Application for the 2025/2026 SMART Scholarship Program for Service is open to U.S., New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom citizens that want to continue their undergraduate or graduate degree program in the United States. The scholarship is sponsored by the Department of Defense to provide financial assistance to applicants who seek help to further their education at an accredited college or university seeking a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in a SMART STEM discipline. This is a competitive scholarship with a limited number of award and a value of $46,000 given to qualified applicants of the 2025/2026 SMART Scholarship Program for Service.
Scholarship Overview
- Sponsor: Department of Defense
- Host: Any
- Type: Financial aid
- Award: Varies
- Value: $46,000
- Level: Undergraduate, Graduate, Doctoral
- Target: U.S. students
- Location: United States
2025/2026 SMART Scholarship Program for Service Eligibility Criteria
The following requirements must be met by the applicants in order to be eligible for the 2025/2026 SMART Scholarship Program for Service:
- The scholarship application is open to U.S., New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom citizens.
- The scholarship is for undergraduate or graduate students that want to continue their career in the United States.
- Applicants must have excellent academic performance and good grades, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 score on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants must be currently pursuing, or intend to pursue in fall 2026, a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a SMART STEM discipline.
- It is essential for applicants to be able to complete at least one summer internship at a Department of Defense facility.
- Applicants must be enrolled or plan to attend an accredited college or university to be eligible for the scholarship award.
- Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance and complete summer internships for awards greater than 1.5 years.
Eligible Course Programs
- Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biosciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences, Computer Science and Engineering, Data Science and Analytics, Electrical Engineering, Geosciences, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Information Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Oceanography, Operations Research, Physics, Software Engineering.
2025/2026 SMART Scholarship Program for Service Application Process
To apply for the 2025/2026 SMART Scholarship Program for Service, applicants must follow these steps:
- It is essential for applicants to go through the scholarship application before applying for the award.
- Applicants can apply for the scholarship through the online application link provided below.
- Applicants must provide all the required documents that are needed for the scholarship including transcript, grade, proof of enrollment, proof of citizenship, and completed application form before the deadline date.
- For more information about the scholarship, applicants can contact this email smart@smartscholarship.org.
Application Deadline: 5 December 2025
Visit the Official Scholarship Website
Read more on the 2025/2026 Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholarship