ISC2 Graduate Scholarships: Eligibility, Deadline & How to Apply

The Center for Cyber Safety and Education awards up to 20 scholarships to students who are pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree with a focus on cybersecurity or information assurance. Applicants may attending full time or part time, in the U.S. or internationally. Applicants do not currently need to be enrolled, however no awards will be disbursed until the recipient is enrolled in a college or university. Selection criteria is based on three categories: 1) passion, 2) merit, and 3) financial need.

Up to 20 scholarships will be awarded. Each scholarship award will be between $1,000 – $5,000 USD.

If awarded: the funds will be sent to the school with instructions that it be applied to tuition, fees, books, and required materials. Recipients do NOT receive award funds.

Awards must be accepted within three (3) weeks of award notification. If the award has not been accepted it will be awarded to another applicant.

All awards must be disbursed to the recipient's educational institution by Dec. 31st of the award year. Awards will NOT carry over to the following year.

Awards do not renew. You will need to reapply each year in order to be considered for another award.

Must be pursuing, or plan to pursue, a degree with a focus on cybersecurity or information assurance in the fall of 2025.

Must be pursuing a Master’s Degree program or doctoral studies.

GPA must be at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale)

Note:If you have just been accepted to Graduate School,or are just beginning classes, you will use the final cumulative GPA from your undergraduate degree transcript to meet this criteria.

You may be a citizen of any country (US citizenship not required)

May be attending on campus or online

May be attending full time or part time

May be attending in the US or Internationally

You do not currently need to be enrolled, however no awards will be disbursed until the recipient is enrolled in a college or university.

Applications are closed for 2025

Unofficial transcripts from your current (or most recent) educational institution. If awarded; no funds will be disbursed until official transcripts have been received. Please do NOT mail hard copies of transcripts.

One Letter of Recommendation outlining the following:

• How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity?
• What skills or abilities does the applicant have that will support him/her in completing a degree?
• What other information about the applicant should be taken into consideration?
• NOTE: Academic references are preferred; however, you may submit a professional letter of reference addressing the points above.

Resume/CV – No more than 3 pages maximum. Do not include links to publications.

Essay questions to be filled out in application. Maximum word count is 250 per question:

• Tell them why you should be chosen to receive this ISC2 Cybersecurity Scholarship and what makes you stand out from your peers?
• Describe why you need the scholarship.
• Describe your personal and education backgrounds.
• Describe why you chose your major and your goals for your academic career. What makes you a candidate for success in information security and what are your goals for your professional career.
• Describe any contributions to the cybersecurity field i.e., volunteer work, articles, etc., and any other hobbies or extracurricular activities and what they mean to you.  (Do not include links to articles)
• Please tell them anything else you would like them to know about you.