National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

How to Apply for a Scholarship

Apply through April 23, 7:30 p.m. ET

Read the 2020 Application and Program Guidance (PDF – 577 KB). It has the information you need to apply.

Technical Assistance
Join the NHSC Scholarship Application Webinar HRSA Exit Disclaimer
Wednesday, March 25 | 2 -3:30 p.m. ET
Dial-in: 800-857-1286 | Passcode: 9629152

Join the NHSC Scholarship Application Online Q & A Sessions HRSA Exit Disclaimer
Session 1: Tuesday, April 7 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Session 2: Monday, April 20 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

To apply for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP), you must follow each of our requirements.

Before You Apply | Application Sections | After You Apply
Award Notification | Contract & Service Commitment

What to Know Before You Apply
Start the application process early. Allow time to collect all required and supplemental documentation.

Your answers in your application must match your supporting documents.

You must submit a complete online application by the application deadline.

We will not:

Accept requests to update a submitted application.
Permit you to submit materials after the deadline.
Fill in any missing information or contact you regarding missing information.
What is a complete application?
A complete application consists of:

Online application;
All required supporting documents; and
Additional supplemental documentation (if applicable)
Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Customer Service Portal
When you apply, you will do so within the BHW Customer Service Portal. So, you must first create a profile.

Review the Application Sections
The following provides an overview of the application requirements. Refer to the NHSC Scholarship Program Application and Program Guidance for the complete set of requirements and instructions.

Online Application

Required Supporting Documentation

Additional Supporting Documentation (if applicable)

What to Know After You Apply
You will receive a receipt of submission once you successfully submit the online application.

You will be able to view the overall status of your application, and download a copy of your submitted application, including supporting documents.

Can you make edits to your application?
You may only make edits to your application, and resubmit it, prior to the application deadline. If you do not resubmit your application by the final deadline, we will not consider you for a scholarship award.

Can you withdraw your application?
You may withdraw your application at any time prior to the Secretary of HHS (or their designee) countersigning your contract.

How can you check the status of your application?
The application review process occurs over several months. During this time, we will provide updates via email and on the online application status page, as applicable. It is your responsibility to ensure your contact information is correct.

How do we evaluate you?
We use various selection factors and funding priorities to evaluate applicants of NHSC SP, and eventually determine who receives awards.

Note: We do not consider the number of years of scholarship support you request when determining whether you will receive a scholarship award.

Award Notification
If we select you for a scholarship award, we will notify you via email or letter no later than September 30.

To accept the award, you must respond by the deadline in the notice of award email/letter. If you do not respond by the deadline, your offer of award expires and we will offer it to an alternate.

For those that respond by the deadline, we will ask you to:

Sign the NHSC SP contract;
Complete the online banking form for direct deposit; and
Complete the W-4 form.
Note: You must decline the award if you will not begin classes on or before September 30, 2020, or you will be on a leave of absence from school through September 30, 2020.

What happens if you decide not to accept an award?
If we select you for an award and you decide not to accept it, you may decline the scholarship support without penalty.

Note: A decision to decline the scholarship award is final and cannot be changed under any circumstances.

When will you notify those who did not receive an award?
If you do not receive a scholarship award, we will notify you no later than October 31.

Contract & Service Commitment
Your NHSC SP service begins once you sign the contract and the Secretary of HHS or their designee countersigns it.