106 
ment, the scholarship recipient may fulfill such em-
ployment obligation in a full-time position in another 
Federal agency with administrative jurisdiction over 
programs relating to the marine environment that is 
approved by the Administrator. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—In order to be eligible 
for a scholarship under the Program, an individual 
must— 
(1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a 
full-time graduate student at an institution of higher 
education in an academic program and field of study 
described in the list made available under subsection 
(d); 
(2) be a United States citizen or national or a 
permanent resident of the United States; and 
(3) at the time of the initial scholarship award, 
not be an employee of the Administration. 
(d) ELIGIBLE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND FIELDS OF 
STUDY.—The Administrator shall make publicly available 
a list of academic programs and fields of study for which 
scholarships under this section may be used, and shall up-
date the list as necessary. 
(e) COMPETITIVE AWARD PROCESS.—
107 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Under the Program, the Ad-
ministrator shall award scholarships to individuals 
who are selected through a competitive process— 
(A) under which awards are made pri-
marily on the basis of academic merit; 
(B) in which consideration is given to pro-
moting the participation in the Program by in-
dividuals referred to in section 33 or 34 of the 
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b); and 
(C) in which consideration may be given to 
financial need. 
(2) APPLICATION.—An individual seeking a 
scholarship under this section shall submit an appli-
cation to the Administrator at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information, agree-
ments, or assurances as the Administrator may re-
quire. 
(f) SCHOLARSHIP LIMITS.— 
(1) NUMBER OF ACADEMIC YEARS.—An indi-
vidual may not receive a scholarship under this sec-
tion for a masters degree program for more than 2 
academic years, or for a doctorate program for more 
than 4 academic years, except as specifically author-
ized by a waiver issued by the Administrator.
108 
(2) DOLLAR AMOUNT.—The dollar amount of a 
scholarship under this section shall not exceed the 
cost of attendance, as such cost is determined in ac-
cordance with section 472 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087). 
(3) USE.—Amounts received as a scholarship 
under this section may be expended only for tuition, 
fees, and other expenses authorized by regulations 
issued by the Administrator. 
(4) PAYMENT
OF
SCHOLARSHIP
AMOUNTS.— 
The Administrator may enter into a contractual 
agreement with an institution of higher education 
with respect to which a scholarship is provided 
under this section, under which the amounts pro-
vided as the scholarship for tuition, fees, and other 
authorized expenses are paid directly to the institu-
tion. 
(g) PERIOD OF SERVICE UNDER EMPLOYMENT OB-
LIGATION.— 
(1) GENERAL REQUIREMENT.—Except as pro-
vided in subsection (i)(2), the period of service for 
which an individual shall be obligated to serve as an 
employee of the Administration pursuant to this sec-
tion shall be determined by the Administrator in ac-
cordance with subsection (b)(2).
109 
(2) BEGINNING OF SERVICE.— 
(A) GENERAL RULE.—Except as provided 
in subparagraph (B), obligated service under 
subsection (b)(2) shall begin not later than 60 
days after the date on which individual obtains 
the educational degree for which the scholarship 
was provided. 
(B) DEFERRAL.—The Administrator may 
defer the beginning of obligated service under 
subsection (b)(2) if the Administrator deter-
mines that such a deferral is appropriate. The 
Administrator shall by regulation prescribe the 
terms and conditions under which a service obli-
gation may be deferred under this subpara-
graph. 
(h) REPAYMENT.— 
(1) FAILURE TO PERFORM ACADEMICALLY.— 
(A) BREACH OF OBLIGATION.—A recipient 
of a scholarship under this section shall be in 
breach of the recipient’s contractual agreement 
under this section if the recipient— 
(i) fails to maintain a high level of 
academic standing, as defined by the Ad-
ministrator by regulation;