Applications are invited for United States–South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) which is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
Up to four scholarships will be available for studies to begin in August 2014.
These scholarships are awarded to academically talented individuals from South Pacific countries to pursue bachelors or master’s degree study at US institutions.
The scholarship program will include a summer enrichment program in Honolulu.
BA scholarship recipients will also do a four to five-week community service project in the student’s home country.
Also See : Scholarships 2019
Study Subject
Standard liberal arts curriculum and other selected fields, with priority given to agriculture, business, computer science, education, environmental studies, journalism, political science, public administration and related fields.
If a proposed field of study is not among the priority fields, the applicant should give special attention to explaining how this course of study would support the goals of the program.
Support is not available for professional degree programs such as medicine (M.D.), masters in business administration (MBA), or law (J.D.). Business study is supported at the undergraduate level only.
Course Level: Scholarships are awarded pursue bachelor or master’s degree study at U.S. institutions.
Scholarship Provider: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State
Scholarship can be taken at: USA
Eligibility
Applicants must have completed the Sixth Form (the final year of high school in many countries) at the time of application.
Individuals who have completed some undergraduate level courses but have not obtained the equivalent of a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree are also eligible. Individuals who have completed a three-year baccalaureate program may apply for a one-year bridging program, which, upon completion, allows for application to a master’s degree program.
Some master’s programs may not require the bridging year, depending on prior study and academic performance during the first year. The USSP program does not generally allow direct application and admission to a graduate degree program.
Because an objective of the program is to provide an educational exchange experience to those not previously afforded such an opportunity, preference will usually be given to candidates who have not had recent extensive experience in the United States. Preference may also be given to candidates who have not had extensive opportunities for study at educational institutions outside the Pacific Islands region (i.e., outside the countries listed in paragraph one above).
Scholarship recipients must be able to meet the requirements of the Exchange Visitor (J-1 visa) program.
Individuals who have dual citizenship, one being that of the United States, are not eligible. U.S. non-citizen nationals and U.S. permanent residents are also not eligible for USSP.
Scholarship Open for International Students:
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.
Scholarship Description:
The United States–South Pacific Scholarship Program, 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 that provides opportunities for degree study at U.S. institutions of higher education.
The scholarship program will include a summer enrichment program in Honolulu. BA scholarship recipients will also do a four to five-week community service project in the student’s home country. 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.
The U .S .–South Pacific Scholarship Program is administered by the East-West Center on behalf of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Number of award: Up to four (4) scholarships will be available for studies to begin in August 2014.
Duration of award:
Awards are given initially for one year, but will be reviewed annually and may be extended up to a maximum of four years for bachelor degree. Awards are given initially for one year of master course work at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa campus.
What does it cover?
Scholarship recipients will receive the following:
Tuition and fees payable to the U.S. College or university at which the student is studying
Monthly maintenance allowance for residence hall room costs, food, and incidental expenses
The exact amount will vary and depend on the location of the recipient’s program.
Health insurance in accordance with the Exchange Visitor regulations
Settling-in and book allowance.
Initial and terminal air transportation to all official activity sites
Selection Criteria
In selecting scholarship awardees, the review committee will consider academic merit as well as evidence of leadership potential and experience; community service; cross-cultural knowledge, experience and sensitivity; capacity for change; adaptability; ability to pursue independent study; career potential and employment history; English language proficiency; creativity; initiative; self-expression; anticipated kinds of post-graduation contributions to home country and region; with preference given to those with little or no previous U.S. or other international study experience.
Notification:
Awards are expected to be announced on the Internet site by April 1, 2014.
How to Apply:
A complete application must include:
The completed application form, typed (preferred) or hand-printed very carefully.
If you have a passport, please include a legible copy of the biodata page of your passport from one of the eligible countries (biodata = the page that shows name, date of birth, and issue / expiration dates of the passport). If you do not have a passport, please include a copy of another government-issued identification card (birth certificate, national ID card, driver’s license).
Three East-West Center references from faculty or others familiar with the applicant’s academic and leadership potential
The references, completed on the attached official East-West Center’s USSP Scholarship Program Letter of Reference Form, should be sent separately to the Award Services Office, East-West Center by the individuals providing the references.
These letters must meet the deadline requirements stated below. Please see the “Tips for a Successful USSP Application” document.
A certified original or certified photocopy of academic records (transcripts) from high school and any previous university work, Sixth Form (and Seventh Form, if available) examination results, and bursary examination results. An official record bears the actual signature of the registrar and the embossed seal or official stamp of the issuing institution and has been sent directly by the issuing institution to the East-West Center.
TOEFL or IELTS test scores if available.
If you do not have a TOEFL or IELTS test score, you may still apply for the USSP scholarship.
After an application is submitted via LeapFile, by email attachment or by fax, the original application and documents must still be sent immediately in hard copy by mail or express courier to the Award Services Office at the East-West Center.
Scholarship Application Deadline:
The application deadline is February 1, 2014 for awards beginning in early August 2014
For more info, Visit website: www.eastwestcenter.org