- Laws of Fiji

Last Updated: 1 April 2022

[TSL 10,275] SCHEDULE 1 (Regulations 5 & 8)TERTIARY EDUCATION LOANS SCHEMES ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

[Sch 1 am LN 36 of 2022 reg 2, effective 1 April 2022]

A. Scheme for New Students
1.An applicant must—
(a)be a Fijian citizen;
(b)be ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 3 years before the award commencement date unless determined by the Board or delegated authority on case-by-case basis;
(c)have completed Year 13 in 2011 or thereafter locally and scored a minimum of 250/400 in the Fiji Year 13 Examination or Fiji Seventh Form Examination (FSFE) or its equivalence as determined by the Service or delegated authority on a case-by-case basis;
(d)have completed full foundation studies (bridging or completion of few foundation studies courses only does not meet the definition of full foundation studies) with a GPA of 2.81/4.5 or 3.12/5.0 or above except for commerce category;
(e)must not have a combined family income of more than $100,000 unless allowed by means testing;
(f)secure a place at an eligible institution by means of a final offer letter; and
(g)must be fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years.
2.The following must be submitted by the Applicant as part of their application—
(a)official academic transcript for Year 12 results or equivalent deemed by Board or delegated authority;
(b)provisional results for Year 13 examination set by the Ministry or such equivalent studies as determined by Board or delegated authority;
(c)final offer letter from an eligible institution;
(d)birth certificate;
(e)letter from FRCS stating the student’s tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(f)evidence of the student’s supporting parents’ or guardians’ income (salary slip for working parents or guardians, most recent tax assessment by FRCS or statutory declaration as applicable);
(g)supporting parents’ or guardians’ letter from FRCS stating their tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(h)bank statement with an active account under the applicant’s name;
(i)recent passport-size photo;
(j)evidence of applicant being fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years; and
(k)such other documents as may be requested by the Service.
B. Scheme for Existing Students
1.An applicant must—
(a)be a Fijian citizen;
(b)be ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 3 years before the award commencement date unless determined by the Board or delegated authority on case-by-case basis;
(c)be enrolled in a Scheme eligible program in years prior to 2014 and wishes to apply for financial assistance to complete their programme of study;
(d)have shown satisfactory progress (cumulative GPA equivalent to pass) in the previous years;
(e)have the programme offer letter or full academic transcript and programme audit certificate from the institution clearly outlining the number of courses required to complete the programme, number of courses successfully completed and number of courses remaining;
(f)must not have a combined family income of more than $100,000 unless approved through means testing; and
(g)must be fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years.
2.The Service must not approve any upgrade of qualification.
3.The following must be submitted by the applicant as part of his or her application—
(a)full academic transcript for the courses completed under the programme for which the application is made;
(b)evidence of new enrollment at the eligible institution in an eligible programme for which the application is made;
(c)birth certificate;
(d)a letter from FRCS stating the student’s tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(e)evidence of the student’s supporting parents’ or guardians’ income (salary slip for working parents or guardians, most recent tax assessment by FRCS or statutory declaration as applicable);
(f)supporting parents’ or guardians’ letter from FRCS stating their tax identification number or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(g)bank statement;
(h)a recent passport-size photo taken in the past 6 months;
(i)evidence of applicant being fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years; and
(j)any other document as may be requested by the Service.
C. Scheme for Public Sector Employees
1.An applicant must—
(a)be a Fijian citizen;
(b)be ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 3 years before the award commencement date unless determined by the Board or delegated authority on case-by-case basis;
(c)secure a place at an eligible institution by means of a final offer letter;
(d)be in employment at the time of application and remain in employment during the course of studies (Leave with or without pay letter from the employer is acceptable). Resignation or termination from employment post the confirmation of funding will result in cessation of funding from the following academic term;
(e)be seeking to attain an academic qualification (first higher education qualification) or upgrade an existing qualification (in the same area of studies and only if the earlier qualification was not funded under any Scheme or any other Government Schemes) up to the maximum of first Bachelor’s degree at an eligible institution either as a part-time or full-time student;
(f)must not have a combined family income of more than $100,000; and
(g)must be fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services above the age of 18 years.
2.The applicant must submit the following as part of his or her application—
(a)official academic transcript or certificate for the existing highest qualification;
(b)final offer letter from an eligible institution in an eligible programme;
(c)birth certificate;
(d)letter from FRCS stating the student’s tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(e)evidence of the student’s supporting parents’ or guardians’ income (salary slip for working parents or guardians, most recent tax assessment by FRCS or statutory declaration as applicable);
(f)supporting parents’ or guardians’ letter from FRCS stating their tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(g)employment contract or letter of employment confirmation from the employer;
(h)recent pay slip which should not be older than one month old at the time of application;
(i)recent FNPF statement which should clearly show the last payment by the applicant’s current employer;
(j)bank statement with an active account under the applicant’s name;
(k)recent passport-size photo;
(l)evidence of applicant being fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years; and
(m)any other documents requested by the Service.
D. Scheme for Private Sector Employees
1.An applicant must—
(a)be a Fijian citizen;
(b)be ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 3 years before the award commencement date unless determined by the Board or delegated authority on case-by-case basis;
(c)secure a place at an eligible institution by means of a final offer letter;
(d)be in employment at the time of application and remain in employment during the course of studies (leave with or without pay letter from the employer is acceptable). Resignation or termination from employment post the confirmation of funding will result in cessation of funding from the following academic term;
(e)not be earning a gross income of more than $25,000 per annum;
(f)be seeking to attain an academic qualification (first higher education qualification) or upgrade an existing qualification (in the same area of studies and only if the earlier qualification was not funded under a Scheme or any other Government Schemes) up to the maximum of first Bachelor’s degree at an eligible institution either as a part-time or full-time student; and
(g)must be fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services above the age of 18 years.
2.The following must be submitted by the applicant as part of his or her application—
(a)official academic transcript or certificate for the existing highest qualification;
(b)final offer letter from an eligible institution in an eligible programme;
(c)birth certificate;
(d)letter from FRCS stating the student’s tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(e)evidence of the student’s supporting parents’ or guardians’ income (salary slip for working parents or guardians, most recent tax assessment by FRCS or statutory declaration as applicable);
(f)supporting parents’ or guardians’ letter from FRCS stating their tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(g)employment contract or letter of employment confirmation from the employer;
(h)a recent pay slip not older than one month at the time of application;
(i)recent FNPF statement which should clearly show the last payment by the applicant’s current employer;
(j)bank statement with an active account under the applicant’s name;
(k)recent passport-size photo taken in the past 6 months;
(l)evidence of applicant being fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services above the age of 18 years; and
(m)such other documents as may be requested by the Service.
E. Scheme for TVET — FNU
1.An applicant must—
(a)be a Fijian citizen;
(b)be ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 3 years before the award commencement date unless determined by the Board or delegated authority on case-by-case basis;
(c)have a final offer letter for any Certificate Level III, IV or Diploma level 5 programmes offered by the Fiji National University;
(d)have passed Year 12 or Year 13 examination or have successfully completed Certificate Level I or II programme from Technical College of Fiji or equivalent;
(e)must not have a combined family income of more than $100,000 unless allowed by means testing; and
(f)must be fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years.
2.The applicant must submit the following as part of his or her application—
(a)official academic transcript for Year 12 or Year 13 results or equivalent deemed by Board or delegated authority;
(b)final offer letter from FNU;
(c)birth certificate;
(d)letter from FRCS stating the student’s tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(e)evidence of the student’s supporting parents’ or guardians’ income (salary slip for working parents or guardians, most recent tax assessment by FRCS or statutory declaration as applicable);
(f)supporting parents’ or guardians’ letter from FRCS stating their tax identification number, or FRCS and Fiji National Provident Fund joint card;
(g)bank statement with an active account under the applicant’s name;
(h)recent passport-size photo;
(i)evidence of applicant being fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years; and
(j)such other documents as may be requested by the Service.
F. Scheme for Accommodation Support
1.An applicant must—
(a)be a Fijian citizen;
(b)be ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 3 years before the award commencement date unless determined by the Board or delegated authority on case-by-case basis;
(c)supporting parent’s or supporting guardian’s combined income must be less than $50,000;
(d)must be enrolled as a full-time student in a Service funded programme at an eligible institution;
(e)must satisfy the criteria as per the study where you live zoning policy; and
(f)must be fully vaccinated or exempted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services if above the age of 18 years.
2.Accommodation Support Scheme only applies to students who enroll in a programme which is not offered by the institution within their locality.
3.The maximum allowance for a recipient must be as follows—
(a)$250 per month for rent and accommodation;
(b)$30 per week for bus fare expenses;
(c)$50 per week for food expenses; and
(d)$1,000 per annum for incidental and stationary allowance.
4.Students enrolling at campuses within their locality are only eligible for bus fare and incidental allowances.
5.In case a student still prefers to move to the main campus regardless of the programme being offered in their locality, the allowance eligibility will be restricted to bus fare and incidental allowance only.
6.The recipient must use part of the incident allowances to pay for any fees and charges as required by the institution such as general service fees, enrolment fees, caution fees, student association fees etc.
7.The recipient must submit the following in addition to all the required documents for the specific Scheme category for tuition—
(a)a letter of confirmation for hostel accommodation by the eligible institution;
(b)a certified copy of the tenancy agreement between the recipient and landlord; and
(c)a certified copy of any utility bill.