The federal government is promising to find a way to ensure university students in Canada, living on scholarship funds from Libya, will not be left in the lurch because of sanctions imposed on the Gadhafi regime.

There are 520 students across Canada who rely on funds from the government of Libya. Their scholarships are administered by a Canadian organization, the Canadian Bureau for International Education, which has expressed concern about the fate of Libyan students.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs told CBC News Friday that something would be worked out.

"The minister has instructed officials to find a solution to ensure that these students have access to funds to complete their studies," the spokeswoman said in an e-mailed message to CBC News.

Libyan students have been on edge since the crisis in their home country erupted in February, as demonstrators have clashed with forces loyal to the regime of Moammar Gadhafi.

There are eight students at the University of Regina who rely on scholarship funds.

One student, from Tripoli, told CBC News he is stressed out by the situation. CBC News agreed not to identify the man.

"It's really hard," he told CBC News earlier in the week. "I have exams. I had an exam yesterday, and I have an exam tomorrow. I can't think straight. I try to go open the textbook, and then I go, let me go check the news."

Vianne Timmons, president of the University of Regina and board chair of the CBIE, said officials would ask the federal government for an exemption to sanctions so that scholarship funds can continue to go to the Libyan students.