CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service
About the SFS Program
Answering Idaho Governor Brad Little's recent Cybersecurity Task Force recommendations to increase investments for cybersecurity professionals in workforce and education, the U of I Center for Secure and Dependable Systems has maintained its status as a National Science Foundation Cybercorps: Scholarship for Service Program participant for over 20 years, securing more than $20 million in total funding to train students to work at the highest levels of government. Since 2001, over 110 students have graduated from the program.
Dates & Deadlines
- February 1, 2024 – Deadline to apply for Fall 2024 fellowship
Cover Your Full Tuition and Degree-Related Fees
- $4.46M in Training Scholarships Available
- Fight cybercrime and cyberterrorism, and take advantage of the 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings across the globe.
- Join the National Science Foundation’s Cybercorps: Scholarship for Service Program, and let us pay for your college education!
- The NSF funding covers all tuition and degree-related fees for participants in the SFS program.
Scholarship Benefits
- An upper division undergraduate is paid a stipend of $27,000 a year.
- A graduate student is paid a stipend of $37,000 a year.
- All tuition and degree related fees are paid.
- If applicable, out-of-state tuition, graduate fees, and required course fees are paid.
- Additional support funds are available to help offset student health insurance, professional development and books.
- Each student is assigned to a faculty led research project investigating issues on cutting edge cyber security and cyber defense.
- Each student has dedicated collaborative office space.
BS Applicants Qualifications/Requirements
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
- Have advanced sophomore standing with the ability to graduate within 2 years.
- Officially accepted into University of Idaho
- Majoring in at least one of the following: Cyber Security, Computer Science, Computer Engineering
- United States Citizen
- Clean of illegal drug usage (including marijuana) for at least the last 6 months
- Agrees to work for a federal executive agency up to 3 years after graduation.
- Agrees to attend all Career Fairs required by the program including the annual fair in Washington D.C., on campus, and virtual.
- Agrees to submit at least one publication each academic year while in the program.
- Agrees to attend the professional development course each semester.
- Will demonstrate leadership, participate in team activities, prior social service, and/or evidence of creative and independent thinking and/or behavior.
- Agrees to participate in summer internship between academic years with a federal executive agency.
- Agrees to participate in assessment activities during and after your scholarship until the end of your government commitment has been satisfied.
- Agrees to seek and obtain a full-time position with a federal executive agency that begins upon graduation.
MS or Ph.D. Applicants Qualifications/Requirements
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Majoring in at least one of the following: Cyber Security, Computer Science
- (MS) Upon acceptance into program will be able to graduate within 4 semesters
- United States Citizen
- Clean of illegal drug usage (including marijuana) for at least the last 6 months
- Agrees to work for a federal executive agency up to 3 years after graduation.
- Agrees to attend all Career Fairs required by the program including the annual fair in Washington D.C., on campus, and virtual.
- Agrees to submit at least one publication each academic year while in the program.
- Agrees to attend the professional development course each semester.
- Will demonstrate leadership, participate in team activities, prior social service, and/or evidence of creative and independent thinking and/or behavior.
- Agrees to participate in summer internship between academic years with a federal executive agency.
- Agrees to participate in assessment activities during and after your scholarship until the end of your government commitment has been satisfied.
- Agrees to seek and obtain a full-time position with a federal executive agency that begins upon graduation.
Applicants are accepted into the program on a competitive, space-available basis. The SFS panel reviews applications periodically, starting in January. Incomplete applications are not reviewed.
Applicants who wish to begin the SFS program in fall semester (August): Applications will be accepted until February 1 prior to the fall semester, or until the fellowship positions are filled. Applications requesting a summer semester start will be deferred to fall semester.
1. Pre-Qualification Form steps
- Gather unofficial digital copies of your transcripts of all college work.
- Gather contact information of 3 references: Full Name, Phone Number, and Email Address for at least 2 faculty members, the 3rd may be from an employment manager or faculty member. Note that they will be contacted by the SFS program directly to submit a reference letter.
- Write a digital letter expressing your interest in the program.
- Fill out this online Pre-Qualification Form.
- Schedule an appointment with a committee member.
2. Application Form steps
- After the pre-qualification step, you will be contacted by the committee, and if you are accepted you will be provided the full application with further steps.
Participants are assigned to a faculty-led research project investigating cybersecurity and cyber defense issues.
Research areas include:
- Computer and network forensics
- Cyber defense
- Secure and resilient embedded and industrial control systems
- Secure systems specification, architecture, design, and implementation
- Situational awareness and risk-based cybersecurity