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 ⇦. 

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.

How to Use Your GPA to Navigate the National Online Application System (NOAS) During the Grace Period

The choices every Grade 12 student makes on the National Online Application System (NOAS) are critical, yet many capable students miss out on selection simply due to a lack of proper guidance. 

Providing students with the right direction can significantly increase their chances of entering higher learning institutions. Good marks, typically a GPA above the required threshold, are vital. However, even students with a GPA of 2.8 (Bs and higher Cs) sometimes miss out on selection to universities or colleges on a government scholarship.

Why Students with Good GPAs May Not Get Selected

Three key factors disadvantage capable students:

1. Increasing Number of Grade 12 Students: 
Since 2014, the number of students completing Grade 12 has increased, while spaces at tertiary institutions have remained relatively low. On average, only 20% of students continue to higher education each year. As secondary schools have proliferated across provinces, the competition for limited tertiary spots has become fierce, with five students vying for every available space.

Today, there are 237 secondary schools and NSOE with over 34600 Grade 12 students - see the exact figure here.

Grade 12 SLF Guide Hint and Tips

SLF Choices: 

A 'funnel effect' means only students with excellent Grade 12 marks and strategic SLF choices get preference. It's crucial to balance both—good grades and wise choices on the SLF. As a rule of thumb:
  1. SLF Choice 1: University
  2. SLF Choice 2: College/Technical Institute
  3. SLF Choice 3: Vocational/Technical Centre
  4. ...
  5. ...
  6. ...

STAT-P Test: 

For those applying to UNITECH or UOG, sitting for the STAT-P (aptitude) test is mandatory. All principals and deputy principals must ensure students intending to apply to these universities take the test. The University of Natural Science and Environment is also expected to introduce entry tests in the future. Non-school leavers should avoid listing university programs as their second choice on the SLF; the first choice must be a university program if they aim to excel in the Grade 12 exams.

Grade 12 Grace Period - Adjusting Choices
The Grace Period allows students to adjust their choices based on their final marks. The online School Leavers Choice system simplifies this process, enabling students to match their grades to appropriate institutions.

Related Articles

  • With the increasing number of students passing out of grade 12, only 20% of students were selected to continue after Grade 12 each year between 2014 and 2016. This rate has not improved yet.
  • STAT-P Test To get more details on STAT-P, click 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.

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


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