Benefits

• Full tuition
• $27K/year stipend for B.S. students
• $37K/year stipend for M.S./Ph.D. students
• $6K professional development funds
• Cybersecurity advising and mentoring

Obligations

• Complete your degree program
• Complete a summer internship at an SFS employer
• Serve in a post-graduate position at an SFS employer for an equal amount of time to the support received
• Attend the annual SFS job fair in the Washington D.C. area
• Report your job search progress to OPM

Eligibility

• CS, CY, IS, and ECE full-time majors
• Last 4 semesters of B.S. or M.S. supported
• Last 6 semesters of B.S./M.S. or Ph.D. supported
• Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
• US citizens or permanent residents
• Ability to obtain a security clearance

Apply Now

AY 2026-2027 applications are due May 1 AoE. All applications received by the submission deadline will be reviewed by the admissions committee. Second round candidates will be contacted for interviews. Initial decision notifications will be issued by May 30.

Two information sessions will be held online at the links below.

Please note that applications are not considered complete unless all requested documents and reference letters are received.

• Information Session 1 (Mar 2 12-1 PM EST)
• Information Session 2 (Mar 5 12-1 PM EST)
• Application Form

March 5 Information Session Recording

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do to strengthen my application?

The best way to strengthen your SFS application is to demonstrate interest and practical aptitude in technical cybersecurity. Examples of ways to do so include:

• developing and publishing cybersecurity-related code on GitHub
• contributing to a team that places highly in a well-known CTF competition
• obtaining a strong letter of recommendation due to your performance in a Khoury or ECE cybersecurity class

This list is by no means exhaustive, however.

Are there conditions on where postgraduate obligations can be met?

Yes. SFS employers are drawn from a list of approved agencies across the Federal executive branch, state/local/tribal agencies, national laboratories, academic institutions, and FFRDCs. In addition, Congress and NSF requires 70% of all placements to be at federal executive branch agencies.

Are students with an international visa eligible?

Students must be either a US citizen or permanent resident and able to obtain a security clearance.

Can SFS students take classes across the Northeastern network?

Yes, with the caveat that we require students to take technical cybersecurity courses that might only be available at particular campuses. Applicants must submit a proposed plan of study with a suitable course sequence.

What is the acceptance rate? How many students are accepted per cohort? What is the distribution of students by degree program?

We do not have a strict acceptance rate target. We aim to build a strong cohort each year that will succeed in obtaining internship and postgraduate placements at SFS employers and contribute to filling national cybersecurity needs.

Can students be supported for less than 4 (B.S., M.S.) or 6 (B.S./M.S., Ph.D.) semesters?

We will consider such applications, but strongly prefer applications that request full support.