Award Description
The College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) supports the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Scholarship. The CECS LAC scholarship is a multi-semester award (maximum of three semesters) for students who are citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean to be re-classified as a Florida residents for tuition purposes. The CECS Office of Graduate Affairs award a limited number of awards to students pursuing selected CECS-based MS degrees. This award has been renewed for the 2023-2024 academic year. Students interested in receiving the CECS-LAC Scholarship must submit an application after they are admitted to a CECS MS program, but before their official admission term begins.
Interested students can learn more details about the general LAC award at the following UCF Global website: https://global.ucf.edu/programs/lac/ or by contacting Mr. Sergio Ponce-Cordova at Sergio.PonceCordova@ucf.edu. Please note that your eligibility will be verified with UCF Global and the college before any award can be made. You must also maintain eligibility during the fall 2024 and spring 2025 award semesters.
Eligibility
- Students admitted to any CECS MS program except for MS Data Analytics, MS Industrial Engineering – Healthcare Systems Engineering Track, fully online programs
- Citizens of LAC countries (Note: to see the list of countries please see the (UCF Global site)
- Students receiving graduate transfer credit applied towards the UCF MS are not eligible to participate
- Students receiving Graduate Assistantships at UCF are not eligible to participate.
Application
- Applications for Fall 2024 must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on Friday, June 7th, 2024.
- A short essay that explains how students will benefit from the LAC Scholarship is required as a part of this application; students interested in pursuing the MS thesis will be given more consideration than non-thesis students.
- To begin the application:
Scholarship Requirements
Students awarded with the CECS-LAC Scholarship are required to maintain steady academic progress. In order to receive the award:
- The student must be registered for UCF graduate-level courses; pursing the MS thesis is strongly encouraged
- The student must be attending UCF full-time (i.e., no more or less than 9 graduate student credit hours unless the student is in their final semester)
- The student must have a valid immigration status
- The student must have a GPA of 3.0 or better
External Support
Several countries provide significant monetary support for students to complete their graduate studies at UCF. The support can take the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or hybrid funding. Some loans are forgivable if the student returns to their home country for a fixed period of time. For more information about these programs, please see the link below.
Award Timeline
Fall Awards:
January 1 – UCF Graduate Programs Application Deadline
January-February – Application Period for Country-Specific External Funding Support (see the “External Funding” link below)
March 1 – CECS-LAC Application period opens to new/continuing students for FA23/SP24 sponsorship
June 1 – CECS LAC Application period closes
June 30 – Applicants notified of pending award and reminded of eligibility requirements
July 2 – Scholarship form available from UCF Global
July 27 – CECS Office of Graduate Affairs completes the LAC Scholarship application form
Mid-August – Admitted students arrive to the US and classes begin
September 1 – UCF Financials will set student’s tuition to in-state
Spring Awards:
July 1 – UCF Graduate Programs Application Deadline
July 15 – Scholarship form available from UCF Global
Varies by Program/Country – Application Period for Country-Specific External Funding Support (see the “External Funding” link below)
November 1 – CECS-LAC Application period opens to new/continuing students for FA23/SP24 sponsorship
December 1 – CECS LAC Application period closes
December 4 – CECS Office of Graduate Affairs completes the LAC Scholarship application form
December 15 – Applicants notified of pending award and reminded of eligibility requirements
January – Admitted students arrive to the US and classes begin
February 5 – UCF Financials will set student’s tuition to in-state
2023-2024 LAC Scholarship Recipients
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Angel Argueta Computer Science MS | Tisana Richards Biomechanics MS | Diana Rodriguez De Francisco Biomedical Engineering MS |
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Honduras | Jamaica | Venezuela | ||||
“The Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Scholarship will play a crucial role in my academic journey at CECS by providing essential financial support for my Master's program in Computer Science/Artificial Intelligence. I am dedicated to utilizing the knowledge and skills gained through this scholarship to make a positive impact in my home country and beyond. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity and eagerly anticipate making the most of it.” | Receiving the LAC scholarship is a major blessing to have. As I continue to pursue my career in biomechanics, being able to receive my master's degree without a huge financial responsibility will help me focus more on my academics and my personal goals for myself. I am looking forward to the opportunities for growth and knowledge during my time at UCF. | The LAC Scholarship has been crucial for my career, one for which I cannot express enough gratitude. It has not only made it possible for me to pursue my Biomedical Engineering Master's degree but has also allowed me to immerse myself fully in the research area. Having this opportunity directly impacts me, my family, and my country. This opportunity will show other Latin Americans that pursuing an amazing program at a prestigious university is possible. |