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PNG Government Scholarships (TESAS) - The Insider Guide

Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) PNG (Government)  ·  Updated June 14, 2026

Administered by DHERST, the Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (TESAS) is the lifeblood of higher education in Papua New Guinea. It dictates the placement and funding of almost all high-performing high school graduates into the country's universities and technical colleges.

Quick Overview

Scholarship Name
PNG Government Scholarship
Host Country
Papua New Guinea
Eligible Countries
Papua New Guinea
Degree Level
Bachelors
Financial Coverage
Full
Application Window
October - December (Varies)

Full Requirements & Details

Academic Requirements

Min. CGPA
2.5
Offer Degrees
Bachelors
Subjects
Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
Seats Available
Thousands annually
Study Gap Allowed
No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
Research Publication
No
Work Experience
No
Age Range
17 - No Max

Language Requirements

IELTS
No
TOEFL
No
GRE
Not Required
Local Language
English / Tok Pisin
Local Lang Test
No
Study Languages
English

Financial Details

Type
Full
Fund Details
See Description
Monthly Stipend
PGK 0/mo
Tuition
Partial
Living Costs
Partial
Travel & Health
Yes / No
Application Fee
Free (No Application Fee)
Spouse Allowed
No

What Matters Most

Statement of Purpose 2/10

Motivation Letter 2/10

Recommendation Letter 3/10

Interview 5/10

Required Documents

Transcript

Why You Should Apply

It is the only viable way for the vast majority of PNG students to afford university. The scheme is tiered (AES and HECAS). Depending on your tier, it pays a significant percentage of your tuition fees directly to the institution, provides a fortnightly pocket allowance, and crucially covers your airfares from your home province to the university campus.

Application Process

You apply electronically via the National Online Application System (NOAS) during your Grade 12 year. It is an automated matching system similar to a university clearinghouse.

How to Win This Scholarship

Because it is automated via NOAS, your Grade 12 final exam results are the only metric that matters. If you secure excellent grades, you are automatically drafted into the 'Academic Excellence Scholarship' (AES) tier, which offers the highest funding. Ensure your school principal inputs your data correctly into the system; administrative errors at the high school level frequently derail students' funding.

Benefits After Completing Study

Graduating with AES status makes you highly attractive to the massive mining and energy conglomerates operating in PNG.

The funding is notoriously unreliable. The national government frequently runs out of cash, resulting in massive delays in tuition payments to the universities. Students frequently protest because they cannot register for classes or receive their pocket allowances due to bureaucratic gridlock in Port Moresby.

Official Source

For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.

Visit Official Source