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 higher education data on the Bahamas was available from the UIS data browser.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is not free in the Bahamas. Tuition fees must be set at an appropriate standard in accordance with the law. Each institution establishes its tuition fees based on the number of credit hours per course.
Governance
The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Advisory Council for Education are responsible for the governance of the education system in the Bahamas.
In the Bahamas, students may choose to go to a college or the University of the Bahamas for up to a bachelor’s level degree. They may continue only at the University of the Bahamas for their master’s level degree. Doctoral degrees are not available domestically and may be completed through the University of the West Indies. However, there is no physical UWI campus in the Bahamas.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
There are no local higher education institutions in the Bahamas. State funds are directly deposited into the public higher education institutions by the Minister of Finance.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
There is one public university and one public technical and vocational institute. The rest of the higher education institutions are private. While the 1962 Education Act does grant the Minister the power to give assistance, through grants, to non-profit private schools- it is unclear whether or not private higher education institutions in The Bahamas actually receive state grants.
Allocation and equity
Government expenditure on tertiary education is primarily focused on the University of The Bahamas and The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute. Funds are marked as re-current expenditure. Government grants to the public institution represent a bit more than half of the total funds.
The government also contributes to the University of the West Indies, a regional university which receives funds from multiple Caribbean governments.
According to the 2016 University of The Bahamas Act, funds for the university consists of any money received by or made available to the university; all other sums; any property vested in the University; and any monies provided by Parliament which is paid directly to the University.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Institutions are allowed to set their own admission policies, which must be specified during the registration process. No other information was found.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The Government Tertiary Grant Programme
The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas funds the tuition, compulsory course fees, stipends and accommodation costs for students who qualify. Recipients are Bahamian citizens, enrolled full-time, with a GPA of 2.0 and above, and graduate within five years of the commencement of their studies.
The government also provides financial aid to help meet the needs of students who have demonstrated financial need. The calculation fo the aid depends on the measured financial need, expenses related to the studies, and whether the student is a dependent or independent applicant. Financial aid is awarded annually subject to the availability of funds. While it is funded by the government, the programme is managed by the University of the Bahamas.
There are several merit-based scholarships available to Bahamian students for studying domestically and abroad:
- The National Academic Scholarship is awarded to well-rounded candidates accepted to an approved international accredited college or university. The National Merit Scholarship is awarded to the next highest level achieving students, while the All Bahamas Merit Scholarship is awarded to the single highest Bahamian candidate. Each scholarship progressively receives more money.
- The MOE awards the OAS-GoB scholarship to students who wish to pursure technical and academic studies at the graduate or postgraduate level.
- The Gerace Research Centre Scholarship is a partnership between the MOE and an association of colleges and universities in the United States. Similarly, the PIT-GOB (Private, Independent & Transfer-In – GOB) Scholarships partners between the MOE and a consortium of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
- The Public-School Scholars Programme was instituted in 2015 to promote college readiness, equity, and access in the public school system. First preference is given to first-generation college students and students attending college within the year of high school graduation.
- The National Tuition Assistance assists high school graduates pursuing professional, technical, graduate or post graduate degree studies.
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas ensures that all Bahamian Nationals receive tuition waivers at 80% for attending the University of the West Indies and studying the University Grant Committee (UGC) funded programmes. The tuition may be funded by the MOE or the Ministry of Health if pursuing the medicine programme.
The Education Loan Authority was created to fund the government’s program for loans to students pursuing higher education. The loan scheme has since awarded 4,500 loans to Bahamians.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
Information was not found.
Accommodation
The Government Tertiary Grant Programme provides an additional USD 500 per month for students who have moved from another island to where they are taking their students, or be a orphan.
Textbooks
Information was not found.
