PUBLIC Service Commission permanent secretary Parmesh Chand confirmed they received 5274 applications for the PSC local scholarships for this year.
Mr Chand said the commission would provide 500 new scholarships in addition to the 1132 continuing students who have to complete their programs in the various local tertiary institutions.
"The PSC scholarship unit is now making its final preparation for selections of new scholarship recipients and those who have applied for PSC scholarships need to understand the scholarship selection criteria," Mr Chand said.
"They have to accept the decisions that will be made when new awards have been finalised," he said.
He said parents and guardians of those who had applied for local and overseas scholarships needed to realise that the selection of new PSC scholarship recipients was based on merit.
"The best and brighter applicants who have submitted applications for the PSC local scholarships will be identified accordingly to the priority areas of training that were advertised," Mr Chand said.
"The most meritorious candidates will be rewarded for their academic achievements. These candidates will include those who have just recently completed their seventh form examination in 2012 as well as tertiary students who have been doing their studies privately and have produced exceptional results up until December last year."
He said selections for Multi-Ethnic Affairs (MEA) Scholarship, which was administered by PSC was based on income and merit as well as the priority areas of training as specified in the advertisement that was published last year.
The MEA unit had received 4387 applications of which 900 students would be newly sponsored for this year.