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-Africa 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 - These are students who have been brought up in slums in the neighborhood of USIU-Africa. 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-Africa. 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.

For more information on Financial Aid, please contact the:
Financial Aid Office,
Tel: (+254) 730 116 745 /776
E-mail: finaid@usiu.ac.ke