Security scholarships up for grabs

Security training organisation (ISC)2 has announced that it has eight scholarships to give to post-grads involved in information security research.

One-year scholarships of up to £6,250 each will be awarded to up to eight full-time post-graduate information security students, at any regionally accredited university worldwide, said an (ISC)2 press release. The submission deadline is April 30, 2008.

However, the bar is quite high for gaining the scholarships. To apply, candidates must submit a scholarship application form, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, three character references and a proposed budget for using the scholarship funds. Students must also include a certified statement from their faculty advisor or institution confirming that:

· The applicant is a post-graduate student in good standing in the institution and with the relevant department;

· The applicant is pursuing a defined information security research project that has been approved by their college or university;

· The applicant’s research supervisor must also submit a letter of endorsement reflecting the character of the individual and the projected timeline to project completion.

At the time of writing, (ISC)2 was unavailable for comment, but I put a question to them as to why the entry criteria were so stringent, especially the multiple character references: Is it to keep crackers out?