SMART Scholarships
Department of Defense
Overview
The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories. SMART awards provide $25,000 - $38,000 towards tuition, as well as summer internships in DOD laboratories. Upon graduation, students will have an employment obligation as a DOD civilian. For each academic year of the award, he or she will be required to commit to a year of civilian employment with the DOD.
Approximately 240 awards are granted annually, with ~50% going to undergraduates.
Deadline Information
December
Eligibility Requirements
Recipients may be undergraduate, master's or doctoral students, and must be at least 18 years of age. Applicants must be citizens of the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. Members of the Reserves or National Guard may apply, although active-duty military may not.
Process
Recipients may be undergraduate, master's or doctoral students, and must be at least 18 years of age. Students must be pursuing a degree in one of the SMART-specified STEM disciplines and have a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must be willing to participate in summer internships at DoD labs and willing to accept a period of post-graduate employment with the DoD (as a civilian). Members of the Reserves or National Guard may apply, although active-duty military may not.
Application notes:
Freshmen applicants must report their ACT or SAT Reasoning Test score.
Graduate applicants must have taken the GRE and report their scores.
Applicants will specify preferences for placement and propose an area of study.
3 letters of recommendation are required.
| Compensation: | $25,000 - $38,00 per year |
|---|---|
| Location: | Within U.S. |
| Duration: | Varies; at least one academic year and up to 5 years |
| Eligible Students: | Undergraduates, master's and doctoral students in STEM disciplines |
| Academic Areas: | Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) |
| Areas Of Interest: | STEM research, Department of Defense laboratories |