SFS

UMBC is one of an elite number of schools participating the National Science Foundation’s Scholarship for Service (SFS) program. Each SFS scholarship covers full tuition, fees, travel, books, and academic year stipend of approximately $34,000 for graduate students and $22,500 for undergraduate students. Applicants must be US citizens or lawful permanent residents capable of obtaining a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance. Upon graduation, SFS scholars must work for the federal, state, local, or tribal government for one year for each year of their award. UMBC’s SFS is an exclusive award: each recipient must decline all other awards. We hold 2-3 scholarship competition rounds each year (with applications due mid-November, early February, and sometimes also in May).

Award
Varies
Deadline
12/31/2024
Supplemental Questions
  1. Requested SFS Start Date (Semester and Year):
  2. Number of semesters of SFS support (expected):
  3. Phone Number
  4. Citizenship Status
  5. If at UMBC, Current Degree Program:
  6. Semester and Year started (or expected start date):
  7. Expected Graduation Semester and Year:
  8. Security Clearance
    • 1. Have you ever had a U.S. security clearance?
    • 2. If you answered Yes, is it current?
    • 3. If you currently do not hold a U.S. Security Clearance, do you believe you would pass a government background check?
    • 4. If you answered No, why not?
  9. Degree Program
    • Degree program for which you seek SFS support:
    • Have you been accepted to this program?
    • Level
  10. If you are currently attending another school:
    • 1. Name of School:
    • 2. Degree Program:
    • 3. Degree Level (ex. AA, AS etc...):
    • 4. Expected Graduation Semester and Year:
  11. Prior Degrees Earned (can list up to 4 degrees)
    • 1. Name of School
    • 10. GPA
    • 11. Name of School
    • 12. Degree Program
    • 13. Degree Level
    • 14. Date Awarded
    • 15. GPA
    • 16. Name of School
    • 17. Degree Program
    • 18. Degree Level
    • 19. Date Awarded
    • 2. Degree Program
    • 20. GPA
    • 3. Degree Level (ex. BS, MS, etc.)
    • 4. Date Awarded
    • 5. GPA
    • 6. Name of School
    • 7. Degree Program
    • 8. Degree Level
    • 9. Date Awarded
  12. Letter of Recommendation #1
  13. Letter of Recommendation #2
  14. Letter of Recommendation #3 - OPTIONAL
  15. Test Scores
    • 1. If available, upload test scores for any of the following: SAT, ACT, GRE. Otherwise, test scores will need to be confirmed upon acceptance to the program.
    • 2. Please provide scores and percentiles for all sections for any of the following: SAT, ACT, GRE.
  16. What notable skills or knowledge do you bring to UMBC's SFS program? (Please provide a substantial paragraph)
  17. What are your career plans after completing the SFS program? (Please provide a substantial paragraph)
  18. Briefly describe your most notable cybersecurity experience to date. (Please provide a substantial paragraph)
  19. If you are a continuing SFS scholar at UMBC (e.g., transitioning from BS to MS):
    • 1. Include a copy of your required research report.
    • 2. Explain how you have contributed to the UMBC SFS cohort.
    • 3. Briefly describe your accomplishments from each of your summer internships.
  20. Please upload a resume.
  21. Please submit official transcripts from all post-secondary schools you attended.
  22. SFS Commitment Sheet - I understand that, if accepted for a SFS scholarship, my responsibilities include each of the following:
    • 1. Attend the SFS job fair, typically held in January (unless you have already secured placement for the summer).
    • 10. Participate in SFS cohort activities, including the research study (probably to be held in January).
    • 11. Register with OPM and keep my SFS web profile up-to-date. In particular, inform OPM and the UMBC SFS program director of your internship and job status and placement.
    • 12. Respond to all emails from the school UMBC SFS program director and from OPM within 24 hours.
    • 13. Secure and carry out a summer internship during each summer after beginning the program and before graduating. These internships must be at federal, state, local, or tribal government.
    • 14. Take some cybersecurity courses each term, as approved by the school SFS program director.
    • 15. Complete the cybersecurity track or certificate in my program (if one exists)
    • 16. Upon graduation, engage in full-time employment with federal, state, local, or tribal government.
    • 17. I understand that if accepted to this program I will be expected to confirm any of the information I have provided in this application with official documents. Falsification will result in rejection of the application.
    • 18. I understand and acknowledge that I am making a solemn promise to work in a government position following graduation. It would be a serious failure of integrity to break this promise by paying back the cost of the scholarship rather than working in a government position.
    • 2. Engage in a cybersecurity research project and submit a report on this project prior to graduation to the school SFS program director.
    • 3. For students currently at community colleges: graduate from my current community college and then transfer to UMBC as a full-time degree student. Then, graduate from UMBC with an undergraduate degree in a cybersecurity-related field.
    • 4. For UMBC students: graduate from UMBC with an undergraduate degree in a cybersecurity-related field.
    • 5. Inform UMBC and the UMBC SFS program of all scholarships, loans, and grants that you have received. UMBC requires that you accept only one major award concurrently.
    • 7. Maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 (both per semester and cumulatively).
    • 8. Maintain status as a full-time degree student in good standing.
    • 9. Not engage in any significant commitments of time outside of courses and SFS activities. In particular, employment (full-time or part-time) is strictly forbidden without prior written approval by the UMBC SFS program director.
    • Join some cybersecurity research group at UMBC (e.g., Cyber Defense6. Lab (CDL, eBiquity)) and attend its regular meetings. If not CDL, document your attendance in writing to the UMBC SFS program director.
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