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)
According to UIS data, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes in the last year of available data, 2015, was 93.92%. The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 5.25% in 2015. The initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita is unknown.
Tuition-free status
Tertiary education in St. Kitts and Nevis is primarily provided by The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and the University of the West Indies Open Campus. Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College offers tuition-free education for nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis, while non-nationals pay tuition fees. The University of the West Indies Open Campus does not offer tuition-free education, although some scholarships are available to help cover tuition costs.
Governance
Responsibility for financing higher education lies with the Ministries of Education on each island. The Government of St. Kitts, through its Ministry of Education, funds and oversees the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, the main public tertiary institution. The College prepares its annual budget following national guidelines, which the Ministry incorporates into the overall education budget; any additional or unbudgeted expenses require Ministry or, if necessary, Cabinet approval. On Nevis, the Advanced Level Programme is financed by the Nevis Island Administration Ministry of Education as part of the school system, with expenditures allocated under specific budget heads. The University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies is funded directly by the University of the West Indies.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Subnational fundind mechanisms
There are no funding mechanisms for transferring resources from the central government to local governments for public higher education in St. Kitts and Nevis.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
N.A.
Allocation and equity
There are no equity-based allocation formulas or targeted funding mechanisms designed to support specific student groups or address disparities in access to higher education.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
There are no specific admission criteria nor financial support for the admission of vulnerable groups.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Under the Education Act (2005), Saint Kitts and Nevis operates a national scholarship scheme for higher education, known as the Saint Christopher and Nevis Scholarships (sections 150–157). Awards are made annually through open competition based on academic merit, specifically the results of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) or equivalent. Eligible students must be citizens, have completed at least three years of schooling in the country, and passed five or more CXC subjects including English. Scholarships may be used at the University of the West Indies or any other institution approved by the Cabinet, which also determines the number, value, and duration of awards. The law further authorises the Cabinet to grant bursaries or grants to secondary students, as well as students and teachers admitted to tertiary institutions.
Applicants for University of the West Indies scholarships and bursaries must demonstrate financial need, giving priority to students from less affluent backgrounds, although no specific vulnerable groups are formally identified. In addition, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis offers student loans, which are repaid with interest after graduation.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
No information was found.
Accommodation
No information was found.
Textbooks
No information was found.
