OpenFieldUCF Presidential Doctoral Fellowship & Full Tuition Remission
UCF's highest institutional graduate merit award, offered to new incoming doctoral applicants exhibiting exceptional academic promise, research output, and leadership.
University of Central Florida: Optics, Space Science & Computer Science Portal
The University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando is an elite public research university (R1 Carnegie Classification) and the nation's premier talent pipeline for aerospace (NASA Kennedy Space Center), optics and photonics (CREOL), modeling and simulation, and computer science.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Master of Science in Optics and Photonics (CREOL)
World-leading graduate program at CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, covering laser engineering, fiber-optic telecom, quantum optics, nanophotonics, and optical materials.
Ph.D. in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Fellowship
Doctoral program at UCF's Center for Research in Computer Vision (CRCV) and AI labs, exploring video analysis, multimodal LLMs, cybersecurity, and distributed computing.
Florida Space Institute Planetary Science & Lunar Simulant Project
Interdisciplinary space science project analyzing lunar and asteroidal regolith simulants, space resource in-situ utilization (ISRU), and rover wheel mechanics for Artemis missions.
NASA Kennedy Space Center Graduate Spaceport Engineering Internship
Competitive engineering co-op placement stationed directly at NASA Kennedy Space Center or nearby Space Coast contractors (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Blue Origin).
CREOL Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ultra-Fast Femtosecond Lasers
Two-year postdoctoral position developing high-average-power femtosecond laser amplifiers, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) frequency combs, and laser filamentation.
Assistant / Associate Professor in Cybersecurity & Trustworthy AI
Full-time tenure-track academic faculty opening in the Department of Computer Science, with access to UCF's National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Earned Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Earned Master's or outstanding Bachelor's degree with minimum 3.25 GPA and documented research capability in scientific or engineering domains.
- Language proficiency
- TOEFL iBT 89 overall (with minimum speaking score of 20) or IELTS Academic 6.5 overall.
- Research statement / Proposal
- Doctoral statement of research objectives (500–1,000 words) specifying alignment with CREOL, Space Sciences, or CECS research labs.
- Application fee
- $31 non-refundable graduate application fee.
- Required documentation
- Official academic transcripts, resume/CV, three letters of recommendation, and statement of academic intent.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
In-state graduate tuition is approximately $369 per credit hour ($8,800/year). Out-of-state and international graduate tuition is approximately $1,194 per credit hour ($28,650/year). Doctoral students in STEM disciplines typically receive full tuition waivers and annual graduate assistantship stipends ($22,000–$32,000).
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at University of Central Florida:
Prof. Dr. Mubarak Shah
Trustee Chair Professor & Founding Director of Center for Research in Computer Vision (CRCV) · Computer Vision, Video Surveillance, Visual AI, Deep Learning Video Analysis
Prof. Dr. Peter J. Delfyett
Pegasus Professor & University Distinguished Professor of Optics (CREOL) · Semiconductor Mode-Locked Lasers, Optical Frequency Combs, Coherent Optical Communications, Ultrafast Optics
Dr. Addie Dove
Associate Professor of Physics & Planetary Sciences · Planetary Regolith, Lunar Dust Dynamics, Microgravity Experiments, Space Exploration Instrumentation
Important verification note
Facts reflect official University of Central Florida documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue