2026-2027 OSC Scholarship Application

March 20, 2026
OSC Scholarships

It’s that time of year!  Application for OSC’s upcoming 2026-2027 academic year departmental scholarships is now available. The application deadline for all OSC scholarships is March 30, 2026, at 11:59pm.  This is the single largest scholarship opportunity for students as these scholarships are provided by generous OSC donors and are only available to OSC students. 
 

Who should apply?

All degree-seeing on-campus OSC students!  If you will be an active student in an on-campus OSC undergraduate or graduate program next academic year (26-27), then you are eligible.
 

How many scholarships available?

24 cash scholarships are available for application, with over $150K in total funds being awarded.  The single-largest individual award is $10K, and the average award is ~$3,500.  
 

What types of scholarship are available?

A variety of scholarships are available!  Some are dedicated to student involvement in clubs/ extracurriculars, support for women in optics, financial need, and various research interests including: General Optics; Optical Engineering, Optical Design; Thin Films, E-M Theory; Polarization Optics; Nonlinear Photonic Devices and Materials; Thin Film Devices and/or Light Shaping Optics/ Non-Imaging Optics; Optical Lithography, Optical Coatings; Classical Optics; Quantum Optics, etc.
 

How to Apply?

The online application process is quick! A single common OSC application is used to apply students to multiple scholarships in which they are eligible!  Application takes place via Scholarship Universe (SU), UA’s official scholarship management system.  Be sure that your SU student profile is complete and up to date before completing the application (IMPORTANT!).  
 

Helpful Tips and Resources:

Attached are two documents to assist you with the application process, including: 

  1. 26-27 OSC Scholarship Application Guidelines (pay attention to Question tips!)

  2. ) List of all OSC Scholarship Requirements  

These documents are also available for download via the OSC website HERE.  Helpful UA Scholarship Universe instructional videos along with information on live zoom workshops is available HERE.
 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 

  • Be sure that your SU profile question responses are updated to reflect your status for the upcoming 26-27 academic year (i.e. grade level, research, GPA, etc.).  Even returning students need to update their responses, including to these questions due to recent system updates:
    • What major(s) are you currently admitted to or enrolled in at the University of Arizona (UA)?: Select either Optical Sciences & Engineering (BS), Optical Sciences (MS) or Optical Sciences (PhD).
    • Which University of Arizona (UA) college(s) are you currently admitted to or enrolled in?:  Select “James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences (replaced Optical Sciences).
  • If you are a graduating senior who plans to start an OSC graduate program next year in 26-27, be sure that your SU profile reflects that you will be a graduate student.  If not, you will not be matched to graduate student scholarship(s). AMP students who completed the BS degree should select MS as major.
  • Some scholarships require demonstrated financial need, which is determined by completion of a 26-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), for U.S. citizens. You can complete ethe free FAFSA application at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
  • A couple of available scholarships support students who have a demonstrated interested in advancing women in STEM and Optics. If you meet this requirement, be sure to answer YES to the Scholarship Universe profile matching Question”:
    • “Can you demonstrate your interest and effort in promoting women in the fields or science, technology, engineering and math?”