Torch Scholars

Torch Scholarship

Scholarship Coverage

Full tuition and fees for 8 undergraduate full-time academic semesters . Doctor of Pharmacy program students receive scholarship coverage for the approved length of the program.
Housing accommodations up to an enhanced double which values at $7,720 (2025-2026).
Unlimited meal-plan
Northeastern University Student Health Plan (NUSHP)
- NUSHP does not include a dental or vision plan. Students, however, are enrolled in the Dental Savings Program with Basix Dental and receive discounted rates from Fenway Health for dental and vision. Students under 19 have pediatric dental coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Required course materials
Students in a Northeastern-billed study abroad program that fits into their curriculum within the eight (8) undergraduate semesters will receive their scholarship benefits.
$1,000 stipend to purchase flight for study abroad program.

Scholarship Policies

ACADEMICS

Co-op is not covered by your scholarship as it is not an academic semester. You will work with your co-op advisor to secure funding for housing, etc. if you decide to live off of campus. You will work with SFS directly to secure funding as you will be eligible for other types of financial aid. OSOP is not responsible for funding for your co-op.

The Torch scholarship cannot be applied to graduate studies, PlusOne programs or Master’s degree programs. The only exception will be for the clinical/graduate portion of the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

You must take a full semester of 16 credits to be considered a full-time student and for your scholarship to be active. If you want to take additional credits for a semester, you must seek permission to overload credits with your academic advisor.

Please allow 2 weeks after the add/drop deadline for your scholarship to disburse to your account. If you still have a balance because your scholarship was not applied for the semester, fill out an SFS inquiry form. If you have an existing balance from a previous semester, fill out an SFS Inquiry form. If you do not hear back within the week, please email Jen with your case number.

To keep your scholarship you must maintain at least a 2.30 cumulative grade point average.

SUMMER COURSES

Your scholarship will cover your summer courses and housing during the summer so long as you take 2 courses (8 credits) of classes during a summer semester. If you need to take more than 8 credits you will need to receive permission from your academic advisor.

Taking classes during Summer 1 will count as 1/2 a semester. Taking classes during Summer 2 will count as 1/2 a semester. Together, they would total 1 full semester towards your 8 academic semester coverage.

CO-OP

Your scholarship will cover your tuition and health insurance while you are on Co-Op. It will not cover your room/board, meal plan or students fees.

HOUSING

If you chose a housing accommodation that is more than $7,720, then you will be responsible for paying the difference. OSOP is not responsible for covering the difference. You will not receive a refund for choosing housing that is less expensive than an enhanced double. Off-Campus housing is not covered by your scholarship as it is not a property owned by Northeastern University. To see a list of qualifying housing accommodation, please visit the room rates here.

MEAL PLAN

The Torch Scholarship covers an unlimited meal plan as of 9/16/2025. Yes, you can choose a lower meal plan, however, you will not receive a refund for choosing a meal plan that is less expensive. If you choose a "cheaper" meal plan, you cannot apply that difference to cover a more expensive housing option. You must sign up for a meal-plan every academic year, OSOP is not responsible for automatically registering you for a meal plan. You are able to change your meal plan before the dedicated deadlines. Visit the Husky Card website for more information.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Students who take a W for a course will be automatically placed on academic probation. Being placed on academic probation does not mean the automatic removal of your scholarship. The student will be given one semester to bring their cumulative GPA up to meet scholarship requirements.

Students who do not meet the cumulative GPA requirements after an academic semester, they will be placed on academic probation. Being placed on academic probation does not mean the automatic removal of your scholarship. The student will be given one semester to bring their cumulative GPA up to meet scholarship requirements.

If a student fails to bring their grade up to the required GPA, they will have to file a Satisfactory Academic Progress Report to appeal to keep your scholarship. For assistance, please email Jen and consult the SFS website.

Study Abroad | Dialogue

The Torch Scholarship covers your study abroad program tuition and provides a housing and meal plan stipend equal to the cost of your attendance at NU. It also covers any fees, provides university health insurance internationally and course materials.

There may be other costs associated with going abroad, like a visa or plane ticket which are not covered by your scholarship. GEO offers additional scholarships to help with those costs as well. Visit the GEO website for more information

For dialogue, the scholarship is pro-rated to cover the reduced tuition amount. There is a dialogue fee associated with the program and you are eligible for a stipend of meal if it's not included in the dialogue fee.

Torch Scholars will receive $1,000 stipend towards their flight cost. If your flight is more expensive, you will be responsible for covering the difference. Torch Scholars will have to fill out an inquiry form to request their stipend to purchase their flights. The timeline for receiving your reimbursement and stipend varies and will also depend on your level of communication with SFS and OSOP so please be vigilant.

Once you've officially been accepted to a study abroad/dialogue program, notify SFS you're studying away a month before your departure by filling out an inquiry form. This ensure that you will receive your meal plan and housing reimbursements/stipends in a timely manner.

Please ensure that you're selecting "Financial Aid" and "Named Scholarship" when filling out the form. You can access the form here.

Bookstore Purchasing

Visit the NU Bookstore and go towards the back room to find your required materials. Once you've collected your materials, let the desk staff know at check-out that you are a Torch Scholar and that you have a scholarship that covers your books. They will ask for your name and verify that you're on the list with your NUID. If you have any issues, please ask for Tim Meisel at the bookstore.

When purchasing books online, when you check out, the payment method should give you the option to select paying with your scholarship. You will enter your NUID and it will verify your scholarship will cover your total cost.

If you paid for your books out of pocket you may be eligible to be reimbursed. You must first fill out an SFS Inquiry Form. This form must be submitted before the add/drop deadlinesor else you will not receive a reimbursement.

NUSHP

Your scholarship covers NUSHP. Please not that NUSHP does not include a dental or vision plan.

There is a Dental Savings Program with Basix Dental that students enrolled in NUSHP are automatically enrolled in. Please go to the Basix website to find a provider.

Please note we receive discounted rates from Fenway Health for dental and vision. Students under 19 have pediatric dental coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield. The reason that NUSHP includes pediatric dental coverage is because the plan is compliant with the Affordable Care Act. The ACA included pediatric dental care as one of the ten essential health benefits that all plans compliant with the ACA must include.

Please go to the "Benefits" section of the UHCS website to learn more about the dental and vision benefits offered at Fenway Health.

For more information about BCBSMA coverage, call 1- 800-262-2583 or visit BCBS website.

Reimbursement & Tech Grant

Students who bought required course materials out of pocket can submit a reimbursement. Submit a ticket through the SFS Inquiry form and attached your syllabus and receipt for your purchases. Reimbursement requests must be sent before the add/drop deadline or else it will not be approved.

Students needing a new computer can submit a Technology Grant request. This can only be redeemed once. You will need to submit a ticket through the SFS Inquiry form and attach a screenshot of the technology you have already purchased OR plan to purchase. Please allow two weeks after your ticket is closed to receive your refund.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

To enroll in direct deposit, you must log into your Student Hub and complete the Direct Deposit Form, located under “Resources, and ‘Financial Services.” To be eligible to enroll in direct deposit, you must have a U.S. checking or savings account.