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)
The gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes increased from 7.19 in 2000 to 14.61 in 2023. The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 203.05 in 2001, the most recent year for which data was available. No data on the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita is available from UIS.
Tuition-free status
There are four higher-education institutions in Samoa: the state-funded National University of Samoa (NUS), a regional campus of the University of the South Pacific, the Oceania University of Medicine, a private medical school, and the Don Bosco Technical Centre, a private vocational school.
Tuition for tertiary study is not universally free. The 2006 National University of Samoa Act establishes the National University of Samoa as the primary public higher education institution in the country, and gives the university council the authority to set student fees. Article 43 of the 2017 Fees and Charges Miscellaneous Amendments Act clarifies that fees proposed by the National University of Samoa Council are subject to consideration and approval by the National Revenue Board under the Public Finance Management Act 2001. Due to many families' difficulties affording tuition fees, in 2021, the government announced it was considering abolishing tuition fees at NUS. In 2023, NUS reduced fees to address financial hardship.
Governance
As outlined in the 2019-2024 Education Sector Plan, education sector governance is shared between three Implementing Agencies (IAs): the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC), the National University of Samoa (NUS), and the Samoa Qualifications Authority (SQA). Each IA is a public body, established and empowered by an Act of Parliament with a mandate of functions, responsibilities, and authority.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC) holds overall responsibility for policy, leading national education planning, budgeting, and the implementation of the education sector plans. The National University of Samoa operates as an autonomous organisation. It is governed by the NUS Council and funded through an annual government grant supplemented by student fees and other revenue. NUS reports to the Ministry for Public Enterprises (MPE) under the framework for public bodies. The Samoa Qualifications Authority (SQA) is responsible for developing and implementing PSET strategic plans and regulating all higher education and training in Samoa.
SQA operates as a publicly funded corporation with its own board, empowered to accredit programmes, maintain the national qualifications framework, and charge fees for services. Both NUS and SQA are classified as “beneficiary public bodies” under the 2001 Public Bodies (Performance and Accountability) Act, giving them greater budgetary and expenditure flexibility than the MESC has.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Samoa operates a centralised government system, with the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture providing grant funds directly to the National University of Samoa.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
The state does not provide funding to private universities in the absence of an available public university. However, to address the shortage of doctors and other health workers in the country, the 2002 Oceania University of Medicine (Samoa) Act established the Oceania University of Medicine as a public-private partnership between the government and the US-based e-Medical Education, LLC. Despite their public-private partnership, the state does not regularly fund OUM through its annual budget allocations.
Allocation and equity
Funding for NUS is provided through the central government budget, guided by the 2019-2024 Education Sector Plan. The Education Sector Plan emphasises equity and inclusion in higher education, particularly for learners with disabilities and those from disadvantaged families, but explicit needs-based formulas for tertiary institutional funding are less developed than at the basic education level. The 2016-2020 PSET Strategic Plan listed the development of an equity-based funding system as one of its strategic goals.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
No information on admission for vulnerable groups was found. However, admissions to the National University of Samoa (NUS) are generally not competitive. The university sets minimum entry requirements for its programmes, but its admissions process is designed to facilitate entry for a broad cross-section of applicants, as increasing access to higher education is among the goals outlined in the 2019-2024 Education Sector Plan and its predecessors.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Scholarships
The Government of Samoa offers several scholarships to build a more skilled workforce and meet the country's human resource development needs. Harmonisation Awards are a collaborative scholarship program of the Government of Samoa, in partnership with the Governments of Australia (DFAT) and New Zealand (NZ-MFAT), that offers Samoan citizens the opportunity to study at tertiary institutions overseas. Samoa Scholarship Scheme Awards are designed for students who are highly ranked but are ineligible for Australian or New Zealand awards due to their citizenship status. These students may receive a full scholarship to USP or Fiji National University in Fiji, or a partial scholarship to Australia or New Zealand, which covers 50% of tuition and a book allowance. Foundation Scholarships are offered by the government to fully or partially fund undergraduate studies at the National University of Samoa (NUS). These scholarships are administered by the university. NUS Medical Scholarships (MBBS) are full scholarships offered by the government based on competitive academic results. Samoa-China Bilateral Scholarships are offered by the government for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in China. In addition to government scholarships, Samoan students are also eligible for foreign scholarships from donor agencies, most notably Australia Awards and New Zealand Manaaki Scholarships.
In the private sector, the Oceania University of Medicine offers free tuition to Samoan students through full scholarships to address the shortage of medical professionals in the country. These scholarships are privately funded by the institution’s founder.
Grants
The PSET Support Fund in Samoa, outlined in the 2019-2024 Education Sector Plan and the 2020-2024 PSET Strategic Plan, offers financial assistance to students who are unable to afford tuition and fees for post-secondary education and training. It is designed to promote equitable access, particularly for vulnerable individuals, by helping them enrol in and complete accredited education and training programs. The PSET Support Fund is managed through the Samoa Qualifications Authority.
Loans
There is no large-scale publicly guaranteed student loan scheme in Samoa.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
Samoa does not operate a nationwide student transport allowance scheme for higher education. Students benefiting from overseas scholarships, such as Australia Awards, generally receive payment for a single return airfare.
Accommodation
No information was found on national housing support for tertiary students. The Australia Awards and New Zealand Manaaki Scholarships include accommodation allowances.
Textbooks
There is no national textbook subsidy scheme. For scholarship holders, in some cases, stipends may be used to cover books and study materials.
