United States International University Africa (USIU – Africa) Financial Aid
The Office of Financial Aid is now inviting applications for the following undergraduate scholarship programs.
Download the Scholarship application form here
The United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) Financial Aid Office is committed to supporting the university achieve its Vision and Mission of providing quality all round education to a diversified population of students through its academic programs.
The primary goal of the USIU-Africa Financial Aid Office is to provide students with full access to all available sources of both internal and external financial assistance in order to meet their educational costs while pursuing their studies at USIU-Africa.
Objectives of USIU-Africa’s Financial Aid programs
- Enhance and encourage scholarship among the students.
- Enable eligible applicants from socio-economically under-privileged communities attain quality education from one of the most reputable institutions in the region.
- Recognize and promote sport talent among the students and youth in general.
- Enhance diversity in student enrollments thus encouraging multi-cultural appreciation and interaction among students from different nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Help in the career development of students through Campus Work Opportunities and Graduate Assistantships.
Financial Aid Policy and Regulations
- Financial Aid is not refundable to students under any circumstances.
- Award of grants/ scholarships depends on availability of funds.
- Students who apply for need based Financial Aid programs will be required to provide all the necessary documentary evidence alongside their applications.
- Scholarships will be advertised in the major Kenya daily newspapers. Interested applicants can also contact the Financial Aid Office for further information.
- All Financial Aid applicants will be notified about the status of their applications within seven days from the date of the interview (for continuing students) or upon admission (if new students).
- Students may apply for more than one Financial Aid program depending on circumstances and eligibility.
- Unless specified, all USIU-Africa students who meet the required criteria are eligible for financial aid.
- Students of Kenyan nationality with financial need must apply for HELB funds if they qualify for the same.
- Incomplete applications will not be processed.
- Recipients of financial aid must maintain specified academic requirements to remain eligible. Students who their Cumulative GPA drops below expected standards loose the financial aid program they are on until they improve their GPA to continue benefiting.
- Awards are available from the moment of approval and cannot be back-dated.
Definition of Terms
N/B. These terms are defined as per USIU policy.
Under-Privileged/Underrepresented/Marginalized Communities – This are people not enjoying the same standard of living as the majority of people in a society. These are students who have been brought up in slums and from arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. This areas Include;
Arid Areas – Turkana, Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Baringo, Garissa, Ijara, Tana River
Semi-Arid Areas – West Pokot, Laikipia, Narok, Kajiado, Mwingi, Kitui, Makueni, Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu
Diversity – This includes individual differences along the dimensions of socio-economic status and physical abilities.
Informal Settlements in the Neighborhood of USIU Africa – This are students who have been brought up in slums in the neighborhood of USIU. This areas include; Mathare, Korogocho, Marurui, Roysambu,
Multicultural – relating to, or constituting several cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
Cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) – this is the weighted mean value of all grade points a student has earned since enrollment at USIU-Africa
Tuition – this is total cost of units (courses) taken every semester at USIU. This cost does not include library, medical and student activity fee or any other charges.
Merit based – These awards are based on a student’s academic, artistic, athletic or other abilities, and often factor in an applicant’s extracurricular activities.
Need Based – these awards are based on the student and family’s financial record and require applicants to fill out a financial aid application form and attach relevant documents to verify the financial aid position of the family. These documents are stated in the financial aid application form.
Grants – Gift aid that is awarded based on demonstrated financial need. Grants do not have to be repaid.
Scholarships/Waivers – Gift aid that is awarded based on a variety of factors such as academic achievement, talent, leadership, geographical location, field-of-study and/or financial need. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.
Loans – Funds that are borrowed from HELB and other financial institutions to help pay for educational expenses. Loans must be repaid back to HELB and those financial institutions, usually with interest.
Employment – Funds that can be earned by working (Work Study and Graduate Assistant) in exchange for wages. Employment earnings ado not have to be repaid.
FINANCIAL AID PROCESS
1. Apply for financial aid by filing the financial aid application form and attaching the relevant documents required.
2. Financial aid office will send a feedback to all undergraduate students who have applied to come & confirm their interview date/time.
3. Financial aid awards are posted on the student’s accounts depending on the decisions made at the interview stage.
4. Students to be informed at the interview when to come and collect their award/denial letters after interviews.
NOTE: For Graduate and undergraduate students DO NOT go through the interview process. If they bring the documents required and they meet all requirements and award letter is processed for them immediately.
What is expected of students on financial aid/scholarships
Students on financial aid and scholarships are expected to meet the following guidelines to continue benefiting from financial aid;
- Maintain the required Cumulative GPA to continue benefiting. (All Financial aid Programs have different GPA requirement. Students can refer to the Financial aid Information or students can refer to their award letters.
- Students on Workstudy, vice chancellors Grant, International Grant, Family tuition, Alumni Tuition must register for 9-12 units (3-4 courses) for continued eligibility.
- Students on Scholarships must maintain the required GPA stated in their award letters to remain eligible.
- Students who are dismissed on disciplinary cases are accepted back on financial aid if the disciplinary committee advises the financial aid office to do so.
- Students on Campus Work Opportunity (workstudy) are expected to dress decently at all times as long as they are on workstudy.
LIFE AFTER FINANCIAL AID
Giving back – Students who have benefited through the financial aid programs at USIU can be able to give back once they are settled in employment or businesses. The financial aid office has opened an account with the USIU-Africa Finance department in name of USIU Financial Aid Beneficiaries Grant for all transactions. Beneficiaries willing to support our needy students can contribute to the account via M-pesa as detailed below;
Pay bill No.: 516900
Account name: finaid
Cheque: USIU-Africa
At the back of the cheque write: USIU-Africa Financial Aid Beneficiaries Account
Mentorship
Beneficiaries of financial aid can also come back and mentor students who are benefiting through talks that can be organized by the Financial Aid Office.
Community Service
Beneficiaries of Financial Aid can also come together and do community service. For example; alumni and current beneficiaries of the Full USIU-Africa Scholarship come together, once a year, to give back to a charity through supply of food stuff, cleaning activities, feeding, and in the case of a children’s home, playing with children and also cooking for them.
For more information, please email us on finaid@usiu.ac.ke or call us on 0730 116 776/745, OR visit the Financial Aid Office (FAB Center, Second Floor)