Scholarships for International Students

Below is a list of scholarships for which international students at UH Hilo are eligible.

Students on F-1 Visas

UH Hilo International Student Scholarship: These limited scholarships are awarded to UH Hilo international students who have demonstrated outstanding academic merit, have indicated financial need, and are pursuing a degree at UH Hilo.

New students interested in this scholarship must first apply for admission to UH Hilo. If admitted, all new international students will be automatically considered for this scholarship and will be notified by email if they are offered a scholarship (no application is necessary).

UH Hilo Dean's Scholarships: Each college at UH Hilo annually awards scholarships to students. Deadlines to apply are typically in March for the following academic year. Contact your college dean's office for more information.

UH Scholarships: Both UH Hilo and the UH System offer scholarships. Scholarships are open to students who are admitted to the University. The UH System Common Scholarship Application is a single application form that you use to apply for all of these scholarships, including both UH Hilo and UH scholarships. You only need to submit one application for these scholarships. (Please note that international students attending UH Hilo on a student visa do not need to submit a FAFSA--Free Application for Federal Student Aid--to apply for these scholarships.)

UH scholarships that international students may be eligible for include, but are not limited to, the following:

View a complete list of UH scholarships.

Other scholarships for which you may be eligible

• Rizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship: For undergraduate and graduate students from Japan studying in the U.S. for one semester to one year.
• Prime Scholarship: For nursing majors who intend to pursue a career as a nurse after graduation.
• iWP Clean Water Scholarship
• Friend Peace Scholarship (PDF)
• Rotary International District 2750 Global Grant Scholarship: Guidelines (Word file), Application (Word file), Recommendation Form (Word file), Pre-Check Information Form (Word file) & Agreement Form (Word file) (for graduate students from FSM, Palau, Guam, Saipan or the southern part of Tokyo whose graduate level coursework is aligned with one of the Rotary's six areas of focus: peace & conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention & treatment, water & sanitation; maternal & child health; basic education & literacy, and economic & community development)
• Aga Khan Foundation

Websites with Scholarship Resources

• Global Scholarships
• Funding for U.S. Study
• Education USA
• International Education Financial Aid
• International Scholarships
• InternationalStudent.com
• Chegg Scholarships
• College Board
• Scholarships360
• Interstride

Loans

International students who meet certain criteria are eligible for some loans. Typically, these loans required a co-signer (someone who guarantees that you will pay the loan back and is responsible for paying the loan if you are unable to do so). Loans that may not require a co-singer may be available through MPower Financing, Prodigy Finance, and 8B Education Investments. Visit the International Student Loan Center or InternationalStudentLoan.com which provide international students with access to a range of loans. The SallieMae Smart Option Student Loan accepts loan applications from non-US citizens (although most lenders require you to have a credit-worthy co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident).

Although most lenders require an eligible co-signer to join the application, there are some loans that do not require you to have a co-signer. Instead of determining your eligibility based on your co-signer, no co-signer loans look at factors like how soon you will graduate, your career potential, and if you attend a school on the approved list. Each lender has their own eligibility criteria. Because of this it’s important to compare each lender, including their eligibility requirements. If you would like to find an international student loan that does not require a co-signer, view information about no-cosigner loans.

Students from the Compact of Free Association Nations

Students from the Compact of Free Association nations (the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands) are eligible for U.S. federal financial aid as well as scholarships from their home governments.

U.S. Federal Financial Aid

To apply for U.S. federal financial aid, students should fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Students must apply each year, starting in October for the following academic year. Students from the FSM and Marshall Islands are eligible for Pell Grants. Students from Palau are eligible for Pell Grants, SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), and Federal Work-Study.

If you plan to take classes during the summer session, fill out the Summer Financial Aid Application and submit it to the UH Hilo Financial Aid Office. This will enable you to be considered for financial aid for summer classes.

Government Scholarships

• FSM National Government Scholarship (PDF) Visit the FSM Department of Education website for information on the scholarship policy, guidelines, and frequently asked questions. View the awarding criteria (PDF).

Deadline: June 30 for fall, December 31 for spring and May 31 for summer.
Send transcript to: FSM Department of Education, P.O. Box PS 87, Palikir, Pohnpei FM 96941
Contact: Joyleen Sienes at Joyleen.Sienes@national.doe.fm (email), +691 320-2609 or +691 320-2647 (phone)

Requirements to continue to be eligible for the scholarship: 2.0 cumulative GPA and register for at least 12 credits each semester. (Note: Credits are counted if a student receives an "F" but not if a student receives a "W".) Letters of recommendation are no longer required for the FSM scholarship.

• Chuuk State Scholarship (Word)

Deadline: June 30 for fall and spring of the following academic year; no scholarships for summer
Send transcript to: Ripwo Caesar, Student Services Coordinator, P.O. Box 904, Weno, Chuuk FM 96942
Contact: Ripwo Caesar at ripwocaesar@gmail.com or chuukscholarship@gmail.com (email), +691 330-2190 or +691 330-5290 (phone)

• Kosrae State Scholarship (Word)

Deadline: June 30 for fall; November 30 for spring; April 30 for summer (usually available for graduating seniors only)
Send transcript to: Marieta Kephas, Department of Education, P.O. Box 660, Tofol, Kosrae FM 96944
Contact: Marieta Kephas at mpkephas@gmail.com (email), +691 370-3008 or +691 370-3189 (phone)

Requirements to continue to be eligible for the scholarship: 2.5 cumulative GPA and register for at least 12 credits each semester.

• Kosrae Delegation Scholarship Program (Word)

Deadline: June 30
Send transcript to: CFSM Kosrae Delegation Office, Administrative Officer, P.O. Box 257, Kosrae, FM 96944
Contact: Elise Palsis at eliseksadel14@gmail.com (email), +691 370-3052 or +691 370-3152 (phone)

• Pohnpei Scholarship Application (PDF)_(View a brochure on scholarships for students from Pohnpei (PDF))_

Deadline: August 30 for fall; December 31 for spring; no scholarships for summer
Send transcript to: Scholarship Coordinator, Department of Education, P.O. Box 250, Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941
Contact: Merlinda Donre Hawley at mdonre@pohnpei.doe.fm (email), +691 320-2102 or +691 320-2103 (phone)

Requirements to continue to be eligible for the scholarship: 2.5 cumulative GPA and earn 12 credits each semester

• Yap State Scholarship Application for new Applicants (PDF)
• Yap State Scholarship Application - renewal Application for students currently receiving the scholarship

Deadline: June for fall; December for spring; no scholarships for summer
Send transcript to: Yap State Scholarship Coordinator, P.O. Box 135, Colonia, Yap FM 96943
Contact: yapscholarship@gmail.com (email), +691 350-2571 (phone)

Requirements to continue to be eligible for the scholarship: 2.5 semester GPA

• Marshall Islands Scholarship, Grant & Loan Program

Marshall Islands Scholarship Application

Deadline: June 30 for fall; November 1 for spring; April 1 for summer
Send transcript to: Juliet Anitok, MISGLB Director, P.O. Box 1436, Majuro, MH 96960
Contact: Julie Anitok or Diane Peter at rmisglb@gmail.com (email), +692 625-3108 (phone)

View Marshall Islands Scholarship requirements for ongoing applicants.
View Marshall Islands Scholarship requirements for new applicants.

In addition to an official copy of your transcript, you must submit a copy of your financial aid award letter, class schedule for the upcoming semester, and summary of charges (tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, etc.). You can access this information in your MyUH account and then print it out or save it electronically.

View Marshall Islands Scholarship, Loan & Grant Board regulations.

• Palau National Scholarship, Loan & Grant

Deadline: July 31; no scholarships for summer
Send transcript to: Scholarship Coordinator, P.O. Box 1608, Koror, Palau 96940
Contact: scholarship680@gmail.com (email), +680 488-3602 (phone)

View the Palau scholarship, grant & loan criteria (PDF) for selecting recipients.

Requirements to continue to be eligible for the scholarship, loan or grant: Earn 24 credits each academic year

• Palau National Scholarship Board Fellowship Award Program

The PNSB Fellowship Award Program offers funds to Palauan students to support internships for the summer.

For other non-Palau National Scholarship Board sponsored programs, visit the Palau National Scholarship board website.

Follow these steps to apply for one of the COFA government scholarships listed above

1. Fill out the application.
2. Bring your completed application to the ISS office (or email it or fax it to 808-932-7471).
3. When you drop off or send your application to the ISS office, let us know whether you plan to live on-campus or off-campus next year and if you and your family will be contributing any funds to pay for your expenses.
4. We will fill out the information on financial expenses.
5. We will sign and seal the application, then scan and email it to the scholarship office (with a copy to you), and then mail the original application to the scholarship office.
6. If you have attended UH Hilo before, fill out an online Transcript Request Form so that an official copy of your UH Hilo transcript will be sent to the scholarship office.

If you need proof of attendance for a scholarship application, fill out and submit the Certification Request form to the Registrar's Office.

If you need to submit a document showing the amount of your charges (tuition, fees, etc.), log in to your MyUH account, click on "View charges," and then click on "View my account." You can take a screenshot of that page or print it out and scan it.

For the scholarships listed above, you must send an official copy of your UH Hilo transcript at the end of each semester to the scholarship office.

Other Scholarships for Pacific Islanders

• UH Hilo Pacific Islander Scholarship: No application is necessary. Eligible students will be considered for and awarded the scholarship by submitting a FAFSA.
• APIA Scholarship: UH Hilo students are eligible to apply for this scholarship worth approximately $2,500+. No GPA requirement or letters of recommendation required. Deadline to apply is January. More information and an online application can be found on the APIA website.
• Dr. Joakim Peter Memorial Scholarship: Scholarships for FSM, Palauan and Marshallese students (or sons/daughters of parents from the FSM, Palau and the Marshall Islands). Deadline: June 1.
• Scholarships for Pacific Islanders & Asian Americans: Website with a list of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate degrees for Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans.
• South Pacific Islander Organization Scholarships: Scholarships for students of Micronesian, Polynesian and Melanesian descent. Deadline is January.
• USDA Forest Service - US-Affiliated Pacific Islands Graduate Fellowship: Graduate fellowship for a student dedicated to a career in forestry, conservation biology, and environmental science. In addition to working with a faculty member in Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science (TCBES) program, the student will also be mentored by a research scientist at the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF) to develop a project in Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, or the FSM. The fellowship comes with generous support for 2 years, including a stipend, tuition costs, health insurance, and costs for travel and supplies needed to conduct research work associated with the research project. The fellowship recipient is expected to work with their IPIF mentor part-time in the school year and full-time in the summer breaks. To apply, send a copy of your TCBES acceptance letter, transcript(s), and a personal statement to Susan Cordell at Susan.Cordell@usda.gov with “IPIF US-API Graduate Fellowship Application” in the subject line. Priority deadline: March 1.
• UH Hilo Dean's Scholarships: Each college at UH Hilo annually awards scholarships to students. Deadlines to apply are typically in March for the following academic year. Contact your college dean's office for more information.
• UH Scholarships: Both UH Hilo and the UH System offer scholarships. Scholarships are open to students who are admitted to the University. The UH System Common Scholarship Application is a single application form that you use to apply for all scholarships, including both UH Hilo and UH scholarships. You only need to submit one application for these scholarships. The deadline to apply for scholarships is March 1.
  
  UH scholarships that students from the Compact of Free Association nations may be eligible for include, but are not limited to, the following:
  
  • Alec & Kay Keith Scholarship
  • Alfred Capelle and Byron Bender Endowed Scholarship Fund (for students from the Marshall Islands)
  • Arthur & Beatrice Harris Endowment for Graduate Scholarships (for graduate students)
  • Faliuwseuw Scholarship (for students from Yap State, FSM)
  • Henry E. Renteria Scholarship Fund (for English majors)
  • Ho-Pang Endowed Scholarship
  • John Vernon & Shizuko Nakagawa Harry Endowed Scholarship
  • Leon J. Rhodes Scholarship
  • Louisa Pereira Endowed Scholarship
  • Michael J. Levin Endowed Scholarship
  • Mildred Towle Scholarship for International Students
  • Paul J. Kopecky Memorial Scholarship
  • Renee Heyum Pacific Islander Fund in Pacific Island Studies
  • Stars of Oceania Scholarship
  • Victor & Peggy Brandstrom Pavel Scholars
  • Virginia Pearson Ransburg Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship
  • William B. Allen Pacific Islander Endowment Fund

View a complete list of UH scholarships.

• National Fisheries Corporation (NFC) Scholarship: Open to FSM citizens with majors in marine science, business, computer science and related fields. Offered in the fall semester only.
• FSM Development Bank Scholarship: Must be an FSM citizen pursuing a graduate degree in accounting, business, computer information systems, economics, finance, and other related fields of study. Undergraduate juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and above may also be considered.
• Bill Raynor Micronesia Challenge Scholarship: Must be a citizen or permanent resident of any of the five Micronesia Challenge jurisdictions (FSM, Palau, Marshall Islands, Guam and CNMI); possess a bachelor’s degree; have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of not less than 3.0 or have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 with at least 3-5 years of work experience in conservation, climate change or sustainable development; be working for a natural resource management agency/NGO, or have a high potential to be hired by one; not already have a full scholarship from any funding source (students with partial scholarships will not receive funds above and beyond the cost of their tuition and associated fees); be accepted or enrolled in a graduate degree program in a resource management/conservation field at universities within the Pacific region (Hawaiʻi, Guam, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, or US) at the time of application; and commit to returning to Micronesia to work in the environment sector.
• Rotary Club of Pohnpei-FSM Scholarship: Must be an FSM citizen and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Vital Annual Scholarship in partnership with the Rotary Club of Pohnpei: For FSM citizens. Applicants should major in selected fields such as engineering, certain applied sciences such as chemistry or botany, agriculture, maritime fields of study, certain business fields, and computer science.
• Gold Mountain Scholarship for Rising Seniors: Scholarships for Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, and Asian Americans who are rising seniors and first-generation college students (meaning your parents did not complete a college degree).
• American Samoa Community College Marine Science Semester Program Scholarship: For students from American Samoa seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree in marine science or a related field. Recipients are selected based on merit, which consists of their GPA, research experience, community service, brief essays, and letters of recommendation.
• Pohnpei Women's Council: Open to all students from Pohnpei attending school abroad. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5. For more information contact Lululeen Santos at (691) 320-5142.
• Bank of Guam Scholarship: Open to residents of Guam, CNMI, FSM, Palau, the Marshall Islands or San Francisco. Deadline: March 1. For more information email communications@bankofguam.com
• Rotary International District 2750 Global Grant Scholarship: Guidelines (Word), Application (Word), Recommendation Form (Word), Pre-Check Information Form (Word) & Agreement Form (Word)_(for graduate students from FSM, Palau, Guam, Saipan or the southern part of Tokyo whose graduate level coursework is aligned with one of the Rotary's six areas of focus: peace & conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention & treatment, water & sanitation; maternal & child health; basic education & literacy, and economic & community development)_
• Heyum Endowment Fund Scholarship
• CariPac RIAA Scholarship (Word): For FSM students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and natural resource management, food and nutrition, and related science, technology, engineering and math fields.
• Hawaiʻi Community Foundation
• Friend Peace Scholarship (PDF)