Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme
APPLICATION OPEN!
Applications are invited for the 2027 intake of the PASS Scholarship Program from suitably qualified applicants seeking to undertake a Masters by Research or PhD at Fiji National University (FNU).
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is an Australian Government statutory authority within the Australian Government’s Foreign Affairs portfolio. The ACIAR Pacific Island strategy recognises the importance of agriculture (including horticulture), fisheries (including aquaculture), and forestry across the region.
ACIAR’s Pacific postgraduate scholarships are offered in the Pacific, to Pacific Islanders. This enables scholars to research agricultural problems within the context that the solutions need to work, to build professional networks which will be relevant post-study and remain close to family and culture.
The PASS Program aims to strengthen the Pacific agricultural innovation system through building on the strengths of Pacific universities and their regional partners. It sits within ACIAR’s Pacific Capacity Building Strategy and is part of the Australian Government’s support to the Pacific.
The ACIAR PASS Administration team based at FNU provides additional support to PASS scholars and academic staff including professional development, peer-to-peer learning, research collaboration, and supervision training. Student work placements and career development are included under the PASS Program through the Job Ready program to build ongoing industry connections.
ELIGIBILITY
Note:
Please check with the ACIAR Graduate Officer before applying for the scholarship.
Interested applicants for Masters by Research Programs are expected to have achieved:
The medium of instruction at FNU is the English language. Students must be sufficiently fluent in English to pursue the HDR Programme. HDR students will provide evidence from undergraduate qualifications/other English qualifications that confirm their English language competency.
Interested applicants for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs are expected to have achieved:
The medium of instruction at FNU is the English language. Students must be sufficiently fluent in English to pursue the HDR Programme. HDR students will provide evidence from undergraduate qualifications/other English qualifications that confirm their English language competency.
TARGETED RESEARCH TOPICS
ACIAR and FNU have worked together to identify key research topics relevant to the ACIAR project and FNU’s research interests.
Please note: The Compendium of Potential Research Topics and Research Intent Form will only be provided to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and are confirmed as eligible to proceed with the application process.
For eligibility checks and further information about the ACIAR PASS Program, please contact:
Ms. Varsha Dutt
ACIAR Graduate and Scholarship Officer
Email: aciar-go@fnu.ac.fj
Eligible applicants will receive further instructions on accessing the research topics and completing the Research Intent Form.
SCHOLARSHIP CONDITIONS
Scholarships will be awarded on a 24-month basis for Masters’ students and 36-month basis for a PhD candidate. Each successful recipient will be entitled to:
A Research Grant of up to a maximum of FJD17,500 for Masters’ students and FJD40,000 for PhD students is available for successful applicants.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants must first submit the PASS Scholarship Application Form together with all required supporting documents.
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be notified and provided with the following:
Eligible applicants will then be required to identify a suitable research topic, consult with the relevant FNU Supervisor and Co-supervisor, and complete the Research Intent Form as instructed.
For eligibility checks and further information about the ACIAR PASS Program, please contact:
Ms. Varsha Dutt
ACIAR Graduate and Scholarship Officer
Email: aciar-go@fnu.ac.fj
Application forms and details of the scholarship can be downloaded by clicking on the link below:
For more information, including application forms and research proposal templates, please contact:
Ms. Varsha Dutt, ACIAR Graduate and Scholarship Officer
Email: aciar-go@fnu.ac.fj
For further information about ACIAR’s Pacific work, please contact:
Ms Mai Alagcan, Regional Manager Pacific and PNG, Suva, FIJI
Email: CountryPacific@aciar.gov.au
Check your eligibility against the eligibility criteria provided in the PASS Scholarship Application Form.
ACIAR and FNU have worked together to identify key research topics relevant to the ACIAR project and FNU’s research interests.
Please note: The Compendium of Potential Research Topics and Research Intent Form will only be provided to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and are confirmed as eligible to proceed with the application process.
For eligibility checks and further information about the ACIAR PASS Program, please contact:
Ms. Varsha Dutt
ACIAR Graduate and Scholarship Officer
Email: aciar-go@fnu.ac.fj
Eligible applicants will receive further instructions on accessing the research topics and completing the Research Intent Form.
Click Here to View the Frequently Asked Questions.
Zoom Sessions
We will be having Zoom Sessions for all interested applicants. Please refer below confirmed sessions for your perusal.
| Session | Date | Time (FJT) | Details | Registration Link | Recordings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | 28th August 2026 | 3.00pm | First Q&A Session | Registration Link | |
| Session 2 | Week of 7th September 2026 | TBC | Research Proposal Workshop | TBC | |
| Session 3 | Week of 21st September 2026 | TBC | Second Q&A Session | TBC |
ACIAR Awards Eight New Graduate Scholarships at FNU
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and Research Office, FNU take great pleasure in congratulating the eight recipients of the 2025 ACIAR Pacific Agriculture Scholarship Support and Climate Resilience (PASS-CR) awards! These awards go a long way in helping postgraduate students to contribute to our research in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and related developmental areas. The recipients come from a large pool of excellent candidates, and we are grateful for the interest shown by them in continuing their studies at FNU.
ACIAR’s Pacific postgraduate scholarships are offered in the Pacific, to Pacific Islanders. This enables scholars to research on challenges confronting the region, to build professional networks and proffer solutions, while remaining close to family and culture.
The PASS-CR Program aims to strengthen the Pacific agricultural innovation systems through building on the strengths of Pacific universities and their regional partners. It sits within ACIAR’s Pacific Capacity Building Strategy and is part of the Australian Government’s support to the South Pacific islands.
The following candidates were successful in the 2025 round:
Mr. Ratu Penaia Vosawai, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Developing wild Turmeric cultivars to boost their production and economic returns for Fiji under the supervision of Dr. Ilisoni Leweniqila, Dr. Hirdesh Sachan, Dr. Deeksha Krishna (FNU), and Dr. Francis Ogbonnaya from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Australia.
Ms. Ashmita Prasad, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Evaluating the effects of bitter ginger on physiological responses, behaviour, growth performance, blood status, and gut health of broiler chickens under the supervision of Dr. Archibold Bakare (FNU), Dr. Ashika Devi (FNU), Dr. Kosar Gharib-Naseri from the University of New England (UNE), Australia and Dr. Anthony Keyburn from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Ms. Alissa Offa, Masters by Research under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Transformation pathways for Pacific coastal food systems under the supervision of Dr. Ravinesh Ram (FNU) and Dr. Federico Davila from University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia.
Ms. Salote Berwick, Masters by Research under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Evaluating growth, yield, quality, and economic viability of wild and commercial turmeric cultivars in Fiji under the supervision of Dr. Hirdesh Sachan (FNU) and Dr. Francis Ogbonnaya from (GRDC, Australia).
Mr. John Chief, Masters by Research under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Comparison of organic, inorganic, and integrated nutrient amendments in enhancing soil health and productivity using eggplant in the Ra Province, Fiji of Dr. Hirdesh Sachan, Dr. Deeksha Krishna (FNU) and Dr. Christopher Guppy (UNE, Australia).
Ms. Jasnita Ali, Masters by Research under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Influence of governance, policy and rural to urban migration of people on the fisheries sector of Fiji under the supervision of Dr. Ravinesh Ram (FNU) and Prof. Kate Barclay (UTS, Australia).
Mr. Ashneel Kumar, Masters by Research under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Improving soil nutrient availability and crop productivity using organic amendments in degraded tropical soil of Western Viti Levu, Fiji under the supervision of Dr. Hirdesh Sachan (FNU) and Dr. Christopher Guppy (UNE, Australia).
Mr. Erol Harley, Master of Science in Agriculture under the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), to research into Utilization of high dietary copra and palm kernel-based diets with different levels of enzyme supplementation on performance of broilers under the supervision of Dr. Ashika Devi, Dr. Archibold Bakare (FNU) and Dr. Kosar Gharib-Naseri (UNE, Australia).
The ACIAR and Research Office congratulate the recipients in this round and look forward to supporting them in their studies. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof Paul Iji, expressed his gratitude for this continued support by the ACIAR, and looks forward to more support into the future. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, also thanked the ACIAR, particularly for maintaining gender balance in the awards, which currently support more than 20 students at FNU. The new contract will support close to 40 new awards in the coming five years.
Ms. Varsha Dutt
ACIAR Graduate and Scholarships Officer
Research Office, FNU.
Stay updated with the latest events and announcements from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
For detailed information on upcoming events, activities, and updates, click the link below to explore the latest blog post about the PASS Program and how it is building capabilities and careers in the Pacific:
ACIAR PASS Program Blog: Building Capabilities and Careers in the Pacific