The Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service says the requirements for the loan repayment is students to start repaying only after they get into full time formal employment.
They say in cases where students are not able to get full-time formal employment, they are not required to start with the loan repayment.
TSLS says if students cannot find full-time formal employment after completion of studies, they can always notify the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service of their employment status and make any arrangements on loan repayment where required.
This is after a third year university student who has been looking for a job since last year raised concern about finding a job after graduation and repaying her loan under the Tertiary Education and Loans Scheme.
Karishma Kumari of Viwawa, Navua says she has put in about fifteen applications so far but has not been able to find a job since late last year.
The 22-year-old says on an estimate her loan is around $15,000 and she is concerned about finding a job.
She adds she has to travel from Navua to Suva daily which costs her about $10 per day but she only gets $30 allowance per week from TELS which is not enough.
Kumari says her father is a casual worker and she wants to reduce the burden on her family by finding a job.
TSLS says the maximum amount for bus fare for any TELS student is $30 per week and no student can be granted bus fare in excess of the approved rate.
They say as per the National Budget 2018/2019 to assist students who require at least two bus trips to attend classes, the bus fare allowance was increased from $15 to $30 per week.
TSLS adds in the case where the fare is not sufficient, students always have the option to use the Incidental and Stationary Allowance to meet the shortfall.
