Claim: A sponsored Facebook post claims that the United States Embassy is offering fully funded BSc, MSc and Ph.D. scholarships for international students to study in the US to apply for; including popular programs like the Fulbright Scholars Program and the Harvard Scholarships amongst others.
There is no connection between the claim and the United States Embassy, the post is a SCAM to trap unsuspecting students’ desire to study in the United States.
Full Text
A post that was boosted through a Facebook sponsored ad stated that the United States Embassy is offering fully funded BSc, MSc and Ph.D. scholarships for students to study in the USA.
The e-flyer used for the promotion further claims that the scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation and health insurance for developing nations.
It says the scholarship positions have recently been approved by the US Government for students of Developing nations in a bit to increase literacy level and help the development of these nations.
It further emphasized that the scholarship program is aimed at giving 100% financial aid for every single beneficiary at both undergrad and postgraduate levels of training who have the interest to study in the United States but lack the funding capability.
The “Embassy Scholarship” link leads you to Talk Mill Scholarship that shows the eligibility, countries that are eligible to apply.
“The Eligible Countries include students from African and the Middle East (developing nations so to speak). Specific countries are Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, Malawi, Mali, Cameroon, Algeria, Angola, African Republic, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Congo(Republic), Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, , Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, , Swaziland, Tanzania, Central Chad, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Guinea, Gabon, Mauritania, Niger, North Sudan, South Sudan and the Middle East.”
The Facebook Page said aside tuition fees cover, an upkeep settlement ($14,900 to cover significant lots (2018-19 rate), One economy single airfare at both the start and end of the course, Inbound visa costs and the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge Sharp financing headway – from $500 to $2,000, which would depend upon the length of your course and a family settlement – up to $10,120 for a first youth and up to $4,320 for a second immature. There is no related extra support.
Please note that these are not the current official rates!
The link has attracted 575 comments and 716 shares from Facebook users.
Online research by the University of Washington and The Balance, the average cost of studying in the United States floats around $ $14,000 to $16,000 in total per semester.
The higher education system in the United States is one of the most expensive in the world. Last year, the average cost to study at a public university in the USA was $24,000 and at a private university, $32,000.
The first degree you can earn at an American university (Bachelor’s Degree) takes 4 years, so the average total cost to complete your undergraduate studies in the USA based on last year’s prices would be between $96,000 and $128,000.
Verification
The Stage Media examined the Facebook Page which sponsored the claim, named “Embassy Scholarships observed that it uses a profile picture that carries the US State department logo and the American flag.
A Google reverse image search did not link the photo to the United States Embassy.
A visit to the US Embassy Monrovia website, reveals that the US has seven exchange programs for non- US citizens.
The Community Solution Program, Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES), International Writing Program Fall Residency, Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars, Sports Visitor Program, Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders and the Fortune – U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership that supports women’s economic, social, and political empowerment through leadership workshops and mentoring assignments for up to 25 emerging women global leaders from around the world.
Furthermore, the logo used by the Facebook page is not the US Embassy logo. This is in addition to suspicious comments being posted on the page’s posts.
Verifying further, we contacted the Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Monrovia Michael Ardaiolo said the page is fake. “We don’t do scholarships; we do exchanges and fellowships. Also, I have no idea what that logo is on the top left.”
Conclusion:
Based on online research corroborating what the Public Affairs officer has said reveals a lack of a link between the claim that the US Embassy is providing Scholarships for students in developing countries. The Embassy Scholarship page is a SCAM.
