Frequently Asked Questions


What is GATE Programme?

The GATE Programme provides financial assistance to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, who are pursuing approved programmes at public and private tertiary level institutions (local and regional). The GATE Programme is managed by the Funding and Grants Administration Division of the Ministry of Education (MOE).


Can I apply for GATE funding?

In order to access funding under the GATE Programme a student must be:

  • A citizen of Trinidad and Tobago with a continued period of residency of at least three (3) years prior to application; and

  • Under the age of fifty (50).

  • A first time recipient of the GATE Programme.

To view a list of GATE-approved institutions, click here.


How much funding can I receive under the GATE Programme?

  • Students enrolled in programmes at regional campuses of the UWI, which are offered at the UWI, St. Augustine campus, will only be funded the equivalent level of funding that obtains at the St. Augustine campus.

  • Students will not be granted funding in excess of the agreed tuition fee for each programme.

  • Students will only be eligible for one (1) undergraduate programme.


A cost-sharing model using means testing is used to determine the amount of funding for which students are eligible.

Students enrolled in undergraduate programmes can access funding in accordance with the following measures:

Household Income Level Funding Eligibility
Where the household income is $10,000 per month or less Students will be eligible for 100% of tuition fees
Where the household income is above $10,000 per month but less than $30,000 Students will be eligible for 75% of tuition fees
Where the household income is $30,000 per month but less than $75,000 Students will be eligible for 50% of tuition fees
Where the household income is $75,000 per month or above Students will be not be eligible for GATE funding


Will there be any obligatory service upon completion of my programme?

All students are required to inform the Ministry forthwith on the successful completion of their programme and to accept employment within the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, in either the public or private sector, for a prescribed period as detailed in the Student Agreement.

All monies expended on a student who does not serve in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for specified prescribed period, shall be a debt and recoverable by the Government.


Can a part-time student apply for GATE Programme?

Yes. Part-time students can apply for funding under the GATE Programme.


Is there an application fee for applying for funding under the GATE Programme?

There are no fees associated with applying for funding under GATE programme.


What is the duration of GATE funding?

GATE funding shall be accessible to students for the normal duration of the approved programme. Students will not be granted funding in excess of the agreed tuition fee for each programme.


How can I apply for funding under the GATE Programme?

GATE eService Student ID

Students must register and obtain a GATE eService ID at a GATE eService Registration Centre. Locations of GATE eService Registration Centres across Trinidad and Tobago are outlined click here.

Students must present original copies of the following documents for verification of identity:

  • Birth Certificate

  • National Identification Card OR Passport

  • Deed Poll or Affidavit, (if necessary)


Apply for GATE Funding online via GATE eService

Students must apply for GATE funding on the online GATE Application form via the GATE eService website: www.e-gate.gov.tt

Application deadline: All student applications must be submitted within the academic year for which funding is requested. In the event that a student fails to submit an application at the commencement of his/her programme, he/she shall not be entitled to retroactive financial assistance for that period.

All students are required to sign in agreement with the Student Terms and Conditions for Tertiary Tuition Funded under the GATE Programme (Student Agreement) in order to access funding.

What is GATE Clearance?

Your application must be approved by the Monitoring Performance Unit within the FGAD. Applications are reviewed in accordance with relevant policies and must be approved in order for students to access funding.

Funding will be denied for reasons such as the following but are not limited to:

  • Poor academic performance by student

  • The student has withdrawn from a programme of study without approval

  • The student has received the total value funding for which he/she is eligible

  • Students over the age of fifty (50) years are not eligible for funding

  • The student has received funding for an Undergraduate Level Programme

  • Any other breach of the Student's Terms and Conditions for Tertiary Tuition funded by GATE

While applications are being processed, students will be notified of their application's status via email. Regular checks to emails (inbox and junk mail) are encouraged for timely receipt of any updates with respect to application status.

Do I need to provide any documentation for online GATE application?

Please prepare the following documents in soft-copy for submission of applications:

Identity Documents:

  • Birth Certificate

  • Passport / National ID Card (front and back)

  • Deed Poll (for name change)

  • Marriage/Divorce Certificate (for married / divorced women)


Academic Documents:

  • Latest Result Slip / Transcript (for continuing student)

  • Acceptance Letter from Institution (for student pursuing new programme)


Means Test Documents: Click for more information

Important Note:
Supported File Size: Up to 3MB
Supported File Types: .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .bmp, .tif, .tiff, .pdf, .doc, .docx, .txt.

What is Means Testing?

Means testing is a method used to assess the ability of the family, or of independent individuals, to contribute financially to the cost of education.

Household Income

Students failing to declare and upload the following are at risk of receiving an incomplete means rate or debarment from future access to the GATE Programme:

  • Gross monthly income for ALL members residing in their household (inclusive of both parents, step-parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc, where applicable); AND

  • Gross monthly income of all persons who contribute to household and personal expenses; AND

  • All sources of income from the above (such as salaries, monthly rental income, pension, NIS (or any other insurance) allowances, self-employed income, etc.).

What is a household?

A person or persons who make arranged provision to meet household, living and person expenses.

To whom does Means testing apply?

All students.

What documents should I submit for Means Testing?

Means Test Documents

The following sources of household income will be required (where applicable) as supporting and official documentation in the submission of Means Test applications:

Salary:

  • Salary documentation must be provided in the form of a copy of the most recent pay slip, job letter or TD4 that is either stamped or signed by the respective organization or authorized representative.

  • The document must be no older than six (6) months at the time of application.

Self-employed income:

  • Applicants are advised, where there are members of your household who are self-employed, you are required to submit a sworn affidavit with regard to income declaration, an Audited Statement of Gross Income, an a letter signed by the income earners. The content of the letter should be as follows:

  • Full name of income earner

  • Relation of income earner to applicant

  • Name and location of business

  • Profession or position held within the business

  • Amount (TT$) earned by income earner per month

Pension or Annuity:

  • A copy of an official signed letter or slip stating explicitly the amount in pension which the household member receives per month is required fir this source of income.

  • The letter should be issued from the Ministry of Finance, Treasury Division, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (MSDFS) or organization from which the pension was granted.

  • The letter or slip must be no older than six (6) months at the time of application.

  • In lieu of an official letter or slip for Government pensions, applicants would be required to submit a copy of an updated Pension Identification (ID) Card stating the amount in government pension the income earner receives per month. The Pension ID Card should be issued to the individual no earlier than January 2016, for the purposes of means testing.

National Insurance (NIS):

  • A copy of an official signed letter stating the amount in NIS that the member of your household receives per month is required where applicable.

  • The letter must be issued to the individual from the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago.

  • The letter must be no older than six (6) months at the time of application.

Public Assistance & Disability Grant NIS:

  • A copy of an official disability/ Public Assistance Slip or Cheque is required for this source of income.

  • Slip or cheque must be no older than six (6) months at the time of application.

Child Support/Alimony:

  • A copy of an official signed document (such as a Court Order) which stipulates the amount in child support/ alimony that the household member receives per month. Should there be no court-ordered child support, you are required to submit a letter signed by the household members receiving the agreed child support on behalf of the child/children.

Rental Income:

  • A copy of an official signed document, such as a lease/ rental agreement, stipulating the monthly amount the household member receives from his/her renter(s) is required in such cases.

Allowance:

  • Letter from the person/source granting the allowance, outlining their relationship to the applicant or household member; the average amount granted per month and supporting documents e.g. Western Union/ Money Gram receipts is required.

  • The letter must be no older than six (6) months at the time of application.

Scholarships/Bursaries:

  • A copy of an official signed document outlining the amount granted to the student in the form of a scholarship or bursary.

Any other source of income obtained by members of the household:

  • Documents must be no older than six (6) months at the time of application.

What is an 'Incomplete Means Test' application?

An incomplete Means Test applications will receive a means rate of 50%.
Some examples of incomplete applications are as follows:-

  • Students failing to declare and upload income for ALL members of household.

  • Insufficient information submitted for Self Employed individuals (as outlined in the FAQs).

  • Pay slips that are incomplete and does not support the application (e.g. only partial information stated/visible, such as the absence of a name on the slip).

  • Blank documents, such as Microsoft Word documents submitted by the applicant.

  • Incorrect documents submitted in Household Income tab, such as non-income related documents e.g. an acceptance letter or birth certificate. Students must ensure they have uploaded the proper income-related documents in the 'Household Income' tab.

  • Students failing to declare and upload their own income.

  • Blurry/unclear documents submitted (all documents must be clear, legible and recognizable).

  • Supporting documents that are not signed or stamped by the respective individual or organization.

  • Supporting documents that are older than six (6) months at the time of application, with the exception of child support and rental income.

  • No response within fourteen(14) days to Means Query sent requesting additional information to support application.

Can I amend by means data after final submission?

Upon final submission of an application students will not be able to return to the application to make amendments. Students must ensure that all information submitted in their application is correct and complete. Progress made within each section of the application can be saved for up to 14 days while information is gathered to complete application. Upon completing an application, students must carefully review before final submission. Some students may be sent a Means Query if an Investigating Officer requires additional information. Students must respond within fourteen (14) working days to Mean Queries to avoid receiving the sanction of a 50% menas rate for an incomplete application.

Sanctions

All students must ensure that accurate information is submitted in means test applications in order to avoid sanctions such as withdrawal of funding, reimbursement of funding and debarment from future access to the GATE Programme. Students must read the agree to the declaration statement before submitting applications.