College Scholarships for Jamaica
Immerse Yourself in Reggae and Rasta Culture
Jamaica is so much more than Reggae and Rasta. Students interested in engaging in studies in Jamaica may have the opportunity to study biology and the environment or examine Jamaica in light of its colorful history and political environment. Jamaica has always been one of the most desirable Caribbean destinations, but social situations have been largely responsible for creating the climate in which Reggae and the Rastafarian spirit were born.
College Scholarships
Florida International University conducts a summer Honors Program in Jamaica. Students must be honors level and for that status may study the culture, climate and socio-political underpinnings of the tropical region. Top students may vie for honors scholarships specifically offered for this trip. Awards are $450 and, while they do not come close to covering the cost for travel, the funds may cover other necessary expenses.
The Office of International Studies also offers students the Study Abroad Scholarship, a need-based award. Of course students must also prove academic merit and write an essay that concisely explains their goals for the abroad program and how it benefits their major.
Ever considered an alternative Spring Break? Biology students at Indiana University-South Bend may participate in a Tropical Marine Biology Spring Break in Jamaica. There is no better environment for studying marine life and the biology of a tropical environment than this perennially favorite destination. Scholarships available to students include:
- IU Office of Overseas Study Scholarships are awarded to students based on academic merit in combination with financial need. Funding varies based on an array of factors and students must be able to support their choice of abroad studies in the light of their major course of study.
- Joseph L. and Julia B. Peyser Study Abroad Undergraduate Scholarships are designed for students at least in their sophomore year who require financial assistance with international studies programs. The better fitted an abroad program is to the student’s major, the better positioned the applicant is for funding.
Students at the University of Minnesota are encouraged to pursue studies abroad as part of any well-rounded liberal arts education. For that reason many destinations, like the Jamaica program, offer open-ended options for students to design their own goals and courses of study depending on their major. The U of M offers generous scholarships through the Learning Abroad Center:
- Judee Kleffman Memorial Scholarships award $500 scholarships to students pursuing any length of abroad study.
- Billman International Scholarship Fund awards $500 to Minnesota residents.
- Faculty/Staff Study Abroad Scholarships are awarded to outstanding academic students. Awards $500.
Private Organizations
The School for International Training (SIT) is a leading study abroad organization that offers unique international studies programs for students in a range of disciplines. The Jamaica program in Gender and Development offers students a specialized curriculum of study that examines the role of gender, both male and female, in light of Jamaica’s storied political and social contexts. Students live with Jamaican families and experience a full dose of Jamaican culture. SIT offers many scholarships to participants most of whom qualify for some form of assistance. Typical awards are from $500 to $5,000. Criteria is based on both academic merit and financial need with preference given to those students who have been underrepresented in abroad studies:
- Diversity Fund Scholarships are specifically awarded to those students who have been underrepresented in international studies.
- HBCU Scholarships go to students attending Historically Black Colleges.
Graduate and doctoral students pursuing studies in Jamaica may qualify for the prestigious Fulbright Scholarships. Preference is given to students whose area of study is in drug trafficking, Aids studies, economics and political science, among others. Applicants are expected to have a well-defined course of study at the University of the West Indies, in Jamaica.
