Over 11,500 Students Secured Admissions for 2025 Tertiary Programs in PNG

​The National Online Selection for Grade 12 school leavers and non-school leavers has concluded, with over 11,500 students successfully securing placements in Papua New Guinea’s higher education institutions for the 2025 academic year. The announcement was made by Hon. Kinoka Hotune Feo, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science, Technology & Sport, who expressed great pride in the milestone reached this year.

In a groundbreaking move, for the first time in the country’s history, non-school leavers were selected based on the same academic merit criteria as Grade 12 school leavers. This change underscores the government’s commitment to fairness, equal opportunity, and academic integrity, ensuring that students are admitted on merit, regardless of when they completed their education.

This year’s selection process saw a total of 30,640 Grade 12 school leaver applicants and 2,268 non-school leaver applicants. From these numbers, 10,203 school leavers and 1,299 non-school leavers successfully secured their spots in universities and other higher learning institutions for the upcoming academic year. With 314 academic programs available across these institutions, the competition was intense, but the results reflect a fair and transparent selection process.

For students who were not selected, their details will be moved to the National Admissions Pool. This pool currently holds 21,406 applicants who may still receive offers from individual institutions based on remaining program spaces and specific program requirements. These students will be given another opportunity to join the academic community.

The total number of available spaces for the 2025 academic year across all higher education institutions was 23,389, divided between 8,303 spaces for non-school leavers and 15,086 for school leavers. As of December 18, 2024, a total of 11,500 students have been selected for placement, bringing a sense of achievement to the students and their families.

Minister Hotune Feo expressed his congratulations to all successful applicants and encouraged those who were not successful to continue striving for academic excellence. He also reiterated that this selection process is part of the broader vision of the Marape-Rosso Government to improve the accessibility and quality of education in Papua New Guinea.

He extended his appreciation to the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST), particularly the Deputy Secretary and her team, for their exceptional efforts in ensuring the smooth running of the selection process. The Minister also highlighted the importance of education as a cornerstone for the country’s development and future success.

Looking ahead, Minister Hotune Feo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in education infrastructure, lecturer training, and digital transformation. These initiatives aim to enhance access to quality education for all Papua New Guineans, providing them with the tools to thrive in an ever-changing global landscape.

In his closing remarks, the Minister wished all students and their families a joyful and peaceful Christmas. He urged everyone to look forward to the new year with hope and determination, knowing that the future is full of opportunities for growth and success in education and beyond.

The selection list is yet to be released by DHERST. Check this page again for the listings

ALso read

• Grade 11 Selection List for Schools in NCD

• Grade 11 Selection List for Schools in oro province