FIJI citizens have a number of tertiary institutions in Australia to choose from in the pursuit of a PhD program.
This follows the announcement of a new cost-sharing sponsorship partnership between the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS), Monash University (MU), Swinburne University of Technology (Swinburne) and soon Griffith University.
The Government, through TSLS, will pay for students’ overseas health insurance costs, airfares, stipend and other costs while Monash University will pay full tuition fees for 15 students, and Swinburne University of Technology and Griffith University will cover costs for five students each.
A media release from TSLS stated the application period for the PhD scholarship would be open all year round.
“Earlier, four Australian universities signed cost sharing PhD partnership agreements. They are University of Newcastle with five scholarships, the University of New South Wales with one, Queensland University of Technology with five and Western Sydney University with three,” TSLS stated.
This means there are 39 scholarships under the cost sharing PhD scheme.
TSLS stated students would first complete their Master’s program before pursuing a PhD either at a local university or in New Zealand under a separate scheme.
TSLS confirmed 49 scholarships are available for the next academic year under the scheme.
Deputy vice chancellor (international) and senior vice president, Professor Craig Jeffrey of Monash University said the university signed an agreement with TSLS, making it one of the largest hosts for Fijian students among Australian universities.
CEO of TSLS Dr Hasmukh Lal said this would bring multiple returns and significantly boost intellectual capital in Fiji’s workforce.
“In the cost sharing PhD scheme, the taxpayers will save an average of $270,000 per student and with 39 scholarships in the scheme, the total savings is $10.5 million,” he said.
“This is achieved through successful negotiations and the Australian universities having development optics towards Fiji and the Pacific.”
Queensland University of Technology’s senior deputy vice-chancellor, Research Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik,left, signs the cost sharing MoU with TSLS chief executive officer Dr Hasmukh Lal.
Picture: TSLS
