Under this theme, we aim to expand the base of empirical research on topics related to the financing of education and student financial aid policies. Changes in funding policy can improve access to educational opportunities and increase student academic success. This could translate into improved labour market outcomes and therefore contribute towards breaking the cycle of inequality perpetuated by unequal access to skills.

Current and past project involvement under this theme include:

Education and labour market dynamics in a period of rapid education expansion: Building evidence from existing Ghanaian survey data sources

The Ghanaian government rolled out free compulsory primary education in 1996 and free senior high school provision in 2017. With the first cohorts exposed to the free education policies now reaching prime adulthood, our project aims to take stock of how educational attainment has changed over time, and to examine the gendered consequences of these education changes for labour market dynamics and intergenerational socioeconomic mobility. This project is funded by G2LM|LIC. Read more about this project here.

Measuring the impact of the new higher education and training funding policy

This project aims to evaluate South Africa’s new post-school funding policy, which was introduced in 2018. This research has received funding from the Kresge Foundation and from the Centre for Higher Education. Read more about the CHE-funded project here. Read more about our work that was funded by Kresge here.

Estimating the cost of producing undergraduate-level graduates at South African universities

This research aimed to estimate the cost of producing undergraduate-level graduates. The link between aggregate costs and tuition fees was unclear due to the complexity of universities and the various services they provide. Specific costs associated with teaching and training at the undergraduate level were unknown as there had been no costing exercise in South Africa in recent decades. Read more here.

Journal articles

Whitelaw, E. & Branson, N. (2024). What goes up must come down? The effect of ‘2020’ on university students' academic performance trajectories. South African Journal of Economics, 92(2): 135-160.

Branson, N. & Whitelaw, E. (2024). South African student retention during 2020: Evidence from system-wide higher education institutional data. South African Journal of Economics, 92(1): 9-30.

Whitelaw, E., Branson, N. & Leibbrandt, M. (2023). A dynamic perspective on profiling financial-aid eligibility: The case of South Africa. Journal of Social Policy.

Andrews, R., DesJardins, S. & Ranchhod, V. (2010). The Effects of the Kalamazoo Promise on College Choice, Economics of Education Review, 29(5): 722-737.

Andrews, R., Ranchhod, V. & Sathy, V. (2010). Estimating the Responsiveness of College Applications to the Likelihood of Acceptance and Financial Assistance: Evidence from Texas, Economics of Education Review, 29(1): 104-115.

Working papers

Branson, N. & Whitelaw, E. (2025) – Post-School Education and Training Policies – From 1994 to Now. 

Branson, N., Ranchhod, V. & Whitelaw, E. (2023) – South African student retention during 2020: Evidence from system wide institutional data

Whitelaw, E., Branson, N. & Leibbrandt, M. (2023) – Learning in lockdown: University students’ academic performance during COVID-19 closures

Whitelaw, E., Branson, N. & Leibbrandt, M. (2022) – Social stratification and post-school funding thresholds: A dynamic approach to profiling the missing middle

Branson, N., Hendry, J. & Ranchhod, V. (2020) – The effects of credit rationing on re-enrollment rates at a University in South Africa

Briefs & other writing

School of Economics, University of Cape Town (2017). F(r)ee Higher Education: A School of Economics engagement.

Southern African Labour and Development Research Unit (2017) – Understanding the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

Newspaper articles

MacGinty, H. & Whitelaw, E. (2025) –  Degrees of uncertainty: What is happening to graduate unemployment in South Africa? Econ3x3.

Whitelaw, E., Branson, N. & Leibbrandt, M. (2022) – Social stratification and post-school funding thresholds: A dynamic approach to profiling the missing middle. Econ3x3.

Lam, D., Ardington, C., Branson, N. & Leibbrandt, M. (2014) – More financial aid is not the best way to close the racial gap in tertiary education. Econ3x3.

In the news

Assessing the state of post-school education in an unequal society

Education in Africa: Insights from Accra and Lagos Visit

Siyaphambili research highlighted in the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Research Bulletin on Post- School Education and Training (pages 45-48).

Project wrap-up: The consequences of the COVID-19 crisis for inequalities in higher education in South Africa

Lots of young South Africans aren’t going to technical colleges. What can be done

Measuring high value post-school credentials in South Africa

 

 

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