Scholarships

Applications open: January 12, 2026 – March 2, 2026

Application notifications: April 2026

Recipient acceptance form completion deadline: Early May 2026

Funds distributed:

• Academic scholarships: June 2025
• IFT FIRST Travel scholarships: May 2025

IFT FIRST: July 12-15, 2026

How can I get help with the application process?

• Contact the ISTS Program Support Team at [email protected].
• For the PepsiCo and IFT Academic and FIRST Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship, contact [email protected].

Can I use my application from last year?

• No, you must submit a new application every year.

Can I apply for more than one scholarship?

• Yes, you can apply for multiple scholarships with one application. You’ll be considered for all scholarships you qualify for, but you can only receive one.

Am I eligible if I graduate in December during the 2026–2027 academic year?

• Yes, you are eligible to apply.

What types of transcripts are acceptable?

• Any transcript is acceptable—printed, scanned, official, or unofficial—as long as it's accurate and legible. Winners may be asked to provide official transcripts to verify their GPA.

Who selects the scholarship recipients?

• A team of professional jurors from ISTS ensures a fair and unbiased selection process.

Do I need to be an IFT member to apply?

• No, but you must show a commitment to food sciences, which can include IFT membership.

Can I use the scholarship for expenses other than tuition?

• No, scholarships must be used for tuition or other direct educational expenses.

Can international students apply?

• Travel scholarships: Yes, open to international students.
• Undergraduate academic scholarships: Yes, open to students at approved IFT-HERB institutions around the globe (except for the gateway non-HERB scholarships).
• Graduate students: Yes, if pursuing a degree in food sciences.

General Policies

• Scholarship winners must forfeit their scholarship if they withdraw from school, graduate early, or change their research program.
• All applications must be in English.
• Unofficial transcripts can be used for applications, but official transcripts may be requested to verify your GPA.

Conflict of Interest:

All scholarship candidates and sponsors must disclose to the Feeding Tomorrow Fund of IFT in writing any and all actual or potential conflicts of interest, including but not limited to those listed below, which may compromise the integrity of the program.

IFT may, in its sole discretion, refuse to accept or cancel a scholarship award if an actual or perceived conflict of interest exists. Potential conflicts of interest include:

1. Scholarship Candidate is a close familial relative (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece or first cousin) of the Sponsor (or any member or employee of Sponsor) selecting the candidate; 
2. Scholarship Candidate or Sponsor solicits, provides or accepts any compensation or other consideration in exchange for the nomination;
3. Scholarship Candidate is a current or former employee or board member of the Sponsor or Institute of Food Technologists; or
4. Scholarship Candidate engages in any conduct that may reflect negatively upon the Feeding Tomorrow Fund or Institute of Food Technologists.

Disclaimer:

All Feeding Tomorrow Fund academic scholarship award funds will be applied to recipient’s tuition, educational fees, or educational expenses required by the university. These funds shall be disbursed to student tuition accounts. The academic scholarships are based on merit and not on financial need. 

All Feeding Tomorrow Fund travel scholarship award funds will be disbursed to the student directly to be applied to costs associated with travel to the IFT Annual Meeting and Expo. The student recipient may be required to claim this travel scholarship as income and be asked to submit at 1099 to the Feeding Tomorrow Fund. 

Scholarships may not be sold, transferred or assigned and are not convertible to cash. 

Scholarship candidates must comply with all applicable enrollment and registration deadlines published by the university. 

Any false statements or misrepresentations made by the scholarship applicants may be grounds for discipline in, or dismissal from, Feeding Tomorrow Fund scholarship program(s). 

Academic scholarships are disbursed at the start of the academic year, in full, and at the university discretion may be allocated across one or all terms or semesters. 

If awarded, recipients of both academic and travel scholarships are required to provide a photograph, brief biographical statement, and thank you letter to the donor(s). 

If awarded, proof of acceptance into the academic program may be required.