Learn More: Frequently Asked Questions

• General Eligibility Requirements


• Selection Criteria

What are the types of scholarship available?

Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship — American Indian and Alaska Native students may enroll in courses (compensatory or pre-professional) in preparation for entry to health professional schools such as nursing, pharmacy and others as needed.

Health Professions Pre-Graduate Scholarship — American Indian and Alaska Native students may enroll in courses leading to a bachelor's degree in specific pre-professional areas such as premedicine, predentistry, pre-podiatry and others as needed.

Health Professions Scholarship — American Indian and Alaska Native students enrolled in health professions and allied health professions programs may apply.

Click here to learn more about each scholarship program.

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How are selections made?

IHS Scholarship Program awards are made on a competitive basis to eligible students who meet certain selection criteria. During the selection process, students are ranked with their peers — juniors with juniors and seniors with seniors, for example — for each priority health career category (click here for comparison chart), based on:

• Needs of Indian health programs and how the applicant's career goals relate to those needs.
• Academic performance based on transcripts and faculty evaluations. For Health Professions Scholarship applicants, a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required. Note: Where it is school policy not to rank students academically, a personal judgment of the applicant's achievement is requested from faculty members.
• Faculty, employer or Tribal recommendations regarding the applicant's potential in the chosen health-related profession.
• The applicant's brief written statement of career goals and reasons for asking for the scholarship. The narrative weighs heavily toward the applicant's rating and is judged by the review committee on how well it's written.

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If I apply, am I guaranteed a scholarship?

IHS Scholarship opportunities are highly competitive and there are no guarantees that you will receive an award. If you're applying for any of the IHS scholarships, continue your efforts to obtain financial aid from other sources as well.

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What is the deadline to apply?

Applications must be postmarked no later than February 28, 2009 for continuation students and March 28, 2009 for new applicants. Scholarship awards for the 2009-2010 cycle will be announced in early June for continuation students and early July for new applicants.

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Who can I call if I have any questions?

Contact your Area Scholarship Coordinator, your primary contact within IHS for technical and programmatic questions, to monitor your academic performance and to assist you with the placement process. This is the first person you should contact with questions concerning your scholarship.

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Once I receive the scholarship, what information can I expect to receive?

Scholarship recipients receive a student handbook that is designed to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the reporting requirements you must fulfill to maintain scholarship support and your benefits. Used properly, this handbook curtails time-consuming correspondence and costly telephone calls, and gives you immediate access to information for situations not previously encountered. It contains all the necessary IHS forms you need, and also contains the addresses of IHS offices you can contact if problems arise.

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What are the benefits of the program?

The level of IHS Scholarship Program benefits is dependent on the availability of funds appropriated each fiscal year by the US Congress. These benefits include:

• A Stipend — Set amount paid for full-time students and pro-rated for part-time.
• Tuition and Required Fees — Paid directly to your school for tuition and required fees for approved curriculum, including lab and health unit fees.
• Books, laboratory expenses and other miscellaneous educational expenses.
• $300 to offset travel expenses to and from school for the year.
• Tutorial Costs and Summer School — Set amount paid directly to you on approval.

Items excluded from scholarship funding:

• School bookstore invoices
• Books/dental/medical equipment not rented from the school
• Health insurance
• Additional travel expenses over the set $300 amount

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Do all the scholarships have a service obligation?

No, only Health Professions Scholarship Program recipients incur a service obligation of one year for each year of scholarship support received (or the part-time equivalent) with a minimum service period of two years. After graduation, your active duty service obligation is fulfilled as designated by the Director of IHS in one of the following areas:

• Indian Health Service (IHS)
• A Tribal health program (contracted under the Indian Self-Determination Act [P.L. 93-638])
• An Urban Indian health program (assisted under Title V — Health Services for Urban Indians, of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act [P.L. 94-437])
• Private practice in a designated health professional shortage area addressing the health care needs of at least 51 percent of Indians in that area.

You can also elect to fulfill the service obligation in one of the above areas that is located on the reservation of the Tribe or serves the Tribe in which you are enrolled.

Assignment opportunities are reviewed with students and approved early in the final school year. The Director of IHS reserves the right to make final decisions regarding assignment of scholarship recipients to fulfill their service obligation.

Click here to get information about Payback and Service Obligations.

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What is the IHS Extern Program?

Any student enrolled in a priority health career course of study is eligible to apply for an externship. Students accepted into the IHS Extern Program have the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in an Indian health program. If you've already been awarded an IHS Scholarship, you're automatically entitled to an externship if one is available in your field.

• Length of externship is a maximum of 120 days.
• Externship positions are salaried.
• Generally performed in the first or second year during non-academic time.

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