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)
Between 2011 and 2024, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education in Seychelles increased from 2.92% to 14.53% over the years. Initial government funding per tertiary student amounted to 87.72% of GDP per capita in 2015 and 64.35% in 2016, while data on initial household funding were not available.
Tuition-free status
Tuition is free in Seychelles’ higher education system on a conditional basis, applying only to Seychellois students who meet the merit-based entry criteria of their programme and enrol in government-designated priority fields. Government statements note that when a student chooses to study in a Priority 1 field, the study costs are covered entirely by the Government of Seychelles, including health and welfare, education, natural sciences, environment and the blue economy, engineering, and construction.
According to the Tertiary Education Act, tertiary education institutions must specify the structure of, and procedure for, charging fees, while the Tertiary Education Commission develop guidelines and criteria on fees to be charged to learners.
Governance
The Ministry of Education is the primary authority responsible for financing higher education, overseeing the allocation and management of education budgets for public tertiary institutions. The Tertiary Education Actinitially created a Tertiary Education Commission to supervise the sector; however, subsequent amendmentstransferred the Commission’s functions and assets back to the Government under the Minister responsible for education, which consolidates budgetary oversight and policy direction within the Ministry of Education. The Seychelles Qualifications Authority, on the other hand, is involved in quality assurance and accreditation in the tertiary education sector.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
There are no decentralised funding mechanisms for transferring public resources from the central government to local governments for higher education. Higher education financing and oversight remain fully centralised under the Ministry of Education, which is responsible for allocating and managing education budgets, including those for tertiary institutions, in accordance with the Tertiary Education Act.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Private tertiary education institutions can receive public financial support even when public institutions exist. According to the Tertiary Education Act, the Government is required to provide the funds necessary for the operation of public tertiary education institutions; however, private tertiary education institutions are also legally eligible to receive government funding, as the Act specifies that the Government may enter into agreements with private institutions to finance academic or training activities.
Allocation and equity
No evidence was found of equity-based or formula-driven mechanisms guiding government subsidies to public higher education institutions. However, the 2018-2022 Education Sector Plan indicates that national education financing is shaped by key priorities and measurable interventions aimed at improving learning outcomes for diverse learners.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
There are no specific admission quotas or affirmative action policies for vulnerable groups in Seychelles’ public higher education system. Admission to State post-secondary institutions is based on academic requirements, and the Education Law states that students who have completed secondary school and satisfied the prescribed entry requirements are eligible for admission.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Seychelles provides Government of Seychelles Scholarships for higher education, administered previously by the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD) and now overseen by the Ministry of Education following institutional restructuring, under which the former agency’s functions and staff were integrated into the Ministry of Education and the Department of Employment. Scholarships are available for both local and overseas study and include fully funded, partially funded, online, and bilateral/multilateral awards.
The scholarships are merit-based, and they cover tuition, stipends, housing allowances for island students, and travel-related costs. While parental contribution levels vary depending on income and apply to certain scholarship types that require a family contribution, the system does not include grants or loans specifically targeted to vulnerable groups, and current policies do not create equity-based scholarship mechanisms beyond these indirect financial considerations.
The Educational Loan Scheme provides an alternative financing option for Seychellois students who do not qualify for the government’s fully funded higher education scholarships, and builds on an earlier student loan scheme that was in place in 1999. In May 2023, the scheme was reintroduced to offer loans of up to SCR 800,000 to support studies in government-priority fields, including overseas programmes, with the government subsidising 4 percent of the bank-determined interest rate and acting as guarantor for each student. The loan becomes repayable only after the student completes their studies and begins earning a salary.
Established through the National Welfare Agency Act (2008), the state also offers grant assistance to help students from vulnerable backgrounds. These grants can help cover essential expenses like school supplies, transportation, and meals to ensure that the financial status of learners and/or their families do not become a barrier to access beyond the secondary stage of education.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
The Ministry of Education provides transportation benefits for post-secondary students through a Multi-Trips Card that allows them to use both school and public buses at no cost upon first registration. The card permits up to four trips per day and remains valid for three months, offering an affordable and accessible transport option for students.
Accommodation & Textbooks
No separate government programmes were found that provide accommodation or textbook support for tertiary students. These costs are covered only through the Government scholarship scheme, which offers a stipendand a monthly housing allowance support depending on the type of scholarship awarded.
This profile was reviewed by Dr. Marina Confait, consultant.
