Eligibility note: This scholarship is open only to citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Applicants must also be able to obtain a US security clearance. African nationals can’t apply, even if they study in the US, unless they also hold one of these five citizenships. If you’re part of the African diaspora with dual citizenship, read on. Everyone else should see the related opportunities open to Africans at the end.
The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program (Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation) is funded by the US Department of War, the former Department of Defense. It’s one of the most generous STEM scholarships in the US, offering full tuition, an annual stipend of $30,000–$46,000, paid summer internships and a guaranteed civilian job after graduation. It’s open to bachelor’s, master’s and PhD students, including high school seniors starting college in fall 2027.
Applications for the 2027 cycle close on Friday 4 December 2026 at 5:00pm US Eastern time.
At a Glance
| Funder | US Department of War (DoW) |
| Level | Bachelor’s, master’s and PhD (STEM only) |
| Funding | Full tuition, a $30,000–$46,000 annual stipend, and health and book allowances |
| Extras | Summer internships, mentorship and guaranteed employment after graduation |
| Citizenship | US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand only |
| Service | One year of DoW civilian work for each year of funding |
| Deadline | 4 December 2026, 5:00pm ET |
Benefits
- Full tuition at any accredited US college or university
- Annual stipend of $30,000–$46,000, depending on degree level
- Health insurance and book allowances
- Summer internships at one of more than 200 Department of War research facilities
- Mentorship from DoW scientists and engineers
- Guaranteed civilian employment with the Department of War after graduation
More than 6,500 SMART scholarships have been awarded so far, and 91% of scholars complete their service commitment.
Eligible STEM Fields
Your degree must fall within one of SMART’s STEM disciplines:
- Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial and Systems, Mechanical, Nuclear and Software Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering, Data Science and Analytics, and Information Sciences
- Mathematics, Operations Research and Physics
- Chemistry, Biosciences, Materials Science and Engineering
- Geosciences, Oceanography, and Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
- Cognitive, Neural and Behavioural Sciences
Non-technical degrees, such as management, arts or humanities, aren’t funded.
Eligibility
- You must be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United Kingdom.
- You must be 18 or older by 1 January 2028.
- You need a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), and must keep it up.
- You must be studying, or planning to study, in fall 2027 at a regionally accredited US college or university. High school seniors starting college in fall 2027 can apply.
- You must be able to obtain and keep a security clearance. Your sponsoring facility starts this after you’re awarded.
- You must request between 1 and 5 years of degree funding, starting August 2027.
- You must complete summer internships if your award is longer than 1.5 years.
- You must accept a one-for-one service commitment: one year of work as a DoW civilian employee for each year of scholarship.
How to Apply
- Check your eligibility and confirm that your major qualifies on the SMART website.
- Create an account and start the online application.
- Prepare transcripts, a resume, essays and recommendation letters. Ask your referees early.
- Choose your preferred sponsoring facilities, the DoW labs where you’d intern and later work.
- Submit everything, including references, before 5:00pm ET on 4 December 2026.
Official SMART Scholarship website · Official eligibility page
Questions: [email protected] or +1 (571) 633-7940.
Tips
- Research the sponsoring facilities and explain why your skills fit their mission.
- Show research or project experience, such as lab work, coding projects or competitions.
- Think carefully about the service commitment. You’ll be expected to work for the DoW for as many years as you were funded.
