USC Viterbi School of Engineering Scholarships and Fellowships
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is pleased to offer several merit-based funding opportunities for students who demonstrate exemplary potential for success in advanced engineering studies.
ON-CAMPUS MASTER’S STUDENTS
SCHOLARSHIP DECISIONS ARE MADE SEPARATELY FROM ADMISSION DECISIONS.
- Award Amount: $5000-$20,000
- Eligibility: Open to ALL international and U.S. students pursuing a Master’s degree full-time from the Viterbi School of Engineering on the USC campus
- How to Apply: Submit the online Graduate Application for Admission, scanned transcripts, and all required test scores and supplemental materials by September 1 for SPRING applicants and December 15 for FALL applicants.
- If selected, candidates may be requested to submit additional information.
SCHOLARSHIP DECISIONS ARE SEPARATE FROM ADMIT DECISIONS.
- Award Amount: $5000-$20,000 tuition dollars
- Eligibility: Aimed at historically underrepresented students pursuing a Master’s degree full-time from the Viterbi School of Engineering on the USC campus. This includes students that identify as African American, Native American, and LatinX.
- How to Apply: Submit the online Graduate Application for Admission, scanned transcripts, and all required test scores and supplemental materials by September 1 for SPRING applicants and December 15 for FALL applicants.
- If selected, candidates may be requested to submit additional information.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering maintains an active partnership with The National GEM Consortium to help fund historically underrepresented students (African Americans, Native American, and LatinX) pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees in engineering and STEM disciplines.
While the GEM fellowship has several funding levels, USC Viterbi supports students at the following two GEM Levels:
- GEM Full Fellow (Industry and University Support)
- GEM University Fellow (University Support)
Learn more about the GEM fellowship and application timeline.
PROGRAM SPECIFIC
| Program | Name of Scholarship | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| MS in Petroleum Engineering (Smart Oilfield Technologies), MS in Chemical Engineering, MS in Materials Science, MS in Materials Engineering | Chevron-USC Partnership Fellowship | -Award Amount: $25,000 -Must be a new or PDP (progressive degree program), full-time, residential (on-campus) Master's student. -Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or its territories. |
| MS in Electrical Engineering | John Choma Memorial Fellowship | |
| MS in Environmental Engineering, MS in Electrical Engineering | Frederick Angus Gross Endowed Scholarship | - Focus on water purification and sustainability in MS program |
| MS | Fuscoe Engineering Fellowship | -Viterbi Master's student with an outstanding GPA -Preference will be given to students pursuing a Civil Engineering degree |
| MS in Chemical Engineering, MS in Materials Science | R Phillip Hammond Endowed Engineering Award | -Student interests and capabilities are strongly interdisciplinary -Students who express interest to better the human condition through innovative applications of science and technology preferred |
| MS in Petroleum Engineering | Handy Scholarship | |
| MS in Biomedical Engineering | Theodore E. Posch Biomedical Engineering Fellowship | Preference will be given to students with interests in applying engineering science or technology to the study of the nervous system or signal processing in biological systems |
| MS in Petroleum Engineering | Robert Schaaf Graduate Fellowship | Preference will be given to students with a strong GPA, financial need, and demonstrated leadership qualities |
| MS in Civil Engineering, MS in Structural Engineering | David Wilson Endowed Fellowship | Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or its territories |
| MS in Petroleum Engineering | Homer O. Woodruff Petroleum Engineering Fellowship |
COUNTRY/REGION SPECIFIC
| COUNTRY | NAME OF SCHOLARSHIP | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| China | Ming Qu and Ying Wu Memorial Scholarship | Award Amount: $10,000 (amount to be applied toward first semester’s tuition and fees) Eligibility: Must be a newly admitted Viterbi Master’s student from mainland China with an equivalent cumulative GPA of 3.8 or above. Must be a Chinese citizen. If selected, candidates may be requested to provide additional information |
| China | Xinran Ji Memorial Scholarship | Award Amount: $10,000 (The scholarship award may be renewable as long as the student satisfies the criteria articulated by the University.) Eligibility: Must be a newly admitted Viterbi Master’s student. Preference will be given to students from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau with an equivalent cumulative GPA of 3.8 or above. If selected, candidates may be requested to submit additional information. |
| Hong Kong | Xinran Ji Memorial Scholarship | Award Amount: $10,000 (The scholarship award may be renewable as long as the student satisfies the criteria articulated by the University.) Eligibility: Must be a newly admitted Viterbi Master’s student. Preference will be given to students from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau with an equivalent cumulative GPA of 3.8 or above. If selected, candidates may be requested to submit additional information. |
| India | -Suresh C. Nijhawan Endowed Scholarship -Global Quest Foundation (Bangalore) | |
| Iran | NIOC Fellowship | |
| Macau | Xinran Ji Memorial Scholarship | Award Amount: $10,000 (The scholarship award may be renewable as long as the student satisfies the criteria articulated by the University.) Eligibility: Must be a newly admitted Viterbi Master’s student. Preference will be given to students from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau with an equivalent cumulative GPA of 3.8 or above. If selected, candidates may be requested to submit additional information. |
| Taiwan | Xinran Ji Memorial Scholarship | Award Amount: $10,000 (The scholarship award may be renewable as long as the student satisfies the criteria articulated by the University.) Eligibility: Must be a newly admitted Viterbi Master’s student. Preference will be given to students from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau with an equivalent cumulative GPA of 3.8 or above. If selected, candidates may be requested to submit additional information. |
| Taiwan | Ting Shen Lin Fellowship in Engineering | |
| Central & Eastern Europe | Andrew Witkowski Fellowship | Award Amount: $10,000 - $30,000 (The scholarship award may be renewable as long as the student satisfies the criteria articulated by the University.) Eligibility: Must be a newly admitted Viterbi Master’s student fluent in one of the following languages: Polish, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Russian, Latvian, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Bosnian, Albanian, and Macedonian. Preference will be given to MS Computer Science students. If selected, candidates may be requested to submit additional information |
Supporting the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s vision and commitment to creating sustainable energy supply systems, Chevron Corporation is awarding competitive fellowships to outstanding incoming Master’s students.
- Award Amount: $25,000 (paid over multiple years) and continual contact with Chevron executives, with opportunities for future internships and employment
- Eligibility:Must be a new or PDP (progressive degree program), full-time, residential (on-campus) Master’s student. Two scholarships awarded to students in the MS in Petroleum Engineering (Smart Oilfield Technologies), and one to a student in either the MS in Chemical Engineering, MS in Materials Science or MS in Materials Engineering (two elective courses in Petroleum Engineering must be taken).
Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or its territories. - How to Apply: Submit the online Graduate Application for Admission, scanned transcripts, and all required test scores and supplemental materials by December 15.
- Statement of Purpose may be required for students who are selected as finalists
The USC-Meta Center for Research and Education in AI and Learning awards competitive fellowships to outstanding incoming Master’s students who have a strong interest in AI and Machine Learning. Students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM fields are encouraged to apply.
- Award Amount: Varies, may cover up to the full amount of tuition and fees as determined by the scholarship committee
- Eligibility: Must be a new or PDP (progressive degree program), full-time, residential (on-campus) Master’s student within the Electrical and Computer Engineering or Industrial and Systems Engineering departments at USC, with a strong interest in AI algorithms and systems. Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or its territories.
- How to Apply: Submit the online Graduate Application for Admission, scanned transcripts, and all required test scores and supplemental materials by December 15. Potential awardees are selected by a faculty committee from the pool of eligible admitted students. Video interview and Statement of Purpose may be required for students who are selected as finalists
- Additional opportunities: USC-Meta Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in bi-annual Center workshops, research projects, mentoring options with USC faculty and senior PhD students, and regular industry interactions
This scholarship is available to students who have been admitted to the Master of Science in Health Systems Management. Students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM fields are encouraged to apply.
- Award Amount: $10,000-$50,000 in total towards the tuition and fees while enrolled in the program.
- Eligibility: Students that reside in the United States who intend to apply their knowledge toward the benefit of US hospitals and healthcare providers. Financial need will be considered.
- How to Apply: Submit the online Graduate Application for Admission, scanned transcripts, and all required test scores and supplemental materials by scholarship deadline date. If selected as a candidate, you will be notified via email.
ISI welcomes enthusiastic, qualified graduate students and highly talented undergraduates as paid interns in our Marina del Rey, California and Arlington, Virginia offices. Interns are able to join in groundbreaking research in lively, intellectually stimulating environs. They work on specific projects with our senior research leaders and their teams, have the opportunity to attend lectures and study groups, and may also mentor others.
- Award Amount: Varies
- Eligibility:Must be an on-campus, full-time student (U.S. citizen or International)
Most internships are awarded to CS or EE majors, but students from other engineering disciplines may be considered if they are appropriate for a specific position - How to Apply: For more details and to apply, visit the ISI SIP page.
The Viterbi Admission and Student Engagement office is pleased to offer a merit based scholarships for Viterbi Master’s students who were admitted to their Master’s via the Viterbi Progressive Degree Program (PDP). Submit the application form and review additional information on the PDP Scholarship Application Page.
The USC Viterbi Active Duty Military Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for outstanding U.S. military students serving full-time on active duty status within any of the U.S. military branches who are pursuing a USC Viterbi master’s degree or graduate certificate program online via DEN@Viterbi or on USC's campus. Scholarship recipients must receive partial, or no, military funding and/or tuition reimbursement funds from their employer. Awards are partial scholarships ranging from 1-4 units of tuition.
Fall 2025 USC Viterbi Active Duty Military Scholarship Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 by 23:59pm PT
DEN@VITERBI STUDENTS
DEN@Viterbi Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for outstanding students pursuing a master’s program online via DEN@Viterbi while pursuing full-time employment. Scholarship recipients must pursue their entire program online via DEN@Viterbi and receive partial, or no, tuition reimbursement funds from their employer. Awards are partial scholarships ranging from 1-4 units of tuition. Please see the DEN@Viterbi Scholarship for full details on qualifications, instructions and the application.
Fall 2025 DEN@Viterbi Scholarship Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 23:59pm PT
This scholarship is available to students who have been admitted to the Master of Science in Health Systems Management. Students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM fields are encouraged to apply.
- Award Amount: $10,000-$50,000 in total towards the tuition and fees while enrolled in the program.
- Eligibility: Students that reside in the United States who intend to apply their knowledge toward the benefit of US hospitals and healthcare providers. Financial need will be considered.
- How to Apply: Submit the online Graduate Application for Admission and your scanned transcripts by scholarship deadline date. All other supplemental materials required for the program(s) to which you are applying, such as Letters of Recommendation, must be submitted by the application deadline date. If selected as a candidate, you will be notified via email.
The USC Viterbi Active Duty Military Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for outstanding U.S. military students serving full-time on active duty status within any of the U.S. military branches who are pursuing a USC Viterbi master’s degree or graduate certificate program online via DEN@Viterbi or on USC's campus. Scholarship recipients must receive partial, or no, military funding and/or tuition reimbursement funds from their employer. Awards are partial scholarships ranging from 1-4 units of tuition.
Fall 2025 USC Viterbi Active Duty Military Scholarship Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 23:59pm PT
Academically qualified Chevron employees may earn 25% tuition assistance at USC when pursuing one of the following programs: MS in Petroleum Engineering, MS or Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering (Digital Oilfield Technologies), MS in Petroleum Engineering (Geoscience Technologies), or a Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering (Unconventional Resources). *25% of tuition only (does not cover books).
If awarded, 25% of the tuition will be covered by the USC Viterbi Petroleum Engineering Department and 75% covered by Chevron. Please be sure to review the flyer below and submit your application to be considered as awards are limited.
Alumni of Viterbi Master’s programs earned via DEN@Viterbi who return to complete a second Master’s degree are eligible for this program which enables them to:
- Waive the Graduate Application Fee
- Waive the GRE requirement (we will use your previous scores)
- Transfer one applicable course from your previous USC Master’s degree
- By maintaining a 3.0 GPA throughout the program, students will be eligible for the Dean’s Alumni Fellowship of 3 units to be awarded their final semester
Please complete the Viterbi Squared Interest Form before submitting your application for admission or applying for Limited student status.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
USC Academic & International Fellowships
Competitive international and national fellowships can be an incredible way to enhance your knowledge in your area of study, while also giving you a competitive edge on any graduate programs you may apply to in the future. Although there are numerous academic fellowships available, those described on the site are among the most recognized and substantial awards. Fellowships are available to support research, study at a foreign university, teach English or take part in an internship abroad. We support a variety of programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD)
This scholarship is intended to increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in STEM fields, by recruiting a diverse applicant pool. GFSD team is intended to help and support you in your graduate education or in your internships.
Asian Pacific Alumni Association Scholarship
The USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association (APAA) Scholarship Program was created to award scholarships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Southern California. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, personal merit, demonstration of financial need and contributions made to Asian Pacific American communities.
Black Alumni Association Scholarship
Applicants for awards must be incoming freshman or continuing USC and/or transfer students. They must be planning to enroll in full-time, undergraduate or graduate courses of study. The minimum cumulative G.P.A. for this scholarship is 2.5. Applicants should exemplify commitment and identification with the African-American community. Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic and personal merit and demonstrated involvement within the African-American community.
Lambda Gay & Lesbian Alumni Associate Scholarship
The USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association’s main purpose is to provide scholarships to incoming, undergraduate, and graduate USC students who show a commitment to the LGBT community, regardless of gender or sexual identity.
The scholarship is for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at USC who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Latino/Hispanic community.
Phi Beta Kappa Alumni in Southern California International Scholarship Award
The Alpha Association annually sponsors a scholarship program that includes both International Scholarships, awarded to deserving foreign students currently engaged in graduate study in Southern California, and Graduate Study Awards, given to a recently initiated member of each Southern California Phi Beta Kappa chapter who, in the opinion of the chapter, has achieved an impressive undergraduate record and is committed to a graduate program.
The purpose of the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund is to assist U.S. citizen/permanent resident students with high financial need who demonstrate an extraordinary level of community awareness in their pursuit of higher education at USC. First-generation college students and local area applicants are given primary consideration in the scholarship selection process. However, please note that the scholarship is not limited to these populations.
Town and Gown of USC is proud to offer over 175 merit based scholarships – totaling close to $1,300,000 – to deserving incoming freshmen and current undergraduate, and graduate students.
USC Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans
The Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans provides scholarships for full-time undergraduate and graduate engineering, business, and medical students who have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces and served a minimum of three years of continuous, full-time, active duty since 2003.
Who is Eligible
- Incoming and continuing undergraduate and graduate students in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the Marshall School of Business, or the Keck School of Medicine. Includes transfer students from an accredited community college or other 4-year institution. Must be admitted and enrolled immediately in engineering, business, or medical school courses on a full-time basis.
- All candidates must have received an honorable discharge from the US Armed Forces and served a minimum of three years, continuous, full-time, active duty since 2003.
How to Apply
Newly admitted and continuing engineering students must submit the following information for scholarship consideration:
- current resume
- proof of honorable discharge
- summary of active duty deployment
Scholarship Application Check List
- Complete the USC Viterbi Graduate Application Process
- Review the application full details and complete the application on The Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans page.
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- Available to students in multiple countries
- The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States.
- The Fulbright Foreign Student Program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide. Approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year.
- The Fulbright Program for Foreign Students is administered by binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies.
Program eligibility and selection procedures vary widely by country.
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT)
- Available to Mexican citizens
- Scholarships for Mexican students who wish to pursue graduate studies in science and technology
- Tuition for Master only in priority areas, up to an annual maximum of $ 300,000.00 (three hundred thousand pesos MN) or its equivalent in US dollars
- Frequently Asked Questions
National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT)
- Available to Chilean citizens
- Goal: To help increase the number of researchers and professionals with high qualifications in all areas of knowledge for the development of Chile and its active participation in the globalized world.
- Specifically for Master’s Scholarships Abroad for Professional Education
- www.conicyt.cl
- Available to Vietnamese citizens
- The VEF Fellowship provides financial support, which is cost-shared by U.S. universities, for a graduate degree program in the United States in the fields of sciences (natural, physical, and environmental), engineering, mathematics, medicine (including public health), and technology (including information technology).
- Final approval of all Fellowship candidates is made by the VEF Board of Directors.
- Available to Chinese citizens
The objective of the CSC is to provide financial assistance to Chinese citizens wishing to study abroad. - China Scholarship Council is financed mainly by the states’ special appropriations for scholarship programs. At the same time the CSC accepts donations from the personages, enterprises, social organizations and other organizations at home and abroad.
- www.en.csc.edu.cn
- Available to Russian citizens
- Get up to 6 900 000 ₽ for tuition and accommodation expenses (depending on the educational program)
- USC is on the list of approved schools
- Registration
Organization of American States
- Available to citizens of many Latin America and Caribbean countries
- The Rowe Fund is an educational loan program of the Organization of American States (OAS) that helps citizens from Latin America and Caribbean OAS Member States finance their studies or research in accredited universities across the United States by awarding interest-free loans of up to $15,000 dollars.
- By financing a portion of their studies in the United States, the Rowe Fund helps students complete their education while at the same time fostering cultural diversity, friendship, and communication among the people of the Americas. Rowe Fund loans include:
- Deferred repayment while in school
- No application or processing fees
- Applications are accepted and reviewed year-round and at any time during the studies in the U.S.
- Funding is sent directly to the student after approval
- Loan application form and instructions
Graduate students are encouraged to apply for external funding — funds from sources not affiliated with USC. Sponsors range from government agencies to corporations and private institutions. Funds may be limited to a single year of enrollment or may be renewable for multiple years and may be paid to the student or directly to the university. It is important for recipients to thoroughly understand the terms and conditions of such fellowships when planning for graduate studies. For more information about external fellowships, please visit awardsdatabase.usc.edu.
Pathways to Science Fellowship Listings
Fellowships and graduate programs in a wide variety of STEM disciplines.
Computing Research Association (CRA) Graduate Cohort for Women
At the Graduate Cohort Workshop, women graduate students in their first year of graduate school are welcomed into the community of computing researchers and professionals by providing them with a broad range of strategies and role models. Travel expenses, meals and lodging will be provided for students chosen to participate in this program.
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) Scholarship
Scholarships for Mexican students who wish to pursue graduate studies in science and technology. Tuition for Master’s programs only in priority areas, up to an annual maximum of $ 300,000.00 (three hundred thousand pesos MN) or its equivalent in U.S. dollars. CONACyT awardees who have been offered admission to a Master of Science program in the Viterbi School of Engineering are eligible to receive an additional scholarship from the Viterbi School. Amount awarded will be a maximum of $5,000 USD per year, for two years.
Education for Sustainable Energy Development (ESED) Scholarship
The purpose of the ESED scholarship is to support outstanding Master’s students pursuing advanced studies in sustainable energy development and to encourage meaningful contributions to the collective body of knowledge about this subject.
A competitive scholarship that provides funding for students from Angola to pursue a Master’s degree in the geosciences at a university in the U.S. or the U.K.
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the opportunity to compete for Fulbright Student Fellowships for graduate study in the United States leading to a Master’s degree or a Ph.D.
GEM Minority Student Fellowships
The National GEM Consortium’s primary focus is to administer and award fellowships with paid internships to highly qualified under-represented students who wish to pursue graduate studies in engineering or science.
The Great Minds in STEM Scholars has awarded over $5.6M in scholarships to over 2,000 college students since 2001. The intent of the GMiS Scholars Program is to increase the persistence to graduation among underrepresented and underserved STEM college students. The financial support helps these students focus on their coursework so they can graduate on time, enter a STEM profession, continue to serve as a role model for future generations, and secure the country's place as the finest technological leader in the world.
Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
Open to female students enrolled in a Computer Science or Computer Engineering program
Jewish Vocational Service Scholarship
For Jewish scholars exhibiting financial need in the Los Angeles area.
The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Supports thirty individuals a year for up to two years of graduate study in any subject. Students already in graduate study are eligible, though not past their second year.
P.E.O. Scholarships for California Women
P.E.O. is a philathropic organization for women founded in 1869 by seven young college women as one of the pioneer societies for women. Since then, the organization has grown across the United States and Canada, and assists thousands of women in realizing their educational dreams and goals.
National Science Foundation (NSF) – Graduate Research Fellowship
The Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based Master’s or doctoral degrees and is intended for students who are in the early stages of their graduate study.
National Water Research Institute (NWRI) Fellowships
NWRI is offering a number of fellowships to graduate students (Masters and Ph.D.) at U.S. universities conducting research in the areas of water resources, treatment and policy.
Science, Mathematics & Research Transformation (SMART) Scholarship
Open to US citizens in exchange for job placement with Department of Defense upon graduation. Full tuition and related education expenses covered.
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Fellowships
The Fellowship award provides partial tuition support, an annual stipend for living expenses, and a research stipend for full-time graduate study and thesis/dissertation research at a U.S. academic institution for three years, in the fields of engineering, math and science.