The US South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program that provides opportunities for Master’s and Bachelor’s degree study at the University of Hawai‘i in fields that are directly relevant to the development needs of Pacific island countries. It also enables the recipients to obtain a broader understanding of the United States. The scholarship program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and administered by the East-West Center.
Eligibility 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 Vanuatu1. The selection criteria include:
- Academic excellence
- Leadership potential
- Civic engagement
- Commitment to return and contribute to home country or region
- Compatibility of academic interests with available programs at the University of Hawai‘i
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Financial Coverage
The USSP scholarship covers the following expenses for the duration of the program:
- Tuition and fees
- Books and materials
- Housing
- Health insurance
- Monthly stipend
- Travel to and from home country or region
Requirement
Applicants must have completed secondary school by the deadline for submitting a university application for admission to their undergraduate program. In some countries this means having completed “Form 6.” In other countries, this may mean having completed “Grade 12.” 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 and strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in all college or university coursework completed in the past four years if applying for a master’s degree program, or in all secondary school coursework if applying for a bachelor’s degree program.
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting official scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum acceptable scores are 61 (internet-based) or 500 (paper-based) for TOEFL and 6.0 for IELTS.
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Document Requirement
Applicants must submit the following documents as part of their application:
- A completed online application form
- Official transcripts from all secondary schools, colleges, or universities attended
- Official test scores from TOEFL or IELTS
- Three letters of reference from academic or professional sources
- A personal statement of no more than 600 words describing their academic and career goals, leadership potential, civic engagement, and how they plan to use their education to benefit their home country or region
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- A copy of their passport biographical page.
Application Procedure
How to Apply
Applicants must apply online through the East-West Center website. They must also apply separately for admission to the University of Hawai‘i through its online system. Applicants must indicate their interest in the USSP scholarship on both applications and use the same name on both applications.
Deadline
The application window for admission to the Fall 2023 semester will open on September 17, 2023 and close on January 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time. Applicants are advised to start their applications early and submit them well before the deadline.
Scholarship Official website: US South Pacific Scholarship Program 2023/2024