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)
In 2024, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes was 75.01, per UIS data. The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 67.48 in 2004, the most recent year for which UIS 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
Public tertiary education is not universally tuition-free.
Governance
In accordance with the Higher Education Act 2008, the Fiji Higher Education Commission (HEC) regulates the establishment, recognition, operation, and standards of all higher education. The HEC, under the Ministry of Education, is responsible for allocating government grants to higher education institutions (HEIs) according to publicly established criteria.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Public higher education funding is centrally administered by the Higher Education Commission and does not involve transfers to subnational governments. The main funding mechanisms operate through the HEC, which allocates annual grants directly to eligible HEIs.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
The Higher Education Act 2008 allows for government funding of both public and eligible private higher education institutions under transparent and published criteria, regardless of the presence of a public university in a locality. The HEC can allocate grants to any registered university (public or private) that meets accreditation, quality assurance, and strategic national priority criteria. Private institutions must demonstrate program relevance, student benefit, and accountability, but the law does not restrict their eligibility based only on the lack of a public university in each area.
Allocation and equity
Government subsidies to public higher education institutions are allocated through the HEC. The HEC Funding Model, used since 2014, consists of two main components: enrolment funding and leverage funding.
Enrolment funding is based on the number of student enrolments and is calculated as the difference between the total cost of running a programme and the expected tuition fee revenue from that programme. Any revenue shortfall is subsidised by the government at a certain percentage, which varies depending on the type of institution.
Leverage funding is awarded to all institutions based on the following criteria: the uniqueness or special character of the institution's programmes; the institution's internal quality assurance systems; staff and facilities, including the level of qualifications of the teaching staff, and the quality of facilities; and how the institution supports disadvantaged learners (learners from low socio-economic backgrounds and with disabilities) as well as learners from remote areas.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Students from rural and maritime zones benefit from reduced cut-off marks for Higher Education schemes to address “disparities in resources and other inherent challenges with remoteness”.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Several scholarships are available for higher education, administered by the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) and overseen by the Minister of Education. The government allocated FJD 153 million in the 2025–2026 National Budget to fund tertiary studies in the form of fourteen scholarship schemes, one study loan scheme, and three study grants schemes. Key eligible groups include “High Achievers”, students with special needs and students receiving equity-based scholarships, specifically those from rural and maritime zones who benefit from reduced cut-off marks for Higher Education schemes to address resource disparities. Details are provided in the TSLS Scholarship Policies Handbook.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
No information was found on specific transportation assistance schemes targeting students in higher education.
Accommodation
No information was found on specific accommodation assistance schemes targeting students in higher education. However, the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service provides a general allowance as part of its scholarship and loan packages for eligible students that may be used to support student accommodation. Per the TSLS Scholarship Policies Handbook, the government increased the allowance for students in the 2025-2026 national budget to ensure that full cost for meals, accommodation, stationery and incidentals are covered in the allowance.
Textbooks
TSLS provides a general allowance as part of its scholarship and loan packages for eligible students. It may be used to cover the cost of incidentals such as textbooks and learning materials.
