NDSS Symposium Fellowship

This year, for the first time, we are running a full fellowship program to give you a richer and more rewarding experience before, during, and after the NDSS Symposium 2025.

Our goal is to help you understand why the Internet Society hosts Network and Distributed System Security (NDSS) Symposium and funds the program and also to equip you with skills and contacts that will help you take the next steps in your network and distributed systems security career, whether that is in academia, government, civil society, or the private sector.

About the Fellowship

With this program, we aim to encourage students from diverse communities to actively participate in the NDSS Symposium while bridging the gap between research and advocacy.

The NDSS Symposium 2025 will take place from 24-28 February 2025 in San Diego, California. Student fellowships are available to help full-time students participate in person in NDSS Symposium 2025. Student fellowships will be awarded on a case-by-case basis.

Student fellowships will be awarded by the NDSS Student Support Committee, and the fellowship program will be delivered by the Internet Society. The fellowship package includes:

• One full registration to the NDSS Symposium
• A pre-symposium webinar to introduce you to the Internet Society’s mission and its fellowship team (approx. 1 hour)
• A short series of training sessions with a communications professional, with a concluding assignment
• A welcome package on arrival at the NDSS Symposium
• Introductions to local Internet Society chapter representatives
• A follow-up webinar in mid-2025, with NDSS stakeholders and sponsors
• A contribution towards travel and accommodation costs, depending on your place of study
• Membership of the Internet Society’s global network of Fellowship Alumni

How will the student fellowship awards be determined?

Considerations for recipients of student support funds will include:

• Evidence of serious interest and aptitude in the security field, as demonstrated by coursework and/or projects and research experience.
• Evidence of community leadership interests and skills, as demonstrated by engagement with the broader community.
• Evidence of mentoring and teaching beyond standard academic responsibilities and roles, especially helping peers or supporting fellow students of any grade to learn about security topics.
• Evidence of collaboration and teamwork activities, especially as applied to problems in the security field.
• Identified benefits from attendance and participation, particularly how participating in the symposium could shape the student’s future studies and/or research.
• Demonstrated potential as an emerging security researcher who could contribute to the published content at future NDSS symposia.
• Proof of enrollment in a security-related program at a college/university.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Candidates must be:

• Graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in a computer security-related program at a college or university anywhere in the world, and
• Proficient in English.

How to Apply

Applications are now closed.

You will need to submit the following documents online, as a single PDF or Zip file:

• A completed online student fellowship application
• Proof of student status: a letter from your department stating that you are a student, OR a copy of your current transcript
• A brief CV or resume
• A personal statement including why you believe you would benefit from attending the NDSS Symposium, a brief statement of research interests, and areas reflected in the NDSS Symposium program that would impact your research. Please limit this to 1-2 paragraphs.

NOTE: All documents must be uploaded in a SINGLE PDF or Zip file. If you upload multiple files by mistake, please email [email protected], as you will not be able to re-upload.

What to Expect

1. Engaging curriculum
2. Opportunities to engage with relevant stakeholders 
3. Contribute to knowledge base of shared NDSS Symposium and Internet Society goals in line with our Action Plan
4. Join a community of diverse voices supporting an Internet that is open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy.

The student fellowships include pre-conference workshops scheduled in early 2025 and travel support. Student travel support covers the NDSS Symposium registration fees for 2025. Some travel expenses may also be covered on a reimbursement basis. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Key Dates

2025 Cohort

Program Partners

Want to become a sponsor of the NDSS Symposium Fellowship? Let’s talk!