SIG Scholarship 2025 Apply Online Now - Solomon Island Students

SIG Scholarships are only available to Solomon Islands nationals in the Solomon Islands and overseas. It is a pre-service scholarship awarded to a person who is not employed, usually a recent school leaver or an existing tertiary student. 

New information available here pertaining to 2025 Placements for Forms 4, 6 & 7 - CLICK HERE to find you.

Who can apply for SIG Scholarship 2025?

Solomon Islands nationals living in the country and also those living abroad can apply for the SIG scholarship.

This online application can be used to apply for an international or Solomon Island scholarship, but cannot be used to apply for Pre-Service teaching positions.

If you are already studying in a higher institution, you can also apply for the SIG scholarship. See below the application procedures. 

How to apply for Solomon Islands' SIG Scholarship?

Persons wishing to apply for SIG Scholarships 2025 must do so by completing the SIG Application Form 2025. 

You can download the Scholarship Application Form from the MEHRD website. For more information,  contact the National Training Unit (NTU) at NTU, Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development, P.O. Box G28, Honiara, Solomon Islands.

For those applying online, you will need a valid passport to complete the application. If you do not have a valid passport, you will have to attend the NTU and validate your identity before the closing date, which is usually at the end of July every year.

Conditions for SIG Scholarship

The main conditions you must agree to in accepting the offer of a Scholarship are, you agree:

• [1] To take up the Scholarship in the academic year for which it is offered
• [2] That the Scholarship offered is appropriate for the field and level of study you are capable of achieving
• [3] Not to change the programme of study or educational institution or other bridging courses without the prior approval of the NTU
• [4] To comply with the rules of the educational institution delivering the Scholarship course
• [5] To full disclosure of information regarding your academic progress by the contracted educational institution delivering the Scholarship course
• [6] To obey the host country's laws and maintain an acceptable standard of conduct at all times
• [7] To ensure all immigration permits, passport, medical and Police clearances are kept current for the duration of your scholarship.
• [8] Not to engage in any paid employment without the prior approval of the educational institution where you are studying and the NTU
• [9] To return to the Solomon Islands, your home country upon the completion of your Scholarship even if this occurs before the duration of the course
• [10] Accept that the Scholarship may be suspended or withdrawn if you fail to comply with the full terms and conditions of the Scholarship award

Check out the information on the SITESA application for this year and how to apply

Essential documents to include with SIG Scholarship application form

To complete your application you will need to 'upload' a copy of the following documents.

For those people who DO NOT have a valid passport:

• [1] A passport-size photograph
• [2] A certified copy of your birth certificate
• [3] A certified copy of all academic results and transcripts
• [4] Agreeing to the terms and conditions of the scholarship

You will also need to verify your identification at the NTU office before the application closing date.

For those people who DO have a valid passport:

• [1] A passport-size photograph
• [2] A certified copy of your passport personal information page
• [3] A certified copy of all academic results and transcripts
• [4] Agreeing to the terms and conditions of the scholarship

You will NOT have to verify your identification at the NTU office.

SIG Scholarships 2025 info

Every year we get a lot of visitors from Solomon Island and the SI community in Papua New Guinea. We compile this information to help, steer, our visitors in the right direction. 

Please follow this link to download the SIG application form and apply for this prestigious scholarship.

2024 Australia Awards In-PNG Scholarship - midwifery, nursing, PGDip education

Apply now for a 2024 Australia Awards In-PNG Scholarship to study midwifery, nursing, a postgraduate diploma in education or a maritime cadetship for women. 

2024 In-PNG Scholarships

• Check out the other scholarships offered by the Australian Govt to PNG students.
• You can also find out about nursing schools in PNG, GPA and how to apply here.
• Check out the latest information on Australia Awards Scholarship for 2024]

• Here is the in-country PNG diploma in nursing program - check it out. 
• For the 2023 applicants, find out about the application process, interview and selection. 

Australia Awards Papua New Guinea study options

The Australian Awards offer three (3) study options for PNG students.

• Australia Awards Scholarships for Papua New Guineans to study primarily postgraduate courses in Australia;
• Australia Awards In-PNG Scholarships for Papua New Guineans to study in PNG to meet critical workforce gaps; and
• Australia Awards Short Course Awards for Papua New Guineans to undertake short-term professional development study in Australia.

Visit www.australiaawardspng.org. and apply today.

Source: Australian Awards, australiaawardspng.org

Image: AA/Facebook

PNG Colleges and universities online application 2024

Many Papua New Guinea colleges and universities are now accepting online applications for their new non-school leavers. 

If you are planning to apply for an opportunity to study in 2024, check out the list of PNG colleges and universities here.

Scholarship for PNG Students to Study in Malaysia (MTCP) 2024

The Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) invites potential candidates who wish to undertake Post-Graduate Masters studies in Malaysia in 2024.

The scholarship program is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. The online application is open from mid-June 2022 and will close mid-July 2022.

[Check out the latest information on Australia Awards Scholarship for 2024]

Post Graduate Masters studies in Malaysia in 2024

The duration of the program is 12 to 24 months. You must be below 45 years old. The post-graduate scholarship covers tuition fees and monthly allowances.

Key dates

• 16th June - online application open
• 16 July - application close
• End of July - shortlisting
• Early August - interview
• Middle of August - announcement of successful applicants.

Apply online

Complete the ONLINE APPLICATION following the link: https://biasiswa.mohe.gov.my//INTER/login.php

For further information regarding MTCP Scholarship: https://www.facebook.com/MTCPMalaysia

This scholarship for PNG students was released by DHERST. 

Australian (scholarship) awards

Latest on Australian Awards Scholarship for PNG students.

Prime Ministers of PNG and and Potential Candidates for Future

The prime minister's position carries a lot of responsibilities, and also benefits. Those that once occupied this seat will always crave it. 

But, does this make any of them the best PNG prime minister candidate?

Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea

Here is a list of prime ministers of PNG since its independence.

• Late Sir Michael Thomas Somare (Momase) 1975 - 1980; 1982 - 1985; 2002 - 2012
• Sir Julius Chan (New Guinea Island) 1980 - 1982; 1994 - 1997
• Pius Wingti (Highlands) 1985 - 1988; 1992 - 1994
• Sir Rabbie Namaliu (New Guinea Islands) 1988 - 1992
• Late Bill Skate (Southern) 1997 - 1999
• Late Sir Mekere Morauta (Southern) 1999 - 2002
• Peter O'Neill (Highlands) 2012 - 2019
• James Marape (Highlands) 2019 - present

Note that John Giheno and Sam Abal were interim prime ministers in 1997 and 2010/2011, respectively, when the serving PNG prime ministers then were in some kind of transition period (i.e. the 1997 Sandline crises and the 2010/2011 hospitalisation of the late Cheif Sir Michael Somare in Singapore)

The last man standing, Sir Julius Chan, describes the former PNG prime ministers in his book, Playing the Game. 

Here is what he thought of the past PNG PMs.

• Sir Michael Somare – he thought Somare was a close friend but a political rival. He did not like Somare’s style of leadership. Throughout his book, he was slagging Somare's political tactics and the way political powers were concentrated within small political groups called the '4 Sirs and the 'Kitchen Cabinet'.
• Pius Wingti – he thought he was okay to work with as his deputy PM. He finds him different from the other Highlands MPs like Okuk. He thought Wingti focused more on business and less on politics.
• Sir Rabbie Namaliu – he thought Namaliu was a true academic, but indecisive.
• Bill Skate – he loathed Skate and thought he should never be trusted.
• Sir Mekere Morauta –-Sir Julius Chan said very little about Mekere. Understandably, he was out of office when Sir Mekere got into politics.

He did not say much about Peter O'Neill and James Marape, they became PM after his book was released in 2016.

Living Prime Ministers of PNG

Sir Julius Chan's role as the PNG prime minister was brought to an end during the university student's strike of 1994. His idea of hiring the Sandline Mercenary was unpopular and gained a hostile welcome as students and the PNG Defence Force revolted against it.

Pius Wingti and Sir J are happy running their provinces.

Sir Rabbie Namaliu has been out of the political scene in Papua New Guinea since he lost the election in 1992.

Peter O'Neill took over from the NA-run government when the founder was sick and in hospital in Singapore. His prime ministerial role was marred by court battles and controversial business deals. He spent more time in courts than in the prime minister's office. He used DSIP/PSIP grants to tie MPs down. O'Neill's commitment to the TFF policy is acknowledged, but there are serious issues surrounding transparency about him.

James Marape slogan 'Take Back PNG' gains popularity. He has a hand in the Pogera and Papua LNG deals which turn out to be decisive. Yet he was known to have spent a lot of money on overseas trips such as the K5 million one-day trips to Indonesia and COP26. 

Read about how James Marape took over from Peter O'Neill in 2019.

Who is the best candidate for the PNG Prime Minister's position?

The two MPs in the race for the prime minister's seat after the 2022 elections are the incumbent James Marape and Peter O'Neill. 

There are some dark horses who are also party leaders. Some names that are going around during the elections are:

• Belden Namah (Momase) - he was the incumbent Opposition Leader and a party leader, 3 terms MP and likely to be the force behind the formation of a new govt. A potential PM candidate, but abrupt and reactive.

• Kerenga Kua (Highlands)- he is the 2 term, a strong supporter of the late Sir Micheal Somare and leader of the eastern (lower) highlands block, and the leader of the National Party. He is a lawyer by profession, can stand his ground and has a presence about him. He is a dark horse but he will have difficulty working with people he did not like.

• Dr Allan Marat (New Guinea Islands) - is cool, calm and collected. He can make a great prime minister. He needs to put his hand up and make it count as the leader of the Melanesian Liberal Party. This is a long shot, but this MP has the PM's aura about him.

• Patrick Pruiatch (Momase)- he is a 3 term MP serving senior ministerial portfolios during the Somare, O'Neill and Marape govts; and leader of the National Alliance party. He comes across as an intelligent MP, but it's quite the opposite.

• Don Polye (Highlands) - he occupies senior ministerial portfolios in the Somare and O'Neill govts. Not easily manipulated, a fighter. He is the leader of THE party. He is a civil engineer by profession and can work with MPs from every part of the country. Yet, his THE party has struggled to muster numbers in elections. 

• Charles Abel (Southern) - a former deputy prime minister, he settled well as the second in command. However, he has a good chance of changing seats with the leader of the PNC party and commanding a following in the Southern part of the country.

Expect the unexpected

Anyone who follows the PNG elections and by-elections in the past will know that it is 'unpredictable'!

The governor-general will invite the party with the highest number to form the new govt after the 2022 national general elections. Yet, it does not mean that the prime minister will come from that party, because candidates do jump parties last minute. 

Also, the independent candidate will have a lot of say in who's going to be the next prime minister of PNG. 

So, who is the best candidate for prime minister of PNG?

It should not be anyone with a dramatic past, but someone who can empower the people through education, change the mineral and resource laws and bring economic independence.

The country has seen a glimpse of hope in the past Prime Ministers, but they are yet to see someone who CAN get the public servants to earn their pay, and work for the people they serve.

It's not easy. But, it can be done.