FNU warns scholarship pressures could hit thousands

Fiji National University (FNU) has warned that scholarship funding pressures could leave thousands of students struggling to complete their studies.

FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba raised concerns about student hardship after the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) confirmed that no new scholarship applications would open for Semester Two and Quarter Three of 2026.

Speaking at the opening of the Northern Foundation Hub at the Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere Labasa Campus last week, Ms Nabobo-Baba said financial hardship was already affecting students’ ability to remain in higher education.

She said when the current leadership took the helm in 2023, about 10,000 students were experiencing hunger.

“There’s about $8 million to $10 million debt every year that our private students can’t pay,” she said.

Ms Nabobo-Baba said this had contributed to student attrition, with an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 students struggling to complete their studies.

She said students facing food insecurity could also struggle to afford transport to attend classes.

Her comments come after TSLS announced it would not open scholarship applications for Semester Two and Quarter Three of 2026 because its available allocations had been fully utilised.

TSLS said it had been allocated funding for 9,919 scholarships under the 2025-26 National Budget but awarded a record 10,199 scholarships during the first academic term after a 95 per cent Year 13 pass rate in 2025 increased demand.

TSLS said existing sponsored students would continue receiving their allowances, provided they met sponsorship conditions.

New applications will reopen when funding becomes available under the next financial year’s budget, TSLS said.