Carnegie Mellon University‘s Information Networking Institute (INI) offers a range of scholarships, fellowships and awards for incoming graduate students, including funding opportunities for both domestic and international applicants. Available support can include partial or full tuition awards, merit-based fellowships, specialized cybersecurity funding and, through selected programmes, comprehensive financial support.
Background & Funding Opportunities
The Carnegie Mellon University Information Networking Institute provides financial support opportunities for admitted students across its graduate programmes.
All admitted applicants — including domestic and international students — can be considered for INI financial support. Funding amounts vary, and the university does not guarantee a specific amount of funding.
Applicants who want to be considered should complete the Request for Funding form on their Application Status Page after submitting their INI application.
Importantly, requesting funding does not affect the admissions decision. Admissions and funding decisions are handled separately.
Scholarships and Fellowships
Director’s Fellowship
The INI offers multiple Director’s Fellowships for highly qualified incoming students.
The fellowships provide partial- and full-tuition scholarships. Selection is merit-based and takes place during the funding review process.
Strong candidates are expected to demonstrate academic and personal achievements as well as high potential.
Presidential Fellowship
The Presidential Fellowship provides a $50,000 scholarship to one incoming INI student each year.
Selection is merit-based. The successful candidate is expected to have a strong record of academic and personal achievements and demonstrate significant potential.
EWF-INI Fellowship
The EWF-INI Fellowship is designed to support a student who might otherwise be unable to attend graduate school.
Selection considers:
- Academic merit
- Background
- Leadership qualities
- Grit and perseverance
- Ability to overcome challenges
- Financial need
The selected fellow is also paired with an EWF mentor in a senior leadership role through the EWF Lift Program.
Joyce Brocaglia – EWF Endowed Fellowship
The Joyce Brocaglia-EWF Endowed Fellowship was established in honor of the CEO of Alta Associates and founder of the EWF.
The fellowship provides financial support to graduate students at the Information Networking Institute.
Prabhu and Poonam Goel Graduate Fellowship
The Prabhu and Poonam Goel Graduate Fellowship is awarded to two incoming students each year:
- One student in the MSIN programme
- One student in the MSIS programme
The source specifically states that Scholarship for Service students and government/company-sponsored students are not eligible.
Yen-Ming Chen Endowed Fellowship for AI Security
This fellowship supports graduate students, with preference given to students enrolled in INI’s information security and AI security programmes.
Cybersecurity Scholarships
CyberCorps Scholarship for Service
The CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) provides full financial assistance to a limited number of highly qualified applicants each year.
According to the supplied information, eligible incoming students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents studying information security.
Students should be enrolled in either:
- M.S. in Information Security (MSIS), or
- M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Engineering – Information Security (MSAIE-IS)
Applicants can indicate their interest in SFS during the admissions process and should also complete the INI Request for Funding form, select SFS and submit the required essay.
DoW Cyber Service Academy
The DoW Cyber Service Academy (DoW CSA) is sponsored by the Department of War Chief Information Office and administered by the National Security Agency.
The programme aims to strengthen cybersecurity and IT expertise while supporting recruitment and retention of cyber and IT specialists.
Students can indicate their interest through their admissions application and receive further instructions. Applicants must submit the DoW CSA application directly and select Carnegie Mellon University.
CMU Rales Fellows Program
The CMU Rales Fellows Program is designed to develop a diverse community of talented national STEM leaders from under-resourced backgrounds.
The programme aims to eliminate financial barriers to graduate education.
According to the supplied source, Rales Fellows receive:
- Full tuition
- A stipend covering living expenses
- Housing support
- Health insurance
The source describes this as a distinctive programme focused on supporting exceptional STEM leaders from under-resourced backgrounds.
Additional Funding for Current Students
Financial opportunities are not limited to incoming students.
Current INI students can apply for Teaching Assistant (TA) positions. The INI has a limited number of TA positions each semester, with selected students compensated bi-weekly according to a set hourly rate.
Students can also apply for TA positions in other Carnegie Mellon departments by following the relevant department’s application and hiring procedures.
Research Assistant (RA) opportunities are also available for some INI students working with faculty within INI and across Carnegie Mellon.
Conference Funding
INI students can apply for departmental conference scholarships when eligible.
The availability of funding can vary from year to year, and details on how to apply are shared with students during the academic year.
Graduate students may also access Graduate Student Assembly conference funding, which supports students attending or presenting at important conferences and exhibitions.
The INI may match the awarded amount by up to $500 per student, subject to available funding.
Awards for Graduating Students
INI also recognizes graduating students through several awards.
These include:
- INI Leadership Award — recognizes a graduating student demonstrating initiative, motivation, academic excellence and outstanding leadership.
- Innocent Habiyaremye Memorial Award — recognizes a graduating student who demonstrates strong community spirit.
- Outstanding Student Services Award: Research Assistant — recognizes exemplary performance as a Research Assistant.
- Outstanding Student Services Award: Teaching Assistant — recognizes exemplary performance as a Teaching Assistant.
Recipients are nominated by faculty, reviewed by an award committee and recognized at the INI Graduation Ceremony. Some awards include a monetary honorarium.
How to Apply
For incoming INI applicants, the primary step is to submit an INI application.
After submitting the application, applicants seeking financial assistance should complete the Request for Funding form through their Application Status Page.
Applicants should carefully review the requirements of individual fellowships because some opportunities have specific citizenship, programme, academic or sponsorship requirements.
Carnegie Mellon INI Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards – Official Page
Additional Information
The supplied source makes clear that not every funding opportunity is open to every applicant. In particular, CyberCorps SFS has U.S. citizenship or permanent-residency requirements, while other INI fellowships can consider both domestic and international admitted applicants.
Funding amounts also vary by programme. The Presidential Fellowship is listed at $50,000, Director’s Fellowships can provide partial or full tuition, and the Rales Fellows Program provides full tuition plus support for living expenses, housing and health insurance.
Applicants should verify current eligibility, programme availability and deadlines directly with Carnegie Mellon before submitting an application.
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