The U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP), 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 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.U.S. SOUTH PACIFIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
The U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP), 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 bachelor’s and master’s degree studies at the University of Hawai‘i at
Mānoa (UHM). The Program will include a mentoring component with the possibility of a follow-on summer
internship, and readily accessible opportunities for participation in host family and volunteer service programs.
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 USSP Scholarship Program is administered by the East-West Center (EWC) on behalf of its funder,
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Program Objectives
The Program provides educational opportunities for academically talented individuals from South Pacific
countries to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degree studies at UH Mānoa in fields that are directly relevant to
development needs in the Pacific Islands region. The Program is also intended to provide participants
opportunities to obtain a broader understanding of the United States.
Eligibility Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree 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.” Note: “Form 6” is not a
EWC form that you must complete and return to the EWC.
• Individuals who have completed some undergraduate level courses but have not obtained the equivalent of a
U.S. bachelor’s degree, are also eligible and strongly encouraged to apply for a USSP bachelor’s scholarship;
certain courses may be transferrable. Individuals who have already received the equivalent of a four-year
United States bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply for bachelor’s degree study but may apply for the
bridging program leading to a master’s degree.
• Master’s degree applicants must have completed at least a three-year baccalaureate program. Those with a
three-year bachelor’s degree may apply for a bridging program of up to one year, which, upon completion, allows
for application to a master’s degree program. Master’s programs may not require a bridging component,
depending on prior study and academic performance during the first year. The USSP program does not
generally permit direct application and admission to a graduate degree program. Those who currently possess
both a bachelor’s degree and a post-graduate diploma or honors degree or will have earned a post-graduate
diploma or honors degree before the scholarship’s August start date, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applicants must be citizens of one of the sovereign Pacific Island countries listed above. Individuals who have
dual citizenship, one of which is from the United States, are not eligible. U.S. non-citizen nationals and U.S.
permanent residents are also not eligible for USSP.
This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the East-West Center.
• 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 meet the requirements of the Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa program.
• Participants are expected to return home following the conclusion of this scholarship award to complete the J1
visa two-year home residency requirement and to share the knowledge and experience they have acquired
during the program with those in their home countries.
U.S. Baccalaureate Degree
Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to individuals who wish to pursue bachelor’s degree study in the
United States. Awards are given initially for a one year period but will be reviewed annually and may be extended
up to a maximum of four years. Bachelor’s degree candidates will enroll in a four-year undergraduate program
offered at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. The program may be completed in less time if the student has
transferrable courses from another university. USSP bachelor’s award recipients may not continue under this
scholarship funding to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree program in the United States; upon completion of the
bachelor’s degree, they must return to their home countries.
Bridging Program Leading to a U.S. Master’s Degree
Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to individuals who have successfully completed a three- or four-
year bachelor’s degree, or both a bachelor’s degree and a post-graduate diploma or honors degree, and who are
interested in pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Awards are given initially for one
year of coursework. During this period, scholarship recipients are given the opportunity to qualify for application to
an eligible master’s degree program offered at the UH Mānoa campus. Applicants will receive additional scholarship
support contingent upon being admitted into a UH Mānoa master’s degree program.
Some master’s programs may not require a bridging component, depending on prior study, academic progress and
performance during the first year, and departmental application deadlines. Thus, a master’s program may take
between two and three years to complete. USSP master’s award recipients may not continue under this scholarship
funding to pursue a doctoral degree in the United States; upon completion of the master’s degree, they must return
to their home countries.
Cultural, Educational, and Professional Enrichment Component
In addition to degree study, USSP students participate in educational, cultural enrichment and leadership training
activities at the East-West Center. Enrichment programming may include lectures, group discussions, seminars,
and projects designed to help participants develop a broader understanding of the United States and shared
concerns facing the United States, the Pacific, and Asia. At the East-West Center, a weekly Wednesday Evening
Seminar brings in renowned experts on a variety of themes relevant to the needs of the South Pacific. Informal and
structured opportunities to enhance leadership skills and cross-cultural awareness at the East-West Center and UH
Mānoa are numerous including local community service projects, student-organized events and activities, and
mentoring and host family program involvement. Scholarship recipients are required to enroll in academic courses
during their university’s summer term and/or engage in other approved activities of direct relevance to their
programs of study.
Eligible Fields of Study
Priority areas of study are agriculture, business, communication/journalism, education, environmental studies,
gender studies, NGO management, political science, public administration, public health, STEM fields (science,
technology, engineering, mathematics), and other related fields. If a desired area of study is not among the
priorities, the applicant should give special attention to explaining how this course of study would support the
This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the East-West Center.
goals of the program. Support is not available for professional degrees such as architecture, law, and medicine.
Bachelor’s and Master’s degree scholarship recipients will be placed at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
campus.
Therefore, applicants should carefully study the degree program list at the appropriate university link below and
select the one that most closely matches their academic and career goals:
The scholarship program will include a mentoring component with a possible follow-on summer internship, and readily accessible opportunities for participation in host family and volunteer service programs. Candidates from the following countries, who meet specific selection criteria, are eligible for the program.
Scholarship Sponsor(s): U.S. Department of State,
Scholarships to be taken at: East West Center, USA
Scholarship Type: Tuition award
Scholarship Worth: Full tuition fee cover
Number of Awards: Not Stated
Study Level: Undergraduate & Masters
Nationality: Pacific island countries
US South Pacific Scholarship 2024 | Eligibility Criteria
- Bachelor’s Scholarship: 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.
- Master’s Scholarship: Applicants must have completed at least a three-year baccalaureate program. Those with a three-year Bachelor’s degree may apply for a bridging program of up to one year, which upon completion allows for application to a master’s degree program. Master’s programs may not require a bridging component, depending on prior study and academic performance during the first year.
- Eligible Courses: Priority areas of study include agriculture, business, communication/journalism, education, environmental studies, gender studies, NGO management, political science, public administration, public health, STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), and other related fields.
- Eligible Countries: 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.
How to Apply: All applications for this scholarship are to be submitted onlinewith all necessary application documents uploaded;
Application Materials:
- Tips for an acceptable online application (click to download doc)
- Application instructions (click to download doc)
- Competition announcement (click to download doc)
Application Deadline: January 15, 2025
Visit the Official website for further details
