Scholarship FAQ
- What is the UCB Family RA Scholarship Program?
- Who is eligible for the program?
- Are applicants who are not already in college eligible?
- When is the application deadline?
- Will applications postmarked after the deadline be considered?
- What are the applicants required to do?
- What if the cost of an applicant’s education is below $10,000 or if the cost has already been covered?
- How will the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis be verified?
- Can participants submit their applications online?
- Where can more information be obtained?
- When will applicants find out if they’ve won the scholarship?
- Who is sponsoring the program?
1. What is the UCB Family RA Scholarship Program?
UCB is offering 31 one-time scholarships of up to $10,000 to people diagnosed with RA or immediate family members (parent, spouse, child, or sibling) of someone with RA, who are seeking a post–high school degree. Students of all ages are welcome to apply. The scholarship can be used for an associate’s, undergraduate, or graduate degree, or a trade school certificate.
2. Who is eligible for the program?
This program is designed for applicants of any age. An applicant for the scholarship must be:
- A legal resident of the United States
- Diagnosed with RA by a physician, or an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, or sibling) of someone with RA
- Seeking an associate’s, undergraduate, or graduate degree, or enrolled in a trade school educational program
- A student who demonstrates academic ambition and embraces a way of life that goes beyond the boundaries of RA
- Enrolled in or awaiting acceptance from a United States–based institution of higher education for the fall semester of the year of the application
Employees of UCB and their immediate family members are not eligible for this scholarship. Previous RA Scholarship winners are not eligible to reapply. Additionally, immediate family members of healthcare professionals who directly or indirectly influence the prescribing of RA medications are not eligible to apply.
3. Are applicants who are not already in college eligible?
Yes. The scholarship is available to applicants who are entering college as well as to those currently enrolled in college. All applicants must have proof of acceptance and enrollment at their educational institution.
4. When is the application deadline?
The deadline for 2010 has passed. Be sure to check back for information about scholarships for 2011.
5. Will applications postmarked after the deadline be considered?
In order to be fair to all participants, applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. If a participant foresees a problem meeting the deadline, he or she should contact RoundBox Health (the vendor managing the scholarship program for UCB) in advance of the deadline to see if they can offer assistance. To reach RoundBox Health, applicants should call 1-888-854-4996 or e-mail ucbrascholarship@rbxhealth.com.
6. What are the applicants required to do?
- Complete and sign an application with an official academic transcript and a recent, non-returnable photograph labeled with their name, address, and telephone number
- Write a 1 to 2 page essay describing how they are living beyond the boundaries of RA to demonstrate academic ambition and personal achievement, and how the scholarship would impact their life
- Submit a minimum of 2 (maximum of 3) letters of recommendation. One letter should come from a teacher or school official and 1 from a person in the applicant’s community (e.g., employer, coworker, clergy member, or coach)
- Confirmation of RA diagnosis from the treating physician on his or her letterhead
7. What if the cost of an applicant’s education is below $10,000 or if the cost has already been covered?
Scholarship amounts will be up to $10,000 to cover the recipient’s tuition and/or educational materials expenses. If a student does not have a minimum of $10,000 in educational expenses remaining in his or her schooling, the scholarship will only cover the remaining amount. If, upon contacting an applicant, UCB learns that he or she does not have any remaining costs owed to the academic institution, he or she will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.
8. How will the RA diagnosis be verified?
As part of the application process, all applicants will need the treating physician to verify the RA diagnosis on the physician or medical institution’s letterhead. RoundBox Health will follow up with individual physicians as needed to confirm the diagnosis.
9. Can participants submit their applications online?
No. Applicants can download an application from www.ReachBeyondRA.com/scholarship, but they will need to submit a hard copy of the application, along with the listed submission requirements.
10. Where can more information be obtained?
Applicants and physicians can:
All inquiries will be answered within 3 days.
11. When will applicants find out if they’ve won the scholarship?
The notification date for future scholarships will be determined when submission deadlines for 2010 are confirmed.
UCB Corporate Office personnel will personally notify each 2010 scholarship recipient via telephone by June 30, 2010. Recipients who are not awarded with a scholarship will be sent a letter the week of June 21, 2010, thanking them for their participation and encouraging them to apply again next year.
12. Who is sponsoring the program?
The program is both created and sponsored by UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader. The scholarship program aligns with UCB’s ongoing commitment to provide RA patients and their families with unique programs and tools that empower them to live beyond the boundaries of their disease.