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PNG Higher Education Scholarships: What Are TESAS, AES, HECAS and HELP?

The Papua New Guinea government offers scholarships to help talented students pursue higher education. The TESAS and HELP programs provide financial assistance to deserving individuals, regardless of their academic background or financial situation. These scholarships offer a gateway to academic success and career opportunities for PNG students.

PNG Higher Education Scholarships Two Key Components

The three key components of the Tertiary Education Student Assistance Scheme (TESAS) are the:

Academic Excellence Scholarships (AES) and
Higher Education Contribution Assistance Scheme (HECAS).

These scholarships, collectively known as the TESAS, aim to support academically brilliant students and facilitate their academic development.

Find out how to calculate GPA here.

AES: Recognising Academic Excellence (1)

The AES is awarded to students with exceptional academic performance throughout their studies, typically with a high GPA. These scholarships provide a full tuition waiver, accommodation allowance, and a modest living allowance.

By recognising and rewarding academic excellence, AES empowers students to pursue their passions and contribute positively to PNG's future.

HECAS: Addressing Financial Burdens (2)

The HECAS, on the other hand, is designed to assist students who may face financial constraints while pursuing higher education. These scholarships cover a portion of tuition fees, reducing the financial burden on students and their families.

HECAS ensures that financial limitations do not hinder students from pursuing their academic aspirations.

Here is a guide for Self-sponsored students to secure TESAS, click here to get more information.

Gender Equity Scholarships (3)

The Gender Equity Scholarship was created to promote gender balance in higher education. It encourages women who have completed high school to pursue bachelor's degrees in fields where they are currently underrepresented.

This merit-based scholarship is only open to women who have been accepted into an approved bachelor's degree program. The scholarship is only for the first year of bachelor's degree studies, but successful recipients will be considered for AES or HECAS scholarships in subsequent years.

Only 50 scholarships are awarded each year, and the eligible fields and programs are announced in October.

Benefits of TESAS Scholarships

The TESAS scholarships offer a multitude of benefits to PNG students:

1. Financial Support: Scholarship recipients receive financial assistance, easing the financial burden and allowing them to focus on their studies.

2. Scholarly Excellence: AES recipients are recognised for their academic achievements, fostering a culture of excellence and motivation among students.

3. Access to Higher Education: Both AES and HECAS provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to access higher education, regardless of their financial circumstances.

4. Career Advancement: By providing a strong educational foundation, TESAS scholarships empower students to pursue careers that contribute to PNG's socioeconomic development.

Guiding Principles for TESAS Scholarships

The PNG Higher Education Ministry through DHERST upholds several guiding principles when administering TESAS scholarships:

1. Merit-Based Evaluation: Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, ensuring that deserving students receive recognition and support.

2. Transparency and Accountability: The scholarship process is transparent and accountable, ensuring fairness and adherence to established guidelines.

3. Continuous Improvement: The TESAS program is constantly evaluated and refined to ensure its effectiveness in supporting students and fostering educational excellence.

The Role of HELP Studentship Program

In addition to TESAS, the PNG government introduced the HELP Student Loan Program (Higher Education Student Loan Program) to further support students pursuing higher education.

This loan program provides financial assistance to students who do not qualify for TESAS scholarships. The HELP program aims to bridge the financial gap and ensure qualified students are allowed the opportunity to pursue higher education.

The HELP student loan program is:

a new student loan program that offers interest-free loans to students who are enrolled in a higher education institution in Papua New Guinea.
designed to be more affordable and manageable than standard loans, and it offers a repayment grace period after graduation.
a great way for students to start building their credit history.
a valuable resource for students who need financial assistance to attend college or university.

Students do not need to repay their HELP loans until they graduate, and they will have six months to find a job before payments begin.

To find out about How to Apply for the HELP Student Loan Program, click here

Conclusion

TESAS, AES, HECAS, and HELP are the PNG government's initiatives to empower PNG's youth to pursue their academic aspirations and contribute to the nation's development.

These programs play an important role in fostering a well-educated and skilled workforce, laying the foundation for PNG's continued progress and prosperity.

This is an UPDATE of the article that first appeared here.

2024 PNG Universities and Colleges Acceptance List: DHERST, Govt, and HEIs Challenges

In this article, PNG Insight discusses the key points about the 2024 PNG Universities and Colleges Acceptance List. It puts clarity on the achievements and challenges of the higher education department, the Govt and Stakeholders.

The aim is to address many of the 'why' questions (see the comment thread in this article) relating to the scheduled release of the DHERST selection & acceptance list.

The opinions are based on our personal experience since the inception of DHERST's online selection systems. We hope that it gives you an understanding of the whole process.

For the status updates of the PNG universities acceptance lists, click here.

Grade 12 Selections to Tertiary Institutions

The selection of Grade 12 students takes place before the Acceptance List 2023 comes out.

DHERST used the National Online Application System (NOAS) to capture students' school leavers' choices. And uses the National Online Selection System (NOSS) to, electronically, select students according to their choice on the online school leavers' form, the NOAS.

Before 2018, the Grade 12 students had only 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices they pre-fill on a manual school leavers form. The manual SLF is sent to Port Moresby where tertiary institutions in the country scour over the paper forms and select students - this is long gone.

The online selection and 2023 acceptance list compilation will be the 5th year DHERST runs the online selection.

The online selection system and acceptance is the best technological intervention implemented by the higher education department, DHERST.

However, there seemed to be a certain weakness in the selection process as seen in the release of the 2020 and 2021 acceptance lists. We do not know exactly what caused the delay but we can only infer that it may be due to the Public Holiday.

2021 Acceptance List Release - Case Example

The 2021 acceptance list will be published before the TESAS Award list.

The Post Courier reports on a statement by the higher education department secretary mentioned that the 2021 acceptance list will be published in two parts:

Acceptance List of School Leavers: formal list of all the students who will be enrolled for the first time at tertiary institutions in the country.
TESAS Award List 2021: The final list of the students in the 2021 acceptance list including their 'indicated' TESAS Award status.

DHERST indicated to have released the acceptance list on the second Friday of January 2021. This has not happened.

We believe DHERST was working to get the 2021 acceptance list out to the public. Meanwhile, students, parents and citizens have to wait for the higher education department to make another announcement.

The Post Courier reported that the TESAS Award list will be released in late January or February 2021.

The reason is that 'DHERST will wait for all the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country to confirm their selection listing before the final TESAS Award List comes out.

Waiting for the HEIs in the country to send the confirmed list to DHERST can take ages. But, the Post Courier hinted that the final list could come out by late January or early February before the academic year starts.

Why Acceptance List Not Released on Time?

Many students, parents and stakeholders were asking the same question, why was the list acceptance list not released on time.

As mentioned, the process of selection, quality checks, confirming availability of spaces with HEIs, etc is challenging. DHERST must get it right so that they do not mess up the final acceptance list.

The final acceptance list for students to enrol at the universities (including the PNG Govt's scholarship details) should/will come out a few weeks before the academic year starts.

If you are someone with a special circumstance (non-school leaver, school leaver, self-sponsored, etc ) and need more time to prepare; make sure you mitigate the risks in good time before the academic year starts.

DHERST Acceptance List 2024: Key Points

In a press release two years ago, the Department of Higher Education (DHERST) said the students whose names appeared on the Grade 12 selection list must take note of the three points

(1) Your personal details contained within your application has been forwarded to the Higher Education Institution which has selected you.
(2) You should expect to receive an admissions offer letter directly from your Higher Education Institution (HEI). The HEI will communicate directly with you to inform you on specific details.
(3) If your Study Program receives scholarship awards from the National Government, you may be eligible for financial support through the Tertiary Education Student Assistance Scheme (TESAS). Your TESAS status is also indicated in this National Selection List. Please log in to the NOAS (apply.dherst.gov.pg) and check MyStatus section any time before the 22nd December 2018 for further details on how to access your scholarship. [DHERST , Press Release 2018]

Concerns if DHERST Race Past February 2023

In the meantime, there is no need to worry, even though the school year is approaching fast. Citizens and stakeholders must be patient. DHERST, since 2018, has done a fantastic job with the:

Online School Leavers Application (NOAS),

Online Selection System (NOSS),

Compiling and quality-checking the selection listings

Liaising with HEIs in the country,

Publishing the acceptance listing for ALL the HEIs

Of course, there should be concerns raised IF DHERST has gone past mid-February. But for now, the department needs all the support it can get from the PNG govt, institutions in the country, parents, citizens and stakeholders.

We ask that you join us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube for up-to-date education info on tertiary institution selections in the country, as they happen. In addition to PNG Insight Blog, we also run the PNG Insight website and PNG Mathematics Exam Resource website.

DHERST HELP Loan Application for Tertiary Institutions in PNG

ELP application form: As for the present DHERST HELP applications, Fr Jan explained that students applying for this loan have to fill out the application form and leave them with their respective administration for enrolment purposes.

The NBC News reported earlier this year that a Temporary Declaration Form which is similar to HELP Loan Application Form was issued by the Secretary’s office to all tertiary institutions and colleges in the country.

Many students who applied for loans this year got assistance from their universities and colleges to do that. But what about next year, 2023?

This new article has the latest on DHERST Students Loan Program - Click on the link to find out about the timeline and application eligibility criteria.

The information is sketchy at the moment. But, here is information available form to us from what the former higher education secretary had said about the HELP loan.

DHERST HELP Loan Application for Tertiary Institutions

Help application online 2023

In 2021, the then DHERST secretary Fr Jan mentioned that the HELP application form would be downloaded online so that students do not have to go through the dept, or contact them, to get a PDF application form.

Here is how the application for the DHERST HELP program will (is intended to) work:

Visit DHERST website
Access DHERST HELP electronic application app
Download the 2023 application form,
Complete the application form, and
Send them back to DHESRT before the deadline.

This new article has the latest on DHERST Students Loan Program - Click on the link to find out about the timeline and application eligibility criteria.

Note that DHERST has NOT implemented the online application system yet on their website. Nor have they released the HELP Online Application Handbook that Fr Jan mentioned.

We will put a direct link here when they release it this year.

department of higher education loan application 2022

K220m FOR HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM (NBC News)

Management of HELP Students Loan Funds

The government has released a total of K220 million for the Higher Education Loan Program or HELP student loan scheme for the academic year 2021. In fact, DHERST made an initial submission for K350 million but was only given K220 million.

Fr Jan Czuba stated that this amount is sufficient and would not often be fully used and whatever remains can be rolled over to next year’s (2023) allocation.

The Higher Education Secretary said three options have been discussed and looked at as the avenue where this fund will be managed.

He said they are considering options that are going to be transparent and also to ensure the money grows instead of being used up.

Higher Education Secretary Fr Jan Czuba said the release of funds is for implementation in April this year (2021)

Below is an adapted version of the media statement released by DHERST per the HELP (PNG Higher Education Loan Program) studentship load program for 2020. The original version can be found via the link provided below.

IMAGE: DHERST Media Release

Key points about PNG Higher Education Loan Program

HELP student loan is 'interest-free' with lenient repayment plans and schedules
Application for HELP is online via DHERST website
Students will begin repayments on their loan about six months after their graduation
HELP studentships will commence during the opening of the first semester of the academic year 2020.
You DO NOT have to get the loan if you can afford to pay higher-education fees or have secured a sponsorship.
HELP covers a wide range of students as long as the students secured a place at a tertiary institution in the country: self-sponsored, drop-outs/self-withdrawn, selected students, post-graduate students, etc

One disparity between an NBC new article (READ IT HERE) and this press release is the difference in HELP 'commencement dates'. But, understandably the date of commencement stated by DHERST (first semester of the academic year 2020) could be considered.

HELP is 'far-reaching'

Government is committed to providing financial assistance to students this year through the innovative and far-reaching HELP program that has been carefully designed with the PNG context in mind.

Whilst we wish to reward academic excellence, it should be noted that HELP will fund those students who, for different reasons, may have not met the qualifying criteria for TESAS.

To clarify the situation, during this academic year a full awareness-raising program will be carried out across all institutions of higher learning and the public at large.

The HELP program is inclusive and will also extend to those students who are self-sponsored.

In future years the program will embrace students who have ‘dropped-out’ for whatever reason and wish to return to further their education in either government or private higher education institutions.

Government is firmly committed to the principle of equal value in education, seeing it as a fundamental right, and will ensure that no child or student is left behind.

How to apply for HELP?

Those seeking access to HELP studentships will download and complete application forms from the DHERST website once they have enrolled with, and been accepted by, an HEI for the 2020 academic year.

During the coming year, we will register all prospective students through the issue of National Identity Cards.

The rollout of the HELP studentships will commence during the opening of the first semester of the academic year 2020.

Many people are understandably hesitant to borrow money. Any loan is a serious commitment, and should not be entered into lightly.

Having said that, student loans are often necessary to make it possible for a young person to fulfil their university or college dreams.

HELP terms and provisions

The PNG Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), offers special terms and provisions that make them a more affordable and manageable commitment for young university or collegebound students.

Around the world, most student loans offer lower interest rates, but the PNG HELP is interest-free, provides for deferred payment options together with a repayment grace period following graduation.

Under the HELP, student borrowers can also take advantage of more lenient repayment plans and schedules that are exclusive to HELP, unlike the more restrictive terms and conditions of a standard loan.

HELP studentships offer greater flexibility and more manageable terms and conditions than standard non-education loans.

For many students, an education loan will be their first major financial transaction. While taking out a studentship may seem a daunting prospect, it is also the perfect opportunity to begin to build a solid credit history.

HELP is the beginning of many students' financial history. By keeping up to date on all university or college loan repayments a student can begin to lay the foundation of a good credit score, which will prove greatly beneficial in later life.

One of the many advantages of a HELP studentship is that the student does not need to repay before he or she graduates. The HELP scheme will allow students time to seek a job before repayments commence.

Generally speaking, students will begin repayments on their loan about six months after their graduation.

Benefits of HELP Loan

There are clearly many benefits of a HELP studentship.

Naturally, there will be students who are wealthier than others and who may not need to consider such an offer. However, for most students, a HELP studentship is a means (way) of allowing them (poor students) to concentrate on their studies rather than worrying about the source of funding for their tertiary education.

Professor Fr. Jan Czuba

Secretary DHERST

Source: DHERST, HELP Studentships: What Are the Benefits? [ORIGINAL PDF DOC] released 13th January 2020

Note: The media statement was adapted for an easy read. The signed original copy can be found via the link above.

Steps to Download TESAS List for Continuing Students

1. Access the Official DHERST Website:

Visit the official Department of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (DHERST) website. The official website URL is typically provided in official communications or can be found through a simple web search for DHERST.

2. Navigate to the TESAS List Section:

On the DHERST website, look for a section or a link specifically labelled for the TESAS list. This section is often found under the announcements or scholarships tab.

3. Download the TESAS List in PDF Format:

Once you find the TESAS list section, there should be an option to download the list in PDF format. Click the download link and the file will be saved to your device.

Ensure you have a PDF reader installed on your device to view the document.

Check this page to download the DHERST TESAS Award list for New Intakes (SL & NSL) and Continuing students - download the PDFs here

Important Reminders:

Double-check that you are downloading the correct year's TESAS list (e.g., 2025).
Save the downloaded file in a secure and easily accessible location.

How to Check Your TESAS Status?

After downloading the TESAS Award PDF, follow these five simple steps:

Open the Continuing Students TESAS Awards List saved PDF on your device.
Use the 'Search' Icon: Utilize the search function within the PDF viewer.
Type in Your SLF Number, Name or Institution ID Number: Ensure you enter your full name (surname and given name) for accurate results.

Once you find your name, verify other important details like the institution, program, year, and award. This ensures all your information is correct and up-to-date.

How to chech pdf tesas list for continuing students 2025

Downloading TESAS List Issues

If you encounter difficulties finding or downloading the TESAS list, ensure you are on the official DHERST website. Look for any updates or notices that may indicate a delay or technical issue.

If your status is approved, ensure all necessary steps are followed to receive your assistance.

If additional information is required, promptly provide the necessary documents to avoid delays.

For any issues or discrepancies, contact DHERST or your institution for clarification and support.

Advisory Notice for Continuing Students - 2025

If you are a continuing student and your name does not appear on the TESAS-approved list, your name may likely be included in the Supplementary List, which is expected to be published soon.

While DHERST has not specified an exact publication date for the supplementary list, it would be advisable to check the department's website regularly for updates.

Additionally, institutions that have not yet submitted the list of continuing students are strongly encouraged to do so before the end of January 2025.

Additional Resources and Contact Information

For further information and updates, regularly visit the official DHERST website and NOAS portal. If you have any questions or need assistance, contact DHERST through the following:

Telephone Numbers: 3012076 or 3012058/3012048/3012070

Email: info@dherst.gov.pg

Reference articles for further reading:

Introduction of HELP student loan

HELP Studentships: What Are the Benefits?

TESAS and HELP APPLICATION INFO

How to apply for HELP Application

TESAS stands for Tertiary Education Students Assistance Scheme. There are two categories of TESAS. See this post for more info on TESAS.

Changes to TESAS and the introduction of the HELP student loan scheme.

Higher Education Help Program News Article - READ MORE.

Check this page to download the DHERST TESAS Award list for New Intakes (SL & NSL) and Continuing students - download the PDFs here

About PNG Insight

PNG Insight is an education blog. It aims to highlight the key developments in the education sector in Papua New Guinea. Started in 2014 on Google's blogger (now self-hosted on WordPress), PNG Insight strives to be a platform for critical thinking and discussions; and a source of information.

Leave a comment and let us know about your visit.

TESAS: Grade 12 Guide to Securing a Tertiary Institution Government Scholarship

As a Grade 12 student with a GPA above 2.00, you may have been denied the opportunity to pursue higher education. While this may be disheartening, it is important to remember that there are still options available to you.

It is important to note that if your GPA is below 2.00, it will be extremely difficult to gain admission to a tertiary institution. This post is specifically for Grade 12 students with a required GPA and self-sponsored students. We want to help you to apply for a government scholarship so that you do not have to put burdens on your family.

If you do not know your GPA, see how to calculate it ⇦.

You can also find out why your choice on SLF has a big impact on selection⇦.

In fact, there are many students who tried again and were fortunate to enter universities and colleges in the country. You can also do the same to secure yourself not only space but also a government scholarship - HECAS.

GPA for Unitech, PAU, UPNG, UoG, WPU, UNRE, DWU, PAU

Research the program of your choice thoroughly

First, research the program of your choice thoroughly. The students' services and administration officers will provide the necessary help. Start with the answers to the following questions before completing and submitting the application form:

What is the minimum GPA requirement? This question will help you to identify whether you are a hot, warm or cold applicant.
How many spaces are available? Knowing the number of intakes every year gives the applicant a picture of the space there is. According to the Grade 12 stats, five students are applying for every space available under government scholarships.
When is the closing date for submission? Getting the time right is important too - your application must not be too early or too late.
What to do when you've made a submission? Always follow up with the Student Services or Administration for updates.
What if you are not selected after having applied? Do not stop there. If you have done the first three steps properly (and are convinced you are the likely candidate), go to the institution and demand the reason why your application was rejected. This must be done before the start of the academic year.

Make every effort to secure a government scholarship

Second, make every effort to secure a government scholarship for the program on successful application. It is tight to get a Higher Education Contribution Assistance Scheme (HECAS) scholarship especially if you are a non-Grade 12 school leaver. That means that you will have to sponsor yourself during the first year of your study.

Once the door is opened for you, get in, do well academically and apply for a second-year scholarship. Make no mistake, you must perform well and maintain your GPA in the first year.

Importantly, on successful completion of semester one ask your lecturers, Admin and Student Services staff for help with completing an application for securing your scholarship.

Complete the application form for the tertiary student scholarship offered by the PNG government and submit the application around May/June to the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) in Port Moresby.

Follow up with DHERST Scholarship Office

Always follow up immediately and regularly to find out about your applications. Thimon is one of the best people to help you. His email is Thimon.Bune@dherst.gov.pg.

To ask for application forms call 301 2052 or email ask@dherst.gov.pg. More information on government yearly scholarships ( TESAS, AES, and HECAS) can be found on the DHERST website.

About PNG Insight
PNG Insight is an education blog. It aims to highlight the key developments in the education sector in Papua New Guinea. Started in 2014 on Google's blogger (now self-hosted on WordPress), PNG Insight strives to be a platform for critical thinking and discussions; and a source of information.

You can follow us on Twitter (@PNG_Insight) for information on Education and Development in Papua New Guinea.

GPA: How To Calculate Grade Point Average and Why You Should Know It

As the school selection process is coming up, PNG Insight wants to make sure Grade 12 students understand how to calculate their GPAs. Grades are given on a scale of 0.0 (FAIL) to 4.0 (A), and your GPA is calculated by dividing the total points earned by the total credit hours accumulated.

GPA calculations may sound tricky, but they're easy if you have your transcript handy. We suggest using online GPA calculators or directly applying the GPA formula in an Excel spreadsheet to ensure accuracy.

Three stand-out reasons why you should know your GPA

if you are looking for a job, it is useful to know your GPA;
or if you are applying for a scholarship, many overseas institutions will ask for your GPA;
or as a new student or continuing student, you should be mindful to stay above a GPA of 2.0, in some cases 2.25 - these are magic numbers! Fall below and you are out, or your parent self-sponsor you.

GPA for HECAS

To be eligible for a Higher Education Contribution Assistant Scheme (HECAS), the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) recommends that you score a minimum of 2.0 or higher. UNITECH has raised this to 2.25.

That means that universities are not places for students scoring a GPA below 2. Questions should be asked as to how they got their foot in if they had.

If you are an academically bright student, you could qualify for the government's rewarding scheme called the Academic Excellence Scholarship Scheme (AES) with a GPA of 3.6 for first-year students. That means that any grade 12 student with straight As is a candidate for AES) or 3.7 for second to final years.

If you need assistance, talk to your institution's student service division.

PNG Unis GPA Info

An updated version of this post discusses the following GPA topics in detail:

Calculate Grade 12 GPA
GPA for PNG Universities Selection
Why you should know the University GPA
GPA Uni Entry, Scholarship or Work
TESAS Info for Students
Grade 12 Guide to TESAS
How to apply for TESAS Non-school Leavers
Apply for TESAS after admission

Click here for more information.