Job Description
Job Description: A federal scholarship program to develop cybersecurity professionals. Funded by NSF (in partnership with OPM and DHS), it provides up to three years of full support for U.S. students pursuing cybersecurity degrees, with a required government service obligation.
Role Description: Scholars earn a bachelor’s or advanced degree in cybersecurity (network security, software assurance, computer science, etc.) at a participating U.S. institution. In return, upon graduation, they must work in a cybersecurity-related position for the federal government for a period equal to the scholarship duration. Fellows thus directly transition from training into government cyber jobs.
Location: Study at one of the hundreds of participating universities nationwide; subsequent work placement in U.S. federal agencies.
Application Cycle: Annual (applications for admitted students each year).
What You’ll Need: U.S. citizenship or nationality (to allow security clearance and federal employment); enrollment or acceptance in a qualifying cybersecurity degree program (at least at the junior standing, up to graduate level); strong academic record.
Preferred Qualifications: Technical aptitude in computing and security; leadership potential; commitment to public service.
Benefits and Perks: Full tuition and mandatory fees paid; an annual stipend (up to $25,000 per year for undergraduate students and up to $34,000 for graduate students); additional money for books, supplies, and health insurance; networking with federal cyber agencies; guaranteed placement and training in a government cybersecurity role after graduation.
Where/How to Apply: Students apply to individual colleges that participate in SFS. Interested applicants should contact the SFS program offices at those institutions (or visit sfs.opm.gov) to learn about specific application procedures. The NSF SFS website lists participating schools and instructions.
