The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) offers prestigious scholarships to assist you to gain knowledge and skills to contribute to the country’s human resource development needs. Scholarship recipients are expected to use their skills and knowledge to actively participate in the economic and social growth and prosperity of the Solomon Islands. Securing a scholarship is a highly competitive process. Submitting an application does not mean that you will automatically be awarded a scholarship. You will need to meet the eligibility criteria as outlined below, and present a compelling argument about why you wish to study your chosen course and how you plan to use the knowledge after you graduate. A set of selection criteria will then be used to identify and define the particular knowledge, attributes, qualifications and experience you must possess, in order to be short-listed and offered a scholarship.
2022 Solomon Islands Government Scholarship process only covers areas of study available in-country at various institutions developed by Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, with support from SITESA. The approved institutions and programs are stated in the national training Plan 2022.
The responsible division to facilitate the full process of SIG scholarships at the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education & Skills Authority (SITESA), is the National Scholarship Division/NSD (used to be termed as National Training Unit-NTU). This division is part of other divisions in SITESA, the new authority established in 2019, to administer all tertiary education and skills development training in Solomon Islands.
There are five (5) categories of Scholarship choices that you may wish to apply for, are indicated below. An eligibility criterion applies for each classification of the scholarship categories. These are:
- 1. Pre-Service Sector
- 1.1 School based
- 1.2 Constituency
- 1.3 Self-funded
- 2. In-Service Public Sector
- 3. In-Service Private Sector
- 4. In-Service teaching Sector
- 5. Skill Development Scholarship- (Approved TVET Centres & SINU)
1. PRE-SERVICE SECTOR SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship category covers:
-
- • Form Seven (7) school based students currently doing Form 7 in 2021, or have completed Form 7 at USP-SI.
- • USP upgrade students who wish to obtain SIG scholarship award
- • Self-Sponsored students who may wish to apply for SIG funded scholarships at academic institutions in the country.
- • Year six students with aggregate 8 who may wish to undertake Bachelor Degree programs at SINU
- • Skill Development Scholarships for RTCs and SINU (refer to criteria below)
- • Although most of Form 7 graduands may wish to undertake Science and Arts field in institutions overseas, that is not possible during this round of application process. Those who wish to apply overseas may do so in next round of scholarship application.
These scholarships are given to applicants for this category according to their level of performance and criteria identified for specific study fields’ in-country.
Pre-Service Self-Sponsored
The second group for this scholarship category are those on pre-service status and have already self sponsored themselves for a year or more in the in-country tertiary academic institutions. These scholarships are given to this group according to the criteria and approved study areas.
Basic Criteria: Students to prove that a year’s self-sponsorship has been done with receipts to prove payment and good grades achieved and confirmed by academic institutions concerned.
Selection Criteria
Institutions/Study fields
F6 Aggregate ≤ 10 or GPA 3.5
& First year courses done at own cost
SINU – Bachelor, Diploma
Current USP GPA 3.5 or have done all first 100 level courses at own cost
USP-SI – Bachelor, Diploma
YEAR 12/FORM 6 School Based & Overseas High School Applicant (SI Citizens)
This category of scholarship covers those year 12 or Form 6 students who performed exceptionally well to secure placement at a tertiary institution. Most in this category will be to attend studies at the Solomon Islands National University. Overseas high school students (SI citizens) can also apply, given they also performed exceptionally well to be accepted at a tertiary institution.
The acceptable Year 12/F6 Aggregate for those who applied in this category is aggregate eight (8).
Pre-service Constituency
This type of scholarship is for applicants who would like to be considered for the Pre-service constituency awards. Each constituency is allocated only four (4) scholarships. Applicants can choose any of the study fields indicated in the approved in the national education-training plan for 2022. The national scholarship division (NSD) will prepare and use a set of criteria to select the successful applicants.
Selection criterion used is merit-based with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and above for selection of applicants for endorsement and a list of applicants who meet the selection criteria will be forwarded to each Member of Parliament representing each constituency who will only endorse only four applicants.
2. IN-SERVICE PUBLIC SECTOR SCHOLARSHIPS
This category of SIG Scholarship is intended for the public officers of the government currently working and who have been identified for long-term training within their ministries. However, the requirement to choose fields stated in 2022 approved Education Training Plan still exists.
The Ministry of Public service (MPS) facilitates the process to ensure only recommended candidates from the various line ministries are considered for further long-term training. The selection process for this category is also facilitated by MPS; however, the application process will now be made online unlike past processes. Therefore all Public officers who are endorsed by their ministries are to apply online and follow instructions on the link provided for the process.
All applicants for Public sector scholarships have to apply and make study choices in line with the study fields approved in 2022 Education Training Plan/Opportunity List. Avoiding this would give one, lesser chances to be considered.
3. IN-SERVICE PRIVATE SECTOR
The Private Sector category scholarships are open to all private firms and individuals. The 2020 approved Education Training Plan also identifies the study fields to be undertaken on long-term studies as of 2022. The Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour & Immigration (MCILI) facilitates the process to ensure only recommended candidates from the various Private industries are considered for further long-term training. The selection process for this category is also facilitated by MCILI; however, the application process will now be made online unlike past processes.
All firms and individuals who applied for this category need to consider the study fields before applying and have to indicate their choices according to these study fields. Avoiding this would give one, lesser chances to be considered.
All Private sector applicants are to apply online as advised by NSD-SITESA on the link to be indicated soon. Public to consult the ministry (MCILI) on matters relating to Private sector selection criteria.
4. IN-SERVICE TEACHERS
This In-Service Scholarship category is for the current teachers from school authorities who wish to up skill the capacity level of their teachers. Thus, the support for such training begins at school level to school authority and to ministry (MEHRD) level.
All applicants for In-Service teachers’ scholarship are to apply and make study choices in line with the study fields approved in the 2022 Education Training Plan/Opportunity List. Avoiding this would give one, lesser chances to be considered.
The Teachers professional Development Division (TPDD) facilitates the selection process for this category. Thus, matters concerning selection for this scholarship sector can be forward to TPDD at MEHRD. All teachers to also apply online as soon to be advised by NSD-SITESA.
5. SKILL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP (TVET & SINU)
This is a scholarship category for those who wish to undertake Technical & Vocational Education Trainings at the approved Vocational Training Centres and at Solomon Islands National University (SINU). The selected Vocational Training Centres are indicated in the 2022 Education Training Plan. Do identify the training centres before submitting your applications.
The requirements for this category of scholarships at Vocational Training centres are:
-
- 1. Must have minimum qualification of Year 11 or Form Five (5)
- 2. Must be a graduate of that particular program in an approved Rural Training Centres or Technical Institution
- 3. Currently studying the same program applied for in an approved Rural Training Centres or Technical Institution
- 4. Must be a Year 9 or Form three (3) with minimum of three years of Community Services.
- 5. Currently practicing the particular skills applied for in an industry (E.g. Tourism & Hospitality, Building & Construction).
The requirements for this category of scholarships at SINU are:
-
- 1. Must have minimum qualification of Solomon Island National Form 6 Certificate
- 2. Must have minimum qualification of Form (5) Five with relevant number of years’ experience of work.
All applicants for Pre-service scholarships have to apply and make study choices in line with the study fields identified for Pre-Service scholarships. Avoiding this would give one, lesser chances to be considered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SCHOARSHIP COMMITTEE (NSC)
All the various sectors that administer the facilitation process of scholarship selection will present their submissions to the NSC towards endorsement. The NSC will deliberate and present to the National Scholarship Division who will further seek final endorsement and approval before advertisement of successful scholarship applicants by Jan 2022.
Completing the application form
If you are awarded a SIG Scholarship, you must be prepared to study a full time load per semester. This will be a condition of accepting a scholarship. Part-time study is not allowed. Universities and the National Scholarships Division will closely monitor your enrolment and progress throughout your studies. For Pre-service school based applicants, you can nominate up to three course programs according to academic institutions provided in the online application form. Your choices must come from the Scholarship National Education and Training Plan. You must carefully consider your choice of course and university based on your academic achievements, strengths, and the skills and knowledge you wish to gain.
Complete the online application form correctly and make sure to upload all requested documents. Applications that are incomplete or missing documents will not be assessed.
All applicants from each scholarship sector categories are to use the online application form. No Hard copy document will be accepted.
Opening Date: November 12th, 2021
Closing date for all Applications is 12:00 am 19th December 2021