Funding

Partial / Stipend

Bachelor's Scholarship•Remote

ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship

ESET North America

Application Deadline

Closed · April 8, 2026

Reopens ~Apr 2027

Official Page

The Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship is a cash award run by ESET North America, the US and Canadian arm of the security software company ESET. It has run every year since 2016 and reached its eleventh round in 2026. Each year ESET puts up US$20,000 in the United States, split into two US$10,000 awards, one of which is reserved for a student in the Greater San Diego Area, and CA$15,000 in Canada, split into three CA$5,000 awards.

Applicants are women enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college or university in either country who plan a career in cybersecurity. The money goes toward the recipient’s own studies, so there is no relocation and no host placement.

Benefits & funding

  • Two awards of US$10,000 for students in the United States; one of the two is reserved for the Greater San Diego Area.
  • Three awards of CA$5,000 for students in Canada.
  • US$35,000 committed across North America in the 2026 round.
  • A place in the Women in Cyber Scholarship Alumni Mentorship Program, launched in 2025, with mentoring that starts at the end of the summer.
  • Recipients cover any taxes owed on the award and grant ESET the right to use their name, image and biography in publicity.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must identify as a woman.
  • Enrolled in, or holding an acceptance letter from, an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada.
  • The US awards go to US citizens and permanent residents; the Canadian awards go to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. A student visa alone does not qualify.
  • Majoring in cybersecurity or a related STEM field, with a stated intention to work in the cybersecurity industry.
  • The 2026 requirements page sets no age limit, GPA floor or degree-level condition.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

  • Residence required

    USA · Canada

  • Education required

    High School · Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled

  • Gender requirement

    Female

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Application process

  1. 1
    Register or log in on Reviewr, the third-party platform ESET uses to collect applications.
  2. 2
    Upload an official or unofficial transcript from the current or most recent accredited institution.
  3. 3
    Add one letter of recommendation from a faculty member, advisor or professional mentor who can speak to character and potential.
  4. 4
    List volunteer work, extracurricular activities and community service.
  5. 5
    Write a 500–700 word personal essay covering achievements, career goals and the applicant’s specific interest in cybersecurity.
  6. 6
    Upload everything in PDF and submit before the deadline. Canadian applicants may write in English or French.
  7. 7
    A panel of cybersecurity and industry experts scores redacted applications; names, photographs, contact details and demographic identifiers are stripped out before review.

Program timeline

  1. Applications open, timed to International Women’s Day

    Mar 8, 2026

  2. Application deadline, 11:59 p.m. PT

    Apr 8, 2026

  3. Recipients notified

    Summer 2026

  4. Alumni mentorship program starts for the new cohort

    End of summer 2026

  5. Next round expected; ESET has not published a date

    Spring 2027

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