The Funded Grant

Under the leadership of the project's principal investigator, Waleed Farag, IUP, along with a selected group of national universities, has been awarded funding since 2018 from the Department of Defense in support of the Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP).

Project Summary

This project has introduced a systematic program designed to effectively recruit qualified and high-achieving students who are enrolled in our cybersecurity program of study as candidates to the CySP. Selected candidates for this scholarship will receive full support, including a generous annual stipend, a waiver for tuition and all fees, books, and other benefits. Please see below information about current and previous cycles including awarded students, ongoing mentoring program, and other details.

DoD Capacity Building Project

In conjunction with the DoD CySP, IUP received funding to find additional ways to recruit more students to enter the cybersecurity workforce. For details about the DoD Capacity Building Project, please visit the DoD Capacity Building Project page.

2024–25 Application Cycle (NEW)

If you are interested in pursuing this full-ride scholarship to support your study in cybersecurity and related fields, the Department of Defense is currently seeking scholarship applications from rising junior and senior (third- and fourth-year) undergraduate and master/doctoral students for the 2024–25 academic year. Information about this new cycle is given below. 

Flyer

 Download the CySP 2024–25 cycle flyer

Recording of the November 20, 2023, Informational Session for the 2024–25 application cycle.

Advantages

  • Full cost of tuition and all fees provided for the 2024–25 academic year.
  • A $29,000 stipend for undergraduate students to cover room and board.
  • A $34,000 stipend for graduate (master's/PhD) students to cover room and board.
  • Covering the cost of all required books.
  • One-time laptop/computer purchase.

Basic Requirements

  • Applicant must have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 (undergraduate) and 3.5 (graduate) for the duration of the academic year.
  • Applicant must be entering junior or senior year or a graduate program in fall 2024.
  • Must be a US citizen.
  • By accepting the scholarship, the applicant agrees to work for the DoD as a civilian for one year for each year of scholarship received.

How to Apply

Both new and returning student application deadline is Feb. 1, 2024 (application is now closed)
  1. An information session was held via Zoom on Monday, 11/20/2023, at 11:15 AM. Please see the video recording of this session posted on this page.
  2. Make sure you satisfy all the basic requirements listed above.

  3. Read the scholarship application requirements carefully and in its entirety to be fully familiar with the program.

  4. Read the detailed student application preparation instructions thoroughly and make sure you comply with all directions.

  5. Check the program fact sheet.
  6. NEW applicants must carefully read and follow the directions in the quick start guide. Applications must be filled out entirely and include the required additional materials.

  7. Download snapshots and demo of the Application Tool to be discussed during the upcoming informational session.

  8. If you are a returning student (one who is currently an awardee and would like to apply to renew the scholarship for another year), you will be applying via the AVUE tool like you did last year.

  9. Applications and questions should be submitted to Dr. Farag. See contact info below.

Contact

Waleed Farag, PhD
Director of the IUP Institute for Cybersecurity
Stright Hall 334
210 S. 10th St.
Indiana, PA 15705

farag@iup.edu
724-357-7995