Overview
International Engineering is not just about building technical expertise through academic and professional pursuits. Sending future engineers and computer scientists around the world gaining immersive cultural, language, and personal experience contributes to the strengthening of the STEM communities, as well as the global and local economies.
Many of the following scholarships focus on language acquisition, national security, and public service. While not always the most salient related areas to the STEM fields, students are encouraged to review and examine these opportunities to understand the benefits of each and find the right fit. These scholarships are not mutually exclusive, nor would they bar a student from pursuing other international experiences. In fact, awards like Gilman and Boren are often combined and may contribute directly to a full semester or yearlong exchange experience assuming a student’s attributes and goals align with those required for each award.
Students interested in applying for the awards or finding out more information should make an appointment with the International Engineering Program Manager
Office of Prestigious Awards
The Office of Prestigious Awards (OPA) is the UCF campus representative for all prestigious scholarships. Students intending to apply to any opportunity listed on this page will work with OPA to ensure the best application possible is presented for consideration.
Boren Awards
Sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), Boren Awards provide funding for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. Through long-term overseas study, Boren Scholars and Fellows learn to communicate across cultures, and analyze economic, political, religious, and societal events from local, national, and global perspectives. In exchange for funding, Boren recipients agree to work in qualifying national security positions in the U.S. federal government.
The first Boren Awardee within the College of Engineering & Computer Science participated in a summer language program in Japan and intends to work for the Department of Defense to advance US cybersecurity capabilities.
Gilman Scholarship
https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program supports students with financial need to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.
Eligibility is based on US Citizenship and receiving a Federal Pell grant. There are two application cycles: March & November. Students are encouraged to apply to the earliest cycle to allow for a second application.
Critical Language Scholarship
The Critical Language Scholarship Program seeks participants from a variety of fields, backgrounds, and career paths, with the goal of building a cadre of Americans who speak critical languages at high levels in government, business, arts and culture, science and engineering, health and medicine, education, research, and other fields.
Students with a strong interest in working abroad and developing high levels of language proficiency are recommended to consider this award in addition to the Boren Award listed above.
FAIT Fellowship
https://www.faitfellowship.org/
Majors: Information Technology, Computer Engineering, & Computer Science
Minimum GPA: 3.2 cumulative
Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship aims to recruit talented, diverse individuals pursuing degrees in IT-related areas. The fellowship provides significant funding and supports two summer internships in Washington D.C. and abroad at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Fellows receive up to $43,500 in funding for tuition and cost of attendance (room and board, books, etc.) to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree in an IT-related field. The award requires a commitment to five years in the foreign service.