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STUDENTS: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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- What is the Scholarship For Service (SFS) program?
- What schools have been issued scholarship grants under the Scholarship For Service (SFS) program?
- What are the student eligibility requirements for me to participate?
- I meet the eligibility criteria but I am not attending a participating institution. How can I participate?
- I am attending one of the institutions listed and meet the eligibility criteria. What do I need to do to participate?
- What costs do the SFS program scholarships cover?
- When, and for how long, can I get a scholarship?
- What is the shortest period for which I may be funded?
- If I am funded for less than a year, am I entitled to the full stipend?
- Do I incur an obligation by receiving this scholarship?
- Where will the jobs be located?
- At what grade level will I be appointed when I serve the internship and when I am placed after graduation?
- Is the post-graduation employment commitment the only period of employment I am required to serve with the Government?
- How long must the internship be?
- Can time spent in an internship beyond the required 10 weeks be credited toward my post-graduation employment commitment?
- Will I be paid moving expenses when I receive placement to fulfill my internship and employment commitment upon graduation?
- How do I enroll in the program once I am selected by the Principal Investigator (coordinator) to participate?
- I am interested. Can my college or university (or any college or university) participate?
- Does the SFS program allow online degree programs?
- What does registration entail and what happens after registration?
- In addition to registering on the SFS Program website, what responsibilities do I have to the program while I am still in school?
- Suppose I do not want to match with any of the agencies that make me an offer. What happens then?
- What happens if I do not accept an offer made to me and I am not placed?
- Why is it important that I begin my job search early?
- May I contact agencies with which I would like to serve the internship or be placed to fulfill my post-graduation employment commitment?
- What positions are open to me?
- What constitutes a reasonable offer?
- Do I have to serve the internship at the Federal agency that will employ me upon graduation?
- Am I guaranteed permanent placement with a Federal Agency?
- Can I defer my employment commitment to further my education?
- Can I meet my employment commitment by working as a contractor for the Federal Government?
- Do I have to claim the funds (tuition, books, room & board, stipend, etc.) I receive for the scholarship as income when I file my taxes?
- What happens if I leave my Federal position before I serve the required period?
What is the Scholarship For Service (SFS) program?
It is the Federal Government's response to deal with the threat to our information technology infrastructure by strengthening the cadre of information assurance professionals who protect it. Through this program, the National Science Foundation partnered with Department of Homeland Security issues selected 4-year colleges and universities scholarship grants to attract students to the information assurance field. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management administers the operational aspects of the program. Questions about the program may be addressed to Kathy Roberson, SFS Program Manager, at
What schools have been issued scholarship grants under the Scholarship For Service (SFS) program?
You may access a list of contacts and institutions by selecting Principal Investigators on our website's Contacts page.
What are the student eligibility requirements for me to participate?
The student must meet all of the following:
-- be pursuing a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree;
-- be attending school on a full-time basis while receiving a scholarship under the SFS program;
-- be willing to pursue studies with an emphasis in information assurance;
-- be a United States citizen;
-- meet criteria for Federal employment; and
-- be able to obtain a security clearance, if required.
I meet the eligibility criteria but I am not attending a participating institution. How can I participate?
In order to participate, you must enroll in a participating institution. You should contact the program's Principal Investigators (coordinators) at participating institutions to inquire if there are slots open at the particular institution at which you are inquiring. Bear in mind that educational institutions have total discretion and control over their student admission policies and practices.
I am attending one of the institutions listed and meet the eligibility criteria. What do I need to do to participate?
The scholarships are awarded on a merit-based basis. You must contact the program's Principal Investigators (coordinator) at your institution to obtain details.
What costs do the SFS program scholarships cover?
Typically, the SFS program covers tuition, room and board, and books for up to two years of undergraduate-, master's-, or doctorate-level study. In addition, undergraduates receive an annual stipend of $8,000 and graduates receive $12,000. Each participating institution manages their SFS grant and the actual amounts of the scholarship will vary by institution. For specific information at a particular institution you should contact the Principal Investigator (PI) at that institution. The National Science Foundation also covers travel costs to an annual job fair/conference that all students are required to attend.
When, and for how long, can I get a scholarship?
The scholarship is conferred during an undergraduate's junior and senior years. Graduate students are conferred the scholarship while pursuing a master's or doctorate degree. Scholarships may be conferred for up to two years.
What is the shortest period for which I may be funded?
The shortest period for which a scholarship may be granted is one semester. However, upon completion of degree requirements, students funded for less than two years must have an information assurance academic background equivalent to that of the typical graduate funded for two years. For example, in order to enroll in the SFS at the beginning of his or her senior year, a student must have been pursuing information assurance studies during his or her junior year.
If I am funded for less than a year, am I entitled to the full stipend?
No. You are entitled to a prorated amount. For example, if you receive a scholarship for only one semester, you are entitled to only half the stipend. If you receive a scholarship for only three semesters (one-and-a-half academic years), you are entitled to only half the stipend during the year you receive funds for only one semester.
Do I incur an obligation by receiving this scholarship?
Yes. You must serve at a Federal agency in an information assurance position for a period equivalent to the length of the scholarship or one year, whichever is longer. An academic year (i.e., the fall and spring semesters) is equivalent to a calendar year of employment. If you are funded for two academic years, you must serve at a Federal agency in a covered position for two calendar years. If you are funded for one academic year or less (e.g., only one semester), you must serve for one calendar year.
Where will the jobs be located?
Jobs will be located throughout the United States. However, the overwhelming majority will be in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Therefore, participants will be required to be available for placement nationwide.
At what grade level will I be appointed when I serve the internship and when I am placed after graduation?
The grade level at which you will be appointed depends on your qualifications at the time of appointment. In general, students with a bachelor's degree and superior academic achievement may be appointed at the GS-7 level. Master's degree recipients may be appointed at the GS-9 level. Recipients of a doctorate degree may be appointed at the GS-11 level. It is important to note that the pay rates for information technology professionals are higher than for other jobs.
Is the post-graduation employment commitment the only period of employment I am required to serve with the Government?
No. You are also required to serve an internship.
How long must the internship be?
The internship must be at least 10 weeks long.
Can time spent in an internship beyond the required 10 weeks be credited toward my post-graduation employment commitment?
No, there are no provisions to credit any time served in an internship toward your post-graduation employment commitment.
Will I be paid moving expenses when I receive placement to fulfill my internship and employment commitment upon graduation?
The program does not contain provisions that provide for the payment of travel or lodging expenses associated with the internship, or moving expenses to the first post of duty. We suggest you ask prospective Federal employers if they have the authority, flexibility, and funds to cover any such expenses.
How do I enroll in the program once I am selected by the Principal Investigator (coordinator) to participate?
The Principal Investigator nominates you. Your nomination is reviewed, and your participation approved, by the Scholarship For Service Program Office, San Antonio Services Section, U.S. Office of Personnel Management. After you are approved, you will be asked to sign a service agreement. This agreement stipulates the nature and conditions of the scholarship and the service obligation you will incur with the Federal Government. Once the SFS Program Office receives your signed agreement, it will send you, via the Principal Investigator, instructions on how to register for the program.
I am interested. Can my college or university (or any college or university) participate?
Colleges and universities may vie for participation if they are certified by the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE), or their information assurance programs are deemed "equivalent" to those of certified schools. There are 36 CAE/IAE-certified colleges and universities at present.
Does the SFS program allow online degree programs?
NSF does not have a policy that expressly prohibits online programs. The program must be full-time and a student must be fully enrolled (not taking a course or two). In addition, the online program must be included in the NSA CAE certification and in the NSF funding request. Even if all of these conditions are met, the final decision must be made by the institution. Individual institution SFS programs often incorporate seminars, workshops and other resident activities for which the student must be present. An individual institution may decide that an online student cannot meet this demand.
What does registration entail and what happens after registration?
You are required to register on the SFS Program website www.sfs.opm.gov and complete a resume on-line. Through the website, you are able to search for, and contact, participating agencies to explore internship and long-term placement opportunities. Federal agencies are also able to register on this website and conduct student and resume searches. Agencies contact directly those students they are interested in for the purpose of effecting student/agency matches. When a match is made, this website allows the agency to report the match to the SFS Program Office.
In addition to registering on the SFS Program website, what responsibilities do I have to the program while I am still in school?
-- Attend the annual job fair/symposium.
-- Search for internship and post graduation opportunities.
-- Complete and submit a job search activity report to the program office quarterly.
-- View/edit resume and contact information quarterly.
-- Engage in other SFS related activities as directed by the PI or program office.
Suppose I do not want to match with any of the agencies that make me an offer. What happens then?
If you receive one or more offers for an internship or post-graduation employment, you must accept an offer at least three months before the beginning of the period during which the internship or post-graduation employment is programmed to occur. For example, if you plan to serve an internship during the summer, you must accept an internship offer (if you receive at least one) by the end of February. Otherwise, the SFS Program Office may place you at an agency of its choice if there are agencies with available placement opportunities.
What happens if I do not accept an offer made to me and I am not placed?
By accepting the SFS scholarship and signing the service agreement you are required to accept any offer that meets program requirements and is considered reasonable by the SFS Program Office.
If you receive at least one, but fail to accept a placement offer, it will constitute a breach of the service agreement. In these situations, the National Science Foundation will seek the remedial action that best serves the objectives of the SFS program and the interests of the Government, including reimbursement of scholarship funds.
Why is it important that I begin my job search early?
It is very important that you begin your job search immediately for a variety of reasons. Students who receive scholarship funds for more than one academic year are required to serve an internship performing information assurance-related work. Internships are intended to enhance the students' information assurance knowledge by exposing them to field-related work experiences. If an internship is not secured early, it may jeopardize the value of the experiences due to a lack of time in the position. Delaying to find opportunities may also cause th student to miss out on an internship altogether. For both internships and post-graduation commitment, most positions will require some type of security clearance and these along with the Federal hiring process can sometime be very time consuming.
May I contact agencies with which I would like to serve the internship or be placed to fulfill my post-graduation employment commitment?
Yes. In fact, students are required to find placement opportunities on their own. The program office provides many tools and resources to assist that include contact information for agencies interested in hiring Information Assurance Specialists, website link to current IA announcements, and an annual job fair
What positions are open to me?
Students can apply for any position that includes duties in Information Assurance at a Federal Agency, Independent Agency, Government Corporation, Commission, or Quasi-Official Agency, a National Laboratory, a Federally Funded Research Development Center, or other approved organization. If a student is unsure if a particular position meets program requirement they should contact the SFS Program Office at sfs@opm.gov for verification.
What constitutes a reasonable offer?
A reasonable offer is one where the grade level (salary) is equivalent to the student’s qualifications based on education at the time of placement. In general, students with a bachelor's degree and superior academic achievement must accept a GS-7 (or equivalent) or higher. Master's degree recipients must accept a GS-9 (or equivalent) or higher. Recipients of a doctorate degree may be appointed at the GS-11 level. If a student is unsure if a position is reasonable they should contact the SFS Program Office at sfs@opm.gov for verification.
Do I have to serve the internship at the Federal agency that will employ me upon graduation?
No. You may serve the internship at another Federal agency as long as the nature of the work assignments meet program requirements. However, it is highly beneficial that the internship be served at the agency that will ultimately hire you. The internship provides you the opportunity to meet and work with the agency's information assurance professionals and become familiar with their needs and programs. It also gives the student a chance to create a bond with the employer. Additionally, the internship should be an integral part of a mentoring process that should span throughout the entire academic and employment phases of the program. You should also keep in mind that agencies make significant investments in their interns in terms of effort, time, and resources. Therefore, if you plan on seeking post-graduation employment with an agency other than where you serve your internship, you are encouraged to inform them of your plans.
Am I guaranteed permanent placement with a Federal Agency?
No. Students are responsible for their own job search. The Program Office makes several tools available to assist students in their job search efforts. These tools include the SFS program website, resume posting, dedicated job fairs, and job activity logs.
Can I defer my employment commitment to further my education?
Yes, under certain circumstances you may defer your service obligation to the Federal government for up to two years to continue your education. The additional education must enhance your marketability to Federal Agencies as an Information Assurance Professional. This deferment must be approved by the Program Office, the continued education cannot be funded by the SFS program, and you must continue to fulfill SFS participant responsibilities as indicated in an addendum to your Service Agreement.
Can I meet my employment commitment by working as a contractor for the Federal Government?
No, your commitment must be in the Federal Executive Branch at a Federal Agency, Independent Agency, Government Corporation, Commission, or Quasi-Official Agency, a National Laboratory, a Federally Funded Research Development Center, or other approved organization.
Do I have to claim the funds (tuition, books, room & board, stipend, etc.) I receive for the scholarship as income when I file my taxes?
You should seek the advice of a tax professional to determine what part may be taxable.
What happens if I leave my Federal position before I serve the required period?
You must repay a prorated amount equivalent to the length of the period not served. For example, if you receive funds for two years and serves for one-and-a-half years, you must repay 25% of the funds received. Federal agencies must notify the SFS Program Office immediately when this occurs. That office is responsible for initiating the repayment process.
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