NOTE TO ALL APPLICANTS TO OAS SCHOLARSHIPS

PLEASE READ BEFORE STARTING

To apply for an OAS – USCA scholarship, applicants must have ALL required supporting documentation, which includes:

1. ID – scan or photo of passport page that contains the applicant’s full name, date of birth, and country of citizenship.

2. Admission letter – unconditional admission letter from the University of South Carolina Aiken

3. Transcript or record of grades – copy of High School Transcript or Associate’s degree transcript. Transcripts must be translated by a sworn translator if English is not the original language of the transcript.

4. Certificate or Diploma – copy of High School certificate or Associate’s degree diploma or letter of enrollment from current institution.

5. Two (2) Recommendation Letters – one of the recommendation letters should be provided by a university professor and the other should be provided by current or most recent employer that includes: the letterhead of the University/Institution, the Professor’s/Employer’s position within the University/Institution, date and signature.

a. Applicants with no work experience may substitute the recommendation letter from the employer with a recommendation letter from a second professor. The recommendation letters provided for admission consideration to the University can be used for scholarship consideration.

b. However, if you choose to provide new recommendation letters directly to the OAS, the letters should be addressed to the OAS Scholarship and Training Programs, Department of Human Development, Education and Employment.

6. Essays – applicants are required to write and include two (2) essays in the OAS-USCA online scholarship application form. The essays must be written in English. Both essays should have a minimum of 800 characters (not words) and a maximum of 2900 characters, including spaces.

a. Essay 1: Describe how acquiring this academic degree will directly impact and enhance your professional skills in your current job position or future career.

b. Essay 2: Explain how you intend to apply the acquired knowledge and experience in the specific field of study that you will pursue to the development of your country or region.

7. Curriculum vitae – in English and no specific format is required. Do not include copies of diplomas, certificates or awards; only include text.

8. Proof of English Proficiency, if applicable – students whose native language is not English will be required to submit one of the following as proof of English proficiency:

a. A copy of an official transcript verifying completion of studies in an English speaking university in the last five years;

b. A test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 570 or higher for the paper based test, 230 for computer-based test, or an internet-based TOEFL (IBT) score of at least 89;

c. IELTS 6.5, or the equivalent

9. Proof of Additional Funds – proof that you have sufficient funds to cover remaining tuition and fees and other costs not covered by the scholarship by including one, or a combination, of the following documents with your scholarship application:

a. a copy of a rental agreement on property showing you as the property owner;

b. a copy of a bank statement or bank letter;

c. a letter from an employer showing a monthly or yearly salary to be received based on study leave with pay;

d. a letter showing a student loan or additional scholarship(s), grants, financial aid.

ALL the required documents must be combined into one (1) single PDF file (no larger than 5MB). If the file is larger than 5MB, you will not be able to summit the online form. The application system does not allow for more than one document to be uploaded. Do not include any additional documents besides those indicated.

Applicants could also apply for the Rowe Fund which is an educational loan program of the OAS that helps citizens from Latin America and the Caribbean to finance their studies in accredited universities across the US by awarding interest-free loans of up to US$15,000 dollars.

These above expenses listed as financial responsibility shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the scholarship recipients and the scholarship recipients will be responsible for payment of the remaining tuition fees and any other costs, which are subject to change based on the USC Board of Trustees decisions each academic year, as needed to USC Aiken.

Scholarship benefits are subject to the academic performance of the scholarship recipient and based on the availability of funds. In order to receive these benefits, the scholarship recipient should not be reported with an unsatisfactory academic performance due to absences or failing courses.

Scholarship Recipients of Bahamian citizenship may qualify to receive additional funding from the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, through the OAS-Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Scholarship Program

• Scholarship Recipients of Bahamian citizenship who apply to the OAS/Government of The Bahamas Scholarship Program may only pursue the programs listed as priority areas for the OAS/Government of The Bahamas Scholarship Program.
• Scholarship Recipients of Bahamian citizenship who do not apply to the OAS/Government of The Bahamas Scholarship Program may pursue any of the programs of study included in the OAS-USC Aiken Scholarship announcement.
• Scholarship Recipients of Bahamian citizenship who receive scholarship funds through the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, through the OAS-Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Scholarship Program must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Only applicants with proof of admission to a USCA program will be allowed to apply for scholarship consideration.

The scholarship application must be completed by June 30 or October 15, 2019.

Please click "CONTINUE" below to begin the application.