NEXT Innovation Scholars

By enrolling in NIS, current and incoming UC students with two or more years left in a full-time bachelor’s program commit to upholding the highest personal and professional standards:

• Dedicate 4-6 hours per week to NIS meetings, projects, mentorship and representation
• Leadership roles: Devote 8-15 hours per week to NIS activities
• Maintain at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA and full-time student status
• Actively and professionally participate in all required meetings, projects and activities
• Meet deadlines, complete assigned work and respond promptly to communications
• Always demonstrate leadership, collaboration, accountability and professionalism
• Contribute to a supportive, engaged cohort community and represent NIS with excellence

Program participation and scholarship eligibility are reviewed annually, and year one is provisional. Failure to meet academic and professional standards may lead to loss of scholarship or removal.

NIS recognizes circumstances such as co-op placement, study abroad and medical emergencies. Students must proactively communicate with program leadership to maintain proper standing.

Admittance to NEXT Innovation Scholars is highly competitive by design. Applications open each fall, with new cohorts announced in the spring and scholarships and programming starting the following academic year.

Strong academics matter, but they’re just the starting point. Our students are:

• Curious and adaptable, with an interest in learning beyond a single discipline
• Collaborative, prioritizing shared outcomes over individual recognition
• Action-oriented, willing to carry ideas through to execution
• Professional, self-aware, and open to feedback
• Thoughtful about innovation and its role in shaping the modern world

Applications for the 2026-2027 NIS cohort are now closed. Students considering our next cohort should check back in Fall 2026 and follow NIS on social media for updates.