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Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions
Read these carefully to find clarification on your eligibility, rules, deadlines, and more. Be sure to read each scholarship's description carefully to find the most relevant requirements and timeline. If you cannot find an answer to your question below or on the scholarship's webpage, please email us at foundation@isaca.org.
Application Process
Our scholarships run every year in two cycles:
- Cycle 1 applications open in March and close in May
- Cycle 2 applications open in September and close in November.
If you are currently enrolled in an accredited degree program in the digital trust and technology space, you are likely eligible for some of our scholarships. The current scholarship cycle is open until November 3. Please click on this link to find the timeline and requirements.
The current scholarship cycle (Cycle 2) closes on 3 November 2026 at 11:59 pm US CT. We do not accept late submissions under any circumstances. Please make sure to submit your application on time. Please click on this link to review the timeline. You can use an online time converter to convert the time into your local time zone.
No, all of our scholarships are free to apply for! There is no payment required at any point in the application process.
Yes! You can submit separate applications for as many scholarships as you wish during one cycle. You may be awarded multiple scholarships – receiving one scholarship does not disqualify you from being considered for or awarded a different scholarship.
Yes! You can apply for the same or different scholarships as many times as you wish, as long as you remain eligible. If you were selected as a scholarship recipient, you generally may apply again. Some scholarships, however, may have restrictions. Please review each scholarship description carefully.
Due to the vast number of applications, unfortunately, we cannot share the reasoning behind the judges' decisions. Each application is evaluated blindly by multiple ISACA volunteer judges from around the world to ensure an unbiased evaluation. The ISACA Foundation team does not partake in judging and cannot provide any commentary.
Eligibility
Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. Please read each scholarship description carefully. Currently, all scholarships require that you are accepted into or enrolled in a educational program (ex. accredited college, university, or technical training institute) at the time the award is distributed. Additional eligibility requirements vary by scholarship and may include:
- Location
- Type of educational program
- Degree or area of study
- GPA or academic honors
- Other scholarship-specific criteria
No. Our scholarships are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate education. To be eligible, you must be accepted into or currently enrolled in an educational program—such as an accredited college, university, or technical training institute—by the time the award is distributed.
Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. Please read each scholarship description carefully. Currently, all scholarships require that you are accepted into or enrolled in an educational program (ex. accredited college, university, or technical training institute) at the time the award is distributed. If you’re looking for the scholarships that apply to the widest range of students, consider these:
- Digital Trust Scholarship: for students attending a school anywhere in the world and pursuing a relevant degree
- SheLeadsTech Scholarship: for students attending a school anywhere in the world and pursuing a relevant degree
- ISACA Cybersecurity Month Scholarship: for students attending a school anywhere in the world and pursuing a relevant degree
- National Cybersecurity Alliance See Yourself In Cyber Scholarship: for students attending a school in the United States and pursuing a relevant degree
Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. Please read each scholarship description carefully. All of our scholarships support students interested in careers in Digital Trust. This includes fields such as:
- IT audit
- Risk
- Cybersecurity
- Governance
- Assurance
Relevant degree programs may also include:
- Information security
- Information technology
- Computer science
- Computer information systems
- Accounting
This is not a complete list. If your studies and interests connect to technology, trust, and security, we encourage you to apply. If your degree program is not listed, you can use your application responses to explain how your academic background and career interests align with the scholarship.
Yes! Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. Please read each scholarship description carefully. On our About page, scholarships are organized into two groups:
- United States Based Academic Scholarships
- International Academic Scholarships (for students attending school outside the United States)
Many scholarships are country-specific. However, the following scholarships are open to students attending school anywhere in the world:
Yes! Most of our scholarships are open to international students. However, eligibility requirements vary by scholarship, and some have specific restrictions. Please read each scholarship description carefully before applying.
Yes, as long as you are accepted into or enrolled in a educational program (ex. accredited college, university, or technical training institute) at the time the award is distributed.
Our scholarships are intended for undergraduate and graduate students. If you are currently in high school, you may apply only if you will be enrolled in an educational program (such as an accredited college, university, or technical training institute) by the time the award is distributed.
No. To submit a scholarship application, you must create a free ISACA account, and you must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
Application Materials
No, you can submit an application in your preferred language.
A recent receipt, letter of enrollment, or class registration schedule are some acceptable examples. The document must include your name, school's name, and a recent date. If you are unsure, we suggest reaching out to your university to inquire about the documentation they may provide as proof of enrollment. Note that you do not have to submit an official transcript or official document - screenshots are acceptable.
Please submit the most recent proof of GPA or honors from your previous educational program at the time of application. Once your current GPA or honors information becomes available, you will be asked to provide updated proof. The document must include your name, school's name, and your academic score. Note that you do not have to submit an official transcript or official document - screenshots are acceptable.
For the upcoming Cycle 2, recommendation letters are due 3 November 2026. When choosing a recommender, use your best judgement to evaluate who will be able to speak to your abilities and ambitions the best. That can be your professor, an academic advisor, your employer, a volunteer manager, or mentor, to name a few examples. A letter of recommendation must be written by someone other than you or a family member.
Put genuine time and effort into your answers, do not provide one-word or short answers. Do not write the answers at the last minute, unless necessary. If you use AI to help with writing, edit and personalize the outputs afterwards. Do not be shy to share the steps you have taken to grow or to help others grow – every story is unique and that is what is going to make you stand out! Finally, choose someone who knows you well and can write a strong letter of recommendation, as a thoughtful recommendation can make a big difference in your application.
Yes, however, we strongly encourage you to avoid simple copy-pasting of AI outputs. Such answers tend to blend in among other applications and do not convey your true unique strengths. If you do opt to use AI, we highly recommend that you edit the text to keep it “your own”. Your personality is what will help you win!
No, our scholarships are aimed at students to help them with the financial costs of formal education. We do not offer scholarships for certifications.