admission is based primarily on academic merit, with students selected according to grade point average and completion of required secondary programmes.
Students may also be admitted to selected programmes based on recognition of credits earned at another institution, maturity, or prior learning, such as relevant work experience or demonstrated capacity to succeed in a programme.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Scholarships for higher education are available under the terms of the 2017 Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Act (SITSEA) through the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Scholarship Programme. Scholarships are administered by SITESA’s National Scholarship Division, which develops, manages, and allocates scholarships. Scholarship categories include Pre-Service and In-Service Scholarships. Pre-Service Scholarships are for applicants with no prior qualification who are not employed, including Form 7 school-based students, USP Foundation students, self-sponsored students already enrolled, skills development/TVET scholarship recipients, and constituency category applicants. In-Service Scholarships are awarded to public-sector employees, private-sector employees, and serving teachers seeking to upgrade their qualifications. The 2010 Policy Statement and Guidelines for Tertiary Education in Solomon Islands states that a deliberate and concerted effort should be made to award 50 percent of scholarships to women.
As of 2025, SITSEA will introduce tuition-only scholarships for academically eligible applicants to approved programs at SINU. Eligibility criteria include Solomon Islands citizenship, academic performance, age, and, for in-service applicants, endorsement from supervisors. Selection is merit-based and aligned with national priority fields and workforce needs.
In addition to government scholarships, various development agencies and countries, such as AusAID, NZAID, the Republic of China, Japan and PNG support Solomon Islands’ students by offering scholarships in different categories. These primarily target students enrolled in tertiary institutions outside of Solomon Islands.
No formal public student loan program has been implemented to date in the Solomon Islands. The Governor General has suggested introducing school fee loan schemes to increase access to education
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
No information was found on specific support for student transportation at the tertiary level. The SIG Scholarship programme offers both fully funded and tuition-only awards. Fully funded awards are described as covering a package of entitlements (fees and student support), whereas tuition-only awards are limited to academic fees.
Accommodation
Support for student accommodation is provided through scholarship allowances rather than direct provision. The SIG Scholarship programme offers fully funded awards that provide a package of entitlements to support students’ living costs.
Textbooks
Support for student textbooks is also provided through scholarship allowances rather than direct provision. The SIG Scholarship programme offers fully-funded awards that provide a package of entitlements to support the costs associated with textbooks and other academic materials.
