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 must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on Friday, June 7th.
- 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.
- If you are continuing on the LAC Scholarship, please fill out the form under the Continuing LAC Scholarship Application.
- To begin the application:
Newly Admitted LAC Scholarship Application APPLY HERE Continuing LAC Scholarship 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 required
- 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
- Renewals: This award is renewed one semester at a time. Students making progress towards an MS thesis will be the only ones considered. Students applying to the doctoral program will receive higher consideration than those who do not.
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. A few of these support organizations are:
- Colfuturo
- HonduFuturo
- Guatefuturo
- Fiderh
- OAS – The Rowe Fund
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
CECS LAC Successes
Diana Rodriguez De Francisco Biomedical Engineering MS | Tisana Richards Biomechanics MS | Diego Linares Gonzalez Computer Engineering |
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Venezuela | Jamaica | Peru | ||||||||
Advisor: Dr. Swaminathan Rajaraman Thesis Title: Long Lasting Levothyroxine Sodium Microneedle Array for Hashimoto's Treatment | Advisor: Thesis Title: |
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Update: In just her second semester of study at UCF, Diana was able to secure a Graduate Research Assistantship. After finishing her MS degree and thesis, she will be headed to the PhD program. | Update: Tisana has received a Graduate Assistantship. | Diego has now been hired on as a Researcher with Dr. Shahana Irabhim. |
Selected Current Scholars
Laura Edith Andrade Barron Environmental Engineering MS | Nigel Francis Cybersecurity | Juan Lainez Mechanical Engineering MS | ||||
Bolivia | Dominica | Ecuador | ||||
Advisor: Thesis Title: | Advisor: Thesis Title: | Advisor: Thesis Title: | ||||
"I am very grateful to have been selected for the Latin American Scholarship. This scholarship is important to me for several reasons. It represents more than just financial help; it will allow me to gain the skills and knowledge I need for my future career and provide opportunities to participate in research projects. This support motivates me to work harder and shows me that my efforts are recognized, which makes me even more determined to succeed. I am committed to excelling in my studies and using what I learn to help my community." | "The increasing significance of AI and the prevalence of cyber tools have elevated the demand for cybersecurity expertise in Latin America and the Caribbean. The LAC scholarship has played a pivotal role in enabling me to address this need by removing financial barriers and facilitating my pursuit of a master's degree in cybersecurity at the University of Central Florida. As a first-generation college student, this opportunity has allowed me to fulfill my lifelong aspiration of becoming a leader in the field, capable of making a positive impact on the region." | "My name is Juan José Laínez, and I was born and raised in Ecuador. After completing my undergraduate studies, I realized that I wanted to delve deeper into research in my field. Since I’ve always regarded the United States as a leading country in research, I was determined to study here. However, the cost of attending any university, especially for graduate students, is often very high. When I heard about the LAC scholarship, I knew this was my opportunity to make my dream come true. Now, I am in the U.S., pursuing my master’s degree in mechanical engineering. I strongly believe that this degree will open doors to the U.S. industry and allow me to gain valuable experience in research. Thanks to this opportunity, I am confident that my future in this field will be bright. My parents always told me that the best investment you can make is in educating yourself." | ||||
Andres Felipe Fonseca Rueda Biomedical Engineering MS | Vinicius Da Silva Costa Computer Engineering MS | |||||
Colombia | Brazil | |||||
Advisor: Thesis Title: | Advisor: Thesis Title: | |||||
"The LAC scholarship supports my studies abroad, granting me with valuable exposure to diverse perspectives in my field. It also aligns with my ambition of becoming an international professional by providing opportunities to build a global network and develop the skills needed to succeed in a competitive, globalized job market." | "The LAC scholarship has been a crucial support in my journey to study abroad, significantly reducing the financial strain and helping me navigate the many difficulties that come with being an international student. From adjusting to a new culture to managing living expenses, the challenges can be overwhelming, but this scholarship has provided the stability I needed to focus on my academic goals and make the most of this opportunity. Without it, the path would have been much harder to pursue, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities it has opened up for me." |