Now here’s a great opportunity for any female student of colour who wants to take their studies one step further to work in the cybersecurity sector.
KnowBe4 Women is now inviting as many eager and passionate students to apply for its Cybersecurity Scholarship.
This is a great way for any ideal candidate who wants to grow their academic career but lacks the financial means to do so.
If you think that this is a great idea and consider this your next step, then you need to apply right away. Below is a guide we’ve provided on exactly how the applications work.
Closing Date
The KnowBe4 Women Cybersecurity Scholarship application period will end on 19 September 2022.
Please make sure to submit your application and any other supporting materials by this date.
Your application won’t be taken into account by the bursary provider if you don’t do this.
What Is This Scholarship About?
The world’s largest platform for simulated phishing attacks and security awareness training is offered by KnowBe4, Inc. KnowBe4 offers employee training to help businesses manage the issue of social engineering and assist staff in making better security decisions by spotting warning signs of potential cybercrime.
There are currently offices for KnowBe4 in ten different nations, including South Africa, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Over 35,000 organizations worldwide presently use it.
Women of Color in Cybersecurity Scholarship applications are being accepted by KnowBe4, Inc. for the 2023 school year.
The scholarship will be given for undergraduate or graduate studies with a cybersecurity, information assurance, or a related topic as the primary focus (except for Ph.D. studies).
The Center for Cyber Safety and Education administers the prize, and applicants will be judged on three primary factors: passion, merit, and financial need.
Who Can Apply
As stated above, this scholarship will cater to applicants enrolling for undergraduate or graduate studies with a cybersecurity, information assurance, or a related topic as the primary focus (except for Ph.D. studies).
Before applying, candidates must meet the minimum entry requirements listed below (please note that if you do not meet all of the requirements, your application will not be considered):
- You must be a South African resident.
- Your identity must be that of a woman of color.
- You must be enrolled in or have already completed high school.
- You must be pursuing or planning to pursue a degree at the undergraduate level with an emphasis on cybersecurity, information assurance, or a related discipline.
- You must be enrolled in or plan to enroll in classes at a South African institution of higher learning that is recognized and approved (full-time or part-time, on campus or online).
What Does This Scholarship Cover?
The R110 000 scholarship will be given to one student and will be used to pay for their tuition, books, necessary electronics, and on-campus housing. The scholar’s institution will receive the reward directly.
A (ISC)2 Certification Education Package, which contains the following, will also be given to Scholars:
- 1 (ISC) 2 vouchers for certification exams (any (ISC) 2 certification examinations) Study guides (in digital or hard copy format).
- Practice exams (ISC).
- 2 Seminar for direct training (in person, instructor-led live online, or self-paced).
- Paid for the first year of membership (after passing the exam and becoming endorsed).
- Voucher for exams and education package (which can be claimed after graduation and will be valid for one year from the date of issue).
How To Apply
Applications for this scholarship are fairly easy. All you need to do is apply on the company’s website here. You will be required to register an account before you can log in and apply.
The following supporting documents must be sent in clear copies together with your online application (submitting these materials is required; if any are absent, your application may be rejected):
- Most recent unofficial transcripts from your institution, current or otherwise (on institutions letterhead)
- One recommendation letter (must include the following details: how long the referee has known the applicant and in what capacity, skills or abilities the applicant has that will assist them in completing a degree, any other information about the applicant that should be considered) (Academic references are preferred, but a letter from a professional would do)
- Academic resume (maximum 3 pages – no links to publications to be included)
- Answering these essay questions in no more than 250 words each must be done in the application:
- How do you differ from your contemporaries and why the scholarship should go to you
- Why do you require the scholarship?
- your educational and professional backgrounds
- Inspiration for studying cybersecurity and pursuing a career in the field (why you are a suitable candidate for success in information security and your goals for your professional career)
- How, once you have graduated and entered the workforce, you plan to “pay it forward” by assisting other women (who are enrolled in school, recent grads, or in the middle of a career shift) who are just entering the field
- Any past contributions you have made to the topic of cybersecurity (volunteer work, papers, etc.), as well as any interests outside of school and why you value them (no links to articles to be included)
Each year or semester, students must reapply for financing because the scholarship is a one-time gift.
Candidates will need access to a camera for this meeting since short-listed candidates will be expected to participate in a Zoom video interview with KnowBe4 (via computer, tablet or phone camera).
By no later than 30 November 2022, the chosen candidate will be notified; if you have not heard anything by then, please consider your application to have been unsuccessful.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about this scholarship, then you can get in touch with KnowBe4 through the following means:
Email: scholarships@isc2.org
Good luck with your application!