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Women's Immersion Academy

To help fill the skills gap, the SANS Institute created the SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academy, an intensive, accelerated training program that provides SANS world-class training and GIAC certifications to quickly and effectively launch careers in cybersecurity. SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academies are 100% scholarship-based, at no cost to participants. A United States Cyber Academy program.

The Application Process

Interested candidates should follow the application process below.
  • Complete a web application form.
  • Your application will be reviewed, and an online assessment sent within three days.
  • Complete the online assessment within five days. (unless otherwise specified)
  • Submit supporting documents to complete your application.
  • Participate in a phone interview.
  • All candidates receive notification of acceptance or denial, the notification timeframe is dependent on the volume of applications.
  • The application process is a competitive process. You must be invited to each of the stages listed above.

For questions about the SANS Cyber Immersion Academies, applications, or process please contact academies@sans.org.



2023 Women's Immersion Academy Timeline

June
June 1 - Application Window Opens
June
June 30 – Application Window Closes
Sept.
September 18 – Training Begins
May
May 5, 2024 – Program Completion

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Senior in college; preferably pursuing a degree in a Computer/IT-related field or technical STEM discipline.
  • College graduate OR career changers currently not working in the information security field or with prior work experience from the information security field.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident (Green card holder) currently residing in the U.S.
  • Graduates currently pursuing or having achieved a Master's or Ph.D. in information security are not eligible to apply.

  • If you are currently working in the information security field, or with prior work experience from the information security field, including risk & compliance, auditing, security governance, security awareness, information security program/ project management, and similar, you are not eligible to apply.

Note: Transitioning military service members, active members of the reserves forces, US Coast Guard members, and military veterans less than 10 years out of the military service cannot apply. Applicants in these categories are encouraged to apply to the VetSuccess Immersion Academy instead.

Curriculum

The first course you take will be SEC275 Foundations & GFACT Certification
The second course you will take is SEC401 Security Essentials & GSEC Certification
The third and final course you will take is SEC504 Incident Handling & GCIH Certification
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"Participating in the SANS Academy has been nothing short of life changing." - Xena Olsen, Cyber Threat Intel Analyst, Fortune 500 Financial Services Firm

Employer Partners

Meet, interview, and potentially hire academy graduates

Non-Profit Partners

Engage in ways ranging from funding and executing their own academy, to helping expand the impact of existing SANS programs with additional resources.