Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (TESAS) in PNG Eligibility

TESAS Scholarships PNG

​The Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (TESAS) in Papua New Guinea (PNG)  provides financial assistance on behalf ofthe Government of PNG (GoPNG) to eligible students of targeted tertiary education programs on a merit basis. TESAS includes undergraduate scholarships recognising academic excellence, government  contribution assistance for undergraduate studies, undergraduate scholarships for women wishing  to return to studies, and postgraduate scholarships. 

• TESAS Benefits 

TESAS includes financial assistance for study costs, such as tuition fees, board and lodgings, travel, and student resources. Currently, TESAS also includes a supplementary fortnightly allowance.  TESAS Awards are offered for one year of study only. Awardees who study programs longer than one  year are automatically considered on a merit basis for another TESAS Award for their continuing
studies in the following year.  TESAS Awards are administered on behalf of the GoPNG by DHERST.

• TESAS Eligibility 

Eligibility for Consideration of a TESAS Award
To be eligible for consideration for a TESAS Awards, applicants must:

1.  Be a Papua New Guinean citizen;
2.  Intend to study full-time and on-campus;
3. Be able to satisfy the admission requirements of an institution or a program for an institution approved for TESAS Awards of which they are applying;
4.  Not hold another scholarship that duplicates any of the TESAS Award benefits,
5.  Not have been previously excluded from a tertiary institution on academic or disciplinary
6. grounds within the last two years;
7. Not have accumulated any criminal record within the last two years;
8.  Not have had a TESAS Award terminated within the last two years. and
9.  If previously held a TESAS Award to complete an undergraduate qualification and intend to undertake another undergraduate qualification, be able to demonstrate an employment record for at least three years after completing the first qualification.

Additional eligibility requirements are necessary to qualify for each different TESAS Awards at outlined in the handbook. 
​
The GoPNG reserves the right to change the eligibility conditions at any time.

---

​TESAS has four categories of awards as follows:
Academic Excellence Scholarships (AES)
This undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to:

•  High-achieving Grade 12 School Leavers who have been admitted in to a university undergraduate program approved for TESAS awards; and
• b) Continuing undergraduate students, both TESAS and fee-paying, who have completed their previous year in an approved university program and attained excellent academic results. The student must demonstrate academic excellence through the achievement of a qualifying Grade Point Average (GPA) or above in their previous year of study.

A student’s GPA is calculated using an equally weighted average of the percentage grade values achieved by the student.2 The annual total number of AES awarded and the required minimum GPA level to receive an AES are calculated at selection time each year in accordance with available funding and application numbers and quality. Awardees are selected within program quotas on a merit basis. This means that not all applicants with a qualifying GPA level will receive an award. (See Section 5, Institutions and Programs Approved for TESAS Awards and their quotas.) Students should use the previous year’s required minimum GPA and program quotas, as available on the DHERST website, as a guide only.

Higher Education Contribution Assistance Scheme (HECAS)
This Contribution Assistance is awarded to:

•  Grade 12 School Leavers who have been admitted in to an undergraduate program at a university or college approved for TESAS awards and have attained the qualifying minimum GPA level or above; and
•  Continuing undergraduate students both TESAS and fee-paying, who have completed their previous year in an approved program at a university or college and have attained the qualifying minimum GPA level or above. The annual total number of HECAS awarded and the qualifying minimum GPA level for consideration for a HECAS Award are calculated at selection time each year in accordance with available funding and application numbers and quality.

The number of applications for TESAS Awards with qualifying minimum GPA level is typically greater than the number of available TESAS Awards.