Australia has announced two new annual scholarships for top-performing Tongan students, reinforcing education links as the two countries mark 55 years of diplomatic relations.

The scholarships, announced by Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga, H.E. Brek Batley, will begin in 2026 and aim to support academic excellence and leadership development.

Under the new arrangements, the highest-ranked female student in the Form 7 national examinations will receive a fully funded scholarship to pursue an undergraduate degree at an Australian university of her choice.

The award covers tuition, travel, insurance, academic support and living costs, with a total value estimated at about AUD 300,000 (around TOP 450,000).

A second scholarship will be granted each year to the top performer in the University of the South Pacific (USP) Foundation Course examinations. This award will support the recipient to continue into an undergraduate pathway at a USP campus selected by the student.

“These scholarships build on the successful Australia Awards programme, which has supported more than 600 Tongans to study in Australia since the 1990s,” High Commissioner Batley said, noting the initiative’s role in equipping graduates with skills to contribute to Tonga’s development.

The new awards are in addition to the approximately 30 international scholarships Tonga already receives annually under the broader Australia Awards scheme, which aims to address skills shortages and strengthen people-to-people links.

Education advocates in Tonga have welcomed the expansion, saying it opens further pathways for young leaders, particularly women. Formal applications details are expected to be released early next year.

Observers say the move highlights sustained Australian investment in Pacific education as part of wider development and diplomatic engagement in the region.