The University of Oregon ICSP scholarship (International Cultural Service Program) is a partial tuition waiver for international students at the University of Oregon (UO) in Eugene, USA. It covers roughly half of your tuition and renews every year until you finish your degree, as long as you give 66 to 80 hours of cultural service a year, mostly talks and performances about your home country in local schools and community groups.
The ICSP application for 2027-28 is due on 1 February 2027 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. New students must apply for UO admission first, ideally by 15 January 2027, so they have a student ID in time. This guide covers the award’s value in dollars, the 3.5 GPA rule that many listings get wrong, the application route and what the service hours look like in practice.
Key facts about the University of Oregon ICSP scholarship
- Run by: UO’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
- History: the program has been running for about 35 years.
- Award: a partial tuition waiver covering approximately half of tuition. It does not pay housing, food or fees.
- Renewal: every year until you complete one UO degree, if you meet program requirements.
- Service: 66 to 80 hours of cultural service each year.
- Who can apply: new and continuing international students.
- Minimum GPA: 3.5 cumulative.
- Number of scholars: not published. The current member list showed 31 scholars from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.
- Deadline: 1 February 2027, 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
How much is the ICSP scholarship worth?
UO does not publish a dollar figure. Its ICSP page says the waiver covers approximately half of tuition, so the value depends on the tuition rate for your level.
| Cost (2026-27, undergraduate, nonresident) | Amount per year |
|---|---|
| Tuition (15 credits a term) | $44,523 |
| Mandatory fees | $2,943 |
| Total tuition and fees | $47,466 |
| Approximate ICSP waiver (half of tuition, our estimate) | About $22,000 |
| Tuition and fees left to pay after ICSP (our estimate) | About $25,000 |
On top of the remaining tuition, you pay for housing, food, health insurance, books and travel. UO requires proof that you can cover everything the scholarship does not, so the ICSP alone will not get you a visa. Graduate tuition is set by the Graduate School and differs by program.
Costs the ICSP does not cover
- The other half of tuition and all mandatory fees.
- Housing and meals in Eugene.
- Health insurance, books and personal costs.
- Flights, the US visa application fee and the SEVIS fee.
Who is eligible
You can apply if all of these apply to you:
- You are admissible to, or fully admitted to, the University of Oregon.
- You are not a US citizen or permanent resident, and you are not eligible for US federal financial aid.
- You can show enough money to cover costs beyond the scholarship.
- You have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.
The 3.0 versus 3.5 confusion
Several listing sites say the ICSP needs a 3.0 GPA. That figure belongs to the ISSS Endowed Scholarships, which share the same online application. The ICSP application page sets the minimum at 3.5. If your GPA sits between 3.0 and 3.5, you can still apply for the endowed awards, but not the ICSP.
Undergraduate or graduate?
Some listings describe the ICSP as a bachelor’s award only. UO’s own pages say new and continuing international students may apply, and the current scholar list includes a master’s student. If you are a graduate applicant, confirm with ISSS (icsp@uoregon.edu) that your program is eligible before you count on it.
Eligibility edge cases
- Continuing UO students: you can apply in any year, using the same dashboard, as long as you meet the 3.5 GPA and submit reference letters by the deadline.
- US permanent residents and dual US citizens: not eligible, since the award is for students who cannot get US federal aid.
- Students admitted conditionally through UO Global Welcome: the ICSP accepts “admissible” as well as fully admitted students, but confirm your status with ISSS before you apply.
- Transfer students: transfer applicants apply for admission on a separate timetable (Early Action 15 March, Regular 15 May), which falls after the ICSP deadline, so apply for admission early if you want to be considered.
What the selection committee looks for
UO lists five criteria:
- Demonstrated financial need.
- Experience in cultural activities.
- Performance and presentation skills.
- A strong academic record.
- Strong communication skills.
Most applicants have good grades, so presentation ability is where you can stand out. A student who has run a cultural club, taught a dance class, performed music or given talks to young people has something concrete to show.
What the cultural service involves
ICSP scholars act as cultural ambassadors in the Eugene and Springfield area. Typical activities include:
- Talks about your country’s history, food, languages or festivals in local primary and high schools.
- Demonstrations of music, dance, crafts or cooking for community groups.
- Panel discussions for UO staff, faculty and students.
- Taking part in international events on campus.
Schools and groups request scholars through ISSS at least two weeks in advance. A teacher at North Eugene High School says thousands of students there have learned from ICSP scholars over roughly 25 years. At 66 to 80 hours a year, the load works out to two or three hours a week during term. Plan it into your timetable from the first week.
University of Oregon ICSP scholarship deadline 2027
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| UO first-year Early Action application | 1 November 2026 |
| UO first-year regular application (needed for scholarships) | 15 January 2027 |
| ICSP and ISSS scholarship application | 1 February 2027, 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time |
| UO admission documents, including test scores | 15 February 2027 |
| Fall term starts | September 2027 |
The 2026 round’s ICSP deadline was 13 February 2026, so the date moved earlier this year. Continuing UO students must have their reference letters in by the same deadline.
Get your student ID first
You cannot open the scholarship application without your UO Student ID, a number starting with 95. It appears in the Admissions Status Portal about three days after you apply for admission, so submit your admission application by mid-January at the latest.
How to apply, step by step
New students
- Apply for admission: use the Oregon application or the Common App by 15 January 2027. The application fee is $75.
- Find your student ID: about three days later, check the Admissions Status Portal for your 95-prefixed UO ID.
- Create a Scholarship Dashboard account: register on the UO Scholarship Dashboard with that ID.
- Submit the Profile: your basic details and academic information.
- Submit the ISSS Scholarships Application: this one form considers you for all ISSS endowed scholarships you qualify for.
- Add the ICSP application: continue in the same dashboard to the optional ICSP section and complete it.
- Submit by 1 February 2027, 4:00 p.m. Pacific: late applications are not considered.
Continuing UO students
- Log in: use your Duck ID on the Scholarship Dashboard.
- Submit: the Profile, ISSS Scholarships Application and ICSP application.
- References: make sure your reference letters arrive by the same deadline.
English requirements for undergraduate admission
| Test | Minimum for full admission |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 |
| TOEFL iBT (taken before January 2026) | 80 |
| TOEFL iBT (new scale, taken from January 2026) | 4.5 |
Citizens of several English-speaking countries, including Nigeria, Ireland, Jamaica, South Africa and the UK, do not need to submit a test. Applicants below these scores may receive conditional admission through UO Global Welcome, the intensive English program.
A month-by-month plan for a first-year applicant
- October 2026: choose your major, book an English test if you need one and request school transcripts.
- By 1 November 2026: submit an Early Action application if you are ready; it gives you the most time.
- December 2026: draft your scholarship answers and list your cultural activities and presentations.
- By 15 January 2027: submit your admission application at the latest, then collect your 95 ID three days later.
- Late January 2027: create your Scholarship Dashboard account and complete the Profile, ISSS application and ICSP section.
- By 1 February 2027, 4:00 p.m. Pacific: submit.
- By 15 February 2027: make sure all admission documents and test scores have reached UO.
How to write a strong ICSP application
The dashboard shows the exact questions, but the criteria tell you what to emphasise.
- Lead with a cultural skill: say what you can present or perform, and to whom you have done it before.
- Show you can hold a room: give one example of teaching, public speaking or performing, with numbers (a class of 40, a festival crowd).
- Explain your financial need clearly: how much your family can pay and how the waiver closes the gap.
- Give one presentation idea: a short outline of a session you would give to a fifth-grade class shows you understand the role.
A sample opening (invented for illustration): “Every December I teach the children at my church in Accra to drum the Adowa rhythm. At UO I would like to bring that same twenty-minute lesson, with the story behind it, to Eugene classrooms.”
Common mistakes
- Applying for admission in late January and missing the student ID window.
- Reading the 3.0 GPA figure on a listing site and applying with a 3.2.
- Treating the ICSP as a full scholarship and failing the financial proof for the I-20.
- Writing only about grades and leaving out cultural activities and presentation experience.
- Forgetting to add the optional ICSP section after submitting the general ISSS form.
What happens after you apply
ISSS reviews applications after the 1 February deadline and contacts the students it selects. If you win, you renew the waiver each year by meeting the ICSP program requirements, including the 66 to 80 service hours, until you complete your degree. Recipients from mainland China or Hong Kong may also receive the ICSP Nascence supplemental scholarship without a separate application.
Other UO funding for international students
| Award | Value | How you are considered |
|---|---|---|
| ISSS endowed scholarships | Average $5,600; about $1.58 million to 200+ students a year | Same dashboard application, 3.0 GPA minimum |
| Division of Global Engagement endowed scholarships | $1,000 to $12,000 | Application |
| International Student Work-Study | $1,000 to $4,500 a year, 50+ awards | Application; jobs not guaranteed |
| General University Scholarship Program | Varies | Automatic for first-years who apply by 15 January |
How it compares with other US scholarships
| Scholarship | What it pays | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oregon ICSP | About half of tuition, renewable | 1 Feb 2027 |
| Tulane University scholarships | Merit aid up to $32,000 a year; Global Scholarships up to full cost | 1 or 10 Nov 2026 |
| University of Houston scholarships | Merit awards and in-state tuition waiver | 2 Nov 2026 |
| Duke University scholarships | Karsh International Scholarship and need-based aid | Duke’s 2026-27 dates |
For more options, see our list of the best American scholarships for international students.
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you have a 3.5 GPA or higher, real experience presenting or performing your culture, a family that can pay the other half of tuition plus living costs, and you enjoy speaking to children and community groups.
Skip it if you need a full scholarship to study in the US, if your GPA is under 3.5, or if you cannot commit two or three hours a week to service on top of your classes.
FAQ
How much is the University of Oregon ICSP scholarship?
UO says it covers approximately half of tuition. At 2026-27 undergraduate rates of $44,523, that is roughly $22,000 a year, renewable until you finish your degree.
What GPA do I need for the ICSP scholarship?
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.5. The 3.0 minimum that some sites quote applies to UO’s endowed scholarships.
When is the ICSP scholarship deadline for 2027?
1 February 2027 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. New students should apply for UO admission by 15 January 2027 so their student ID is ready.
Is the ICSP scholarship a full scholarship?
No. It is a partial tuition waiver, and you must show you can pay the remaining tuition, fees and living costs.
Sources and updates
Checked on 25 October 2026 against UO International Student and Scholar Services’ ICSP page, ICSP application page, endowed scholarships page and scholarships page; UO Admissions’ international scholarships, international applicants and English proficiency pages; and UO Finance and Administration’s 2026-27 tuition page. We compared this guide with the Scholars4Dev listing, which gives the 2026 deadlines and a 3.0 GPA that applies to a different award. Dollar estimates for the waiver are our own calculation from UO’s published tuition. We will update this page if ISSS changes the deadline or publishes an award amount.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
