Student-based outcomes of public higher education loan schemes in sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

The systematic review will synthesize evidence on the outcomes of government-funded student loan schemes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A scoping search of studies found no systematic review addressing the outcomes of public higher education student loans in SSA. This review will be the first of its kind to summarize evaluation evidence on this topic. The review will follow the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to ensure methodological transparency and rigor. The review process follows the SPIDER approach (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, and Research type) to determine inclusion criteria and the search strategy, and to ensure the transparent selection of studies for synthesis. In terms of scope, the focus is on impact and process evaluations published or made available between 2000 and 2025 in sub-Saharan Africa on public higher education students’ loan schemes. The review will provide valuable evidence to support evidence-informed decision-making by policymakers in higher education financing schemes.