(a)
(A) who is pursuing a doctoral degree in computer science or electrical or computer engineering at an accredited institution of higher education; and
(B) who enters into an agreement with the Secretary as described in subsection (b).
(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary may provide financial assistance under this section to an individual for up to five years.
(B) The Secretary may waive the limitation under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is appropriate.
(b)
(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the period of obligated service for a recipient of financial assistance under this section shall be the period determined by the Secretary as being appropriate to obtain adequate service in exchange for the financial assistance and otherwise to achieve the goals set forth in section 7901(a) of this title. In no event may the period of service required of a recipient be less than the period equal to the total period of pursuit of a degree for which the Secretary agrees to provide the recipient with financial assistance under this section. The period of obligated service is in addition to any other period for which the recipient is obligated to serve on active duty or in the civil service, as the case may be.
(3) An agreement entered into under this section by a person pursuing a doctoral degree shall include terms that provide the following:
(A) That the period of obligated service begins on a date after the award of the degree that is determined under the regulations prescribed under section 7906 of this title.
(B) That the individual will maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined in accordance with those regulations, and that failure to maintain such progress constitutes grounds for termination of the financial assistance for the individual under this section.
(C) Any other terms and conditions that the Secretary determines appropriate for carrying out this section.
(c)
(A) the tuition and fees of the individual; and
(B) $1,500 to the individual each month (including a month between academic semesters or terms leading to the degree for which such assistance is provided or during which the individual is not enrolled in a course of education but is pursuing independent research leading to such degree) for books, laboratory expenses, and expenses of room and board.
(2) In no case may the amount of assistance provided for an individual under this section for an academic year exceed $50,000.
(3) In no case may the total amount of assistance provided for an individual under this section exceed $200,000.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, financial assistance paid an individual under this section shall not be considered as income or resources in determining eligibility for, or the amount of benefits under, any Federal or federally assisted program.
(d)
(2) The Secretary may establish, by regulations, procedures for determining the amount of the repayment required under this subsection and the circumstances under which an exception to the required repayment may be granted.
(3) An obligation to repay the Secretary under this subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owed the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 does not discharge a person from such debt if the discharge order is entered less than five years after the date of the termination of the agreement or contract on which the debt is based.
(e)
(f)
(2) An internship under this subsection shall not be counted toward satisfying a period of obligated service under this section.
(g)
(Added Pub. L. 109–461, title IX, §903(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3460.)
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Last modified: October 26, 2015