Study in the USA with Full Support Through Upstate Connect Rochester.
For many young Africans, the dream of studying in the United States remains just that — a dream. The burden of tuition, visa application fees, travel costs, and other financial barriers put U.S. education out of reach for most. Especially for faithful students in Deeper Life Campus Fellowship who have the academic potential and passion for missions, but lack the resources, it can feel like a mountain too high to climb.
But help is here. The Deeper Life community has birthed a groundbreaking opportunity through the Upstate Connect Fund Program — a scholarship initiative designed to bridge that very gap for talented, low-income brethren in the Deeper Life Campus Fellowship across Africa.
What is Upstate Connect?
The Upstate Connect Fund Program (UCFP) is a mission-driven support system, specifically created to help academically strong, spiritually focused members of Deeper Life secure graduate education in the United States. It is a carefully designed initiative focused on guiding and funding deserving candidates through the complex and costly process of securing admission into U.S. universities.
Unlike general scholarship programs, Upstate Connect is built by and for the Deeper Life family. Its core purpose is to raise a new generation of missionary scholars — students whose excellence in academics is matched by their commitment to spreading the gospel, particularly through their involvement with the Deeper Life Bible Church (DLBC) and Deeper Life Campus Fellowship (DLCF).
Deeper Life students often find themselves at the top of their academic classes, yet at the bottom of the financial ladder. This program offers them a ladder to climb, not just academically, but spiritually and globally.
Who Is This Scholarship For?
The Deeper Life scholarship under Upstate Connect is exclusively available to members of the Deeper Life Campus Fellowship or DLBC in Africa. It targets STEM graduates who are ready to pursue a master’s degree in the United States, but are unable to afford the initial costs that come with applying, processing visas, and booking flights.
More specifically, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be affiliated with Deeper Life Bible Church in Africa.
- Hold a First Class degree (or at least a strong Second Class Upper with publications).
- Have a STEM background – majors like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, and Biology are preferred.
- Be ready to fellowship with DLBC Rochester, New York upon arrival in the U.S.
- Deeper Life has long emphasized excellence — both spiritually and academically — and this scholarship reflects that same dual pursuit.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The Upstate Connect Rochester Scholarship 2025 is more than just financial aid. It is a comprehensive support package covering the full spectrum of challenges faced by Deeper Life applicants seeking to study abroad. Here’s what the scholarship covers:
- University application fees
- Duolingo English language test
- SEVIS fee (required for all international students)
- U.S. Visa application fee
- One-way flight ticket to the United States
Why the Focus on Deeper Life?
The Upstate Connect Fund Program is rooted in a spiritual vision: to build a network of educated missionaries who uphold the principles of Deeper Life while advancing in academic and professional spheres. By focusing on Deeper Life Campus Fellowship members, the program ensures that recipients are grounded in spiritual values and committed to giving back through fellowship and service.
Deeper Life students are known for discipline, integrity, and resilience — qualities that not only make them ideal scholarship candidates, but also excellent ambassadors of their faith abroad. The program believes that investing in such individuals yields both academic success and spiritual impact.
How the Application Process Works
The journey begins with an application — not just for funding, but for transformation. Deeper Life students from across Africa are invited to submit their materials, which include:
- Passport photograph
- Copy of international passport bio-data page
- Unofficial transcript
- Degree certificate or statement of result
- A 2-page resume
- A reference letter from a Deeper Life pastor (required only if selected)
- GRE score (optional but recommended for Engineering applicants)
Once the initial screening is done, selected candidates will be guided step-by-step through their application to universities in the U.S. UCFP provides mentorship, logistical support, and spiritual encouragement throughout the process.
Applicants must commit to the vision of the program: giving their time, focus, and energy to the process, and to their continued walk with God under the Deeper Life banner.
The Deeper Life Distinction
What sets this scholarship apart is its spiritual grounding. Deeper Life isn’t just a church name in this context — it is a standard. Recipients of the Upstate Connect scholarship are expected to be active in DLBC Rochester during their studies. This ensures continuity of spiritual growth, community connection, and missional service while abroad.
The scholarship is not just about academic success, but about sustaining a Deeper Life in every sense — purity, vision, purpose, and outreach. It is about carrying the Deeper Life DNA into classrooms, laboratories, and research centers in the West, representing Christ in excellence.
Why This Matters Now
In a world increasingly driven by science, innovation, and global mobility, African students are rising in prominence. Yet many are held back by financial constraints, especially within the faith community. Deeper Life has always been a place of spiritual revival and moral excellence. Now, through the Upstate Connect scholarship, it becomes a bridge to global academic excellence as well.
This scholarship matters because it empowers Deeper Life members not only to dream, but to do — to rise academically, to serve globally, and to remain spiritually anchored.
Call to Action: Apply Now
If you’re a Deeper Life Campus Fellowship or DLBC member in Africa, and you meet the eligibility criteria, this is your chance. The deadline to apply is August 8, 2025. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.
Apply here >>> https://www.upstateconnectrochester.com/apply
