US South Pacific Scholarship Program

Applications are currently being accepted for the U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP). This initiative, authorized by the U.S. Congress and funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program. It offers the chance to pursue Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at the University of Hawai‘i in fields directly relevant to the development needs of Pacific island countries. The program also aims to provide recipients with a comprehensive understanding of the United States. Along with the scholarship, there is a mentoring component, the potential for a follow-up summer internship, and accessible opportunities to engage in host family and volunteer service programs.

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Eligibility

To be eligible you must meet following criteria:

• Candidates from the following countries, who meet specific selection criteria, are eligible for the program: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
• To be eligible for the scholarship, it is essential to focus on priority areas of study, including agriculture, business, communication/journalism, education, environmental studies, gender studies, NGO management, political science, public administration, public health, and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). If the chosen field of study falls outside these priorities, applicants must provide a detailed explanation of how their course aligns with the scholarship program’s goals. Notably, support is not provided for professional degrees such as architecture, law, and medicine.
• For the Bachelor’s Scholarship, candidates are required to have completed secondary school by the university application deadline for admission to their undergraduate program. This completion may involve achieving “Form 6” in some countries or “Grade 12” in others. Additionally, individuals who have taken some undergraduate-level courses but have not reached the equivalent of a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree are eligible and are strongly encouraged to submit their applications.
• Master’s Scholarship applicants should have completed a minimum of a three-year baccalaureate program. Those with a three-year Bachelor’s degree can apply for a bridging program lasting up to one year. Successful completion of this bridging program allows for subsequent application to a master’s degree program. Whether a bridging component is required for master’s programs depends on prior study and academic performance in the first year.
• It’s important to note that the USSP program generally does not allow direct application and admission to a graduate degree program. Individuals with both a bachelor’s degree and a post-graduate diploma or honors degree, or those expected to earn such credentials before the scholarship’s August start date, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Given that one of the program’s objectives is to offer an educational exchange experience to those who haven’t had such opportunities before, preference is typically given to candidates without recent extensive experience in the United States. Additionally, preference may be given to candidates with limited opportunities for study at educational institutions outside the Pacific Islands region.
• Important eligibility criteria include not having dual citizenship, especially one being that of the United States. U.S. non-citizen nationals and U.S. permanent residents are also ineligible for USSP. All scholarship recipients must meet the requirements of the Exchange Visitor (J-1 visa) program.

Benefits

• The scholarship covers University tuition and fees, a monthly allowance, housing, and a settling-in allowance.
• Additionally, recipients receive an annual book allowance, health insurance, and access to a mentoring program.

Application Process

Click here to apply

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