NSF Scholarship for Service (SFS)

The College of Sciences’ Department of Computer Science and the Alvarez College of Business’ Department of Information Systems & Cyber Security at The University of Texas at San Antonio have been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarship for Service (SFS) grant to educate graduate and undergraduate students in the areas of computer science and cyber security.

Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Must be enrolled on a full-time basis as an undergraduate or graduate student
• Must be pursuing a major degree, minor degree, or concentration in computer science or cyber security
• Must be within two years of completion of your current degree program.
  - A limited number of 1- or 3-year scholarships may be considered, but preference will be given to students within two years of completion
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members at UTSA (or another institution for transfer students.)
• Must have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA (undergraduate) or 3.2 GPA (graduate)
• Must meet criteria for U.S. federal employment, including security clearance that may require a polygraph test

Benefits

• The NSF SFS program will support 2 full semesters (Fall and Spring) per year of scholarship awarded. The scholarship should coincide with the last year(s) of a student’s degree program.
• An annual academic stipend will be provided of $27,000 (undergraduate) or $37,000 (graduate).
• Annual support for books and travel to a conference for professional development are also included for both undergraduates and graduates.
• Tuition support will typically be provided for up to 15 hours per semester (undergraduate) or 9 hours per semester (graduate).

Service Commitment

• One year of government agency employment for every year of scholarship support. Primary placement opportunities are in the executive branch federal agencies (such as the FBI, CIA, NSA, DoD, DOE, or DOJ). All other government jobs require additional approvals.
• Students must also intern at a government agency each summer term until graduation.
• Students will be responsible to apply for and obtain a position to fulfill this service obligation. (NSF SFS program faculty will provide help in identifying employment opportunities).
• Students are required to attend an NSF SFS Job Fair in early January in Washington, D.C. to network and explore job/internship opportunities. Expenses are covered by the scholarship.

How to Apply (Instructions for Current UTSA Students)

• Use the UTSA Scholarship Hub to complete the application process and upload required documents by the application deadline.
• Required documents:
  – Completed NSF Scholarship for Services PDF Application (see below for link)
  – Two letters of recommendation (UTSA faculty referrals are given higher weight)
  – College transcripts (unofficial versions permitted)
  – A personal statement that includes your goals and career plans
  – Resume (no more than 2 pages)

How to Apply (Instructions for Students who have applied for Fall 2024 and do not have a myUTSA ID)

• Email required documents to cs@utsa.edu by the application deadline.
• Required documents:
  – Completed NSF Scholarship for Services PDF Application (see below for link)
  – Two letters of recommendation.
  – College transcripts (unofficial versions permitted)
  – A personal statement that includes your goals and career plans
  – Resume (no more than 2 pages)

Review and Notification

• Applicants will be reviewed by the Scholarships Committee.
• Successful applicants will be notified by email and mail.