Computer Society for Students

Computer Society for Students
IEEE Computer Society for Students
How undergraduate and graduate students can leverage the IEEE Computer Society to build a career in computer science & engineering
Knowledge and Skills
Career Resources
Student Chapters
Student Awards & Scholarships
Why Should I Join a Professional Association?
The
IEEE Computer Society
connects computer science and engineering students to a global community driving innovations in technology today.
Its robust
Education & Career
resources give all students practical tools and expert guidance to strengthen their academic achievements and chart a professional path. The
IEEE Computer Society Student Membership
levels-up these advantages, unlocking exclusive access to
Scholarships, grants, and awards
Student chapter membership
and activities
Deep discounts on hundreds of
international conferences
Student competitions, including the
Global Student Video Challenge
and
IEEE GameSIG
A professional email address in the
computer.org
domain.
And: unlimited access to the
IEEE Computer Society Digital Library
and to
IEEE DataPort
, where you can store, access, and manage your research data.
An equally important benefit of student membership: it gives you the opportunity to begin contributing to your field now.
Many IEEE CS Fellows and Senior Members began their own contributions as student members, participating in activities in their local chapters, creating relationships that grew into life-long friendships, and volunteering at conferences and other CS events.
See the Full List of Benefits
Connect with a global community of computing professionals to fuel your career growth
Create a Powerful Network
When you join the IEEE Computer Society, you become part of a global community of more than 370,000 passion computing professionals. And any one connection might lead to many more.
To begin connecting, you can:
Volunteer at an
IEEE Computer Society conference
Attend a
local chapter meeting
Get involved in the
Student & Young Professionals Activities Committee
Leverage Scholarships, Awards, and Travel Grants
Each year, the IEEE Computer Society offers US$40,000 in student scholarships and awards through
Richard E. Merwin Scholarship
Lance Stafford Larson Paper Contest
Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society
These awards recognize undergraduate and graduate student members who show academic promise and/or are active in IEEE or IEEE Computer Society student chapters.
To support student members in building a pathway into their professions, many of the IEEE Computer Society’s
Technical Communities
(TCs) offer travel grants for students to attend conferences. Following are a few examples:
The TCs on
High-Performance Computing (TCHPC)
and
Parallel Processing (TCPP)
established the
HPC/TCPP Student Cohort (HPCSC
) to support accepted members with travel awards to attend
SC
one year and
IEEE International Parallel & Distributed Processing Symposium
IPDPS) the next year. The goal is to help students regularly engage with the HPC/TPP communities and enable ongoing interactions among cohort members, who range from undergraduate to late-stage doctoral candidates.
TCPP also offers conference
travel-assistance grants to student members
presenting papers at TCPP-sponsored conferences and various PhD forums.
The
TC on Learning Technologies
(TCLT) offers annual
student travel awards
to offset travel expenses for members presenting papers at the
International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies
(ICALT) or the
International Conference on Technology for Education (
T4E).
The
Quantum Technical Community
(QTC) offers
travel grants
for member and nonmember students of up to $1,000 to attend
IEEE Quantum Week
, whether or not they are presenting papers. QTC also offers up to $300 grants to cover registration costs for students attending the conference remotely
Countless Opportunities for Undergraduate & Graduate Students to Create Connections & Build Knowledge
Optimize Your Knowledge and Skills
As an IEEE CS student or graduate student member, you’ll have unlimited access to articles and cutting-edge research published in
Computer Society magazines
journals
, and
conference proceedings
by technology leaders in academia, industry, and government. To get an idea of the range, recent articles, papers, and videos published include the following:
Generative AI Is Breathing New Life into the Dead Internet Theory
” (
Computer
Machinery of Ethnic Cleansing: Punched Card Machines and the 1920 Greek Population Census
(IEEE Annals of the History of Computing)
AI Standards in the World of AI Agents
” (video, Standards Activities Board channel)
Cooperative Perception for Digital Twin Reconstruction
” (
Proc. IEEE Int’l Conf on Artificial Intelligence and eXtended Virtual Reality
You can also deepen your foundational learning by studying both
recognized
bodies of knowledge
for
software engineering
systems engineering
, and
enterprise IT
; and
industry
standards
, including how essential standards such as IEEE 802.3 and IEEE 802.11 were developed and provide the foundation for next-gen standards.
To gain insights into what underpins today’s technologies and processes, the IEEE CS
Standards Activities Board
also offers further resources:
Information on the work of its
18 Standards Committees
, which range from
AI
and
cybersecurity
to
online gaming
and
test technology
Open calls for participation
in standards work.
IEEE Developing Standards
, which offers details on the complete standards creation process.
Utilize Career Resources
To help students launch their careers, IEEE Computer Society’s
Career Center
offers practical tools such as a job search, a job alerts, and an
Interview Coach
. It also delivers professional career advice through various channels:
Career Resources Page
Expert advice on approaching your job search, prepping for interviews, and managing the onboarding process.
Career Accelerator Newsletter
News
job trends, and advice in your inbox.
Build Your Career Video Library
Presentations offer seasoned advice on everything from networking strategy to building your emotional intelligence and dispensing with low-impact words.
Tech News Blog for Career Development
Interviews with top professionals on issues relevant to career-ready students.
Hone Your Technical Toolkit
To build technical skills, nothing beats hands-on work. As a student member of the IEEE Computer Society, you have access to various skill-building competitions, activities, and organizations, including the following:
IEEE Xtreme
, an annual global programming competition in which teams of student members compete to solve a set of programming problems in 24 hours.
Attend
a pre-Xtreme programming workshop
to sharpen your problem-solving and algorithmic thinking. The 2025 workshop focused on C++ programming fundamentals, time complexity analysis, and optimization strategies for efficient coding.
Join the IEEE CS Student and Young Professionals, a global cohort dedicated to empowering next-generation innovators and leaders in computing and technology. SYP’s initiatives include a micro-mentoring program; TechX, a series of skill-development sessions and panel discussions; and scholarship outreach programs.
Many local IEEE CS chapters and student chapters also sponsor programming activities and events. If your chapter has nothing planned, you can brainstorm event ideas, then
apply for a grant
to start a competition or a workshop and build your organizing and grant writing skills in the process.
IEEE Computer Society offers a deep dive into specific careers areas
The Future of Cybersecurity: Concepts and Career Paths
Resources for the Field of Artificial Intelligence
Resources for Computer Vision Professionals
Resources for the Quantum Computing Professionals
Software Engineering Professional Practice
Explore Career Focus Areas
If you’re undecided on your direction, the IEEE Computer Society’s overviews can help you navigate the diverse and rapidly evolving career landscape:
Careers
in Computer Science and Computer Engineering
Career Guides
How to Determine if You Should Be a Computer Research Scientist
Podcasts
Software Engineering Podcast on Career Strategy
Member Favorites
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Page Content:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IEEE Computer Society’s mission and purpose in relation to students?
How is IEEE Computer Society represented globally?
What are the qualifications for Student Membership?
How much does Student Membership cost per year? Are discounted rates available?
Do I have to be a member of IEEE to join IEEE Computer Society?
Does my membership expire when I graduate?
What leadership opportunities are available to student members?
If I want to volunteer, but I’m not sure where to start, who should I contact?
What mentorship opportunities does IEEE Computer Society offer its student members?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IEEE Computer Society’s mission and purpose in relation to students?
IEEE Computer Society is the preeminent global society for knowledge-sharing and education, and it offers students myriad resources for upping their academic game and launching powerful careers. Through its conferences, publications, programs, and committees, it provides a space for students to participate in essential dialogues and collaborations. It also offers the environment, resources, and tools students and young professionals need to begin making an impact on computer science and technology across the globe.
How is IEEE Computer Society represented globally?
When students join the IEEE Computer Society, they become part of a global community of more than 370,000 computing professionals across 165 countries.
What are the qualifications for Student Membership?
To join as an undergraduate or graduate student, you must be enrolled in an accredited school and first join
IEEE
. For complete details, see the
Membership page
How much does Student Membership cost per year? Are discounted rates available?
Membership rates vary based on your country and circumstances; discounts are available in some regions. On the
Membership page
, you can enter your location and view your options.
Do I have to be a member of IEEE to join IEEE Computer Society?
Yes; you can join both organizations at the same time, or
join IEEE
and then add the
Computer Society membership
Does my membership expire when I graduate?
Your IEEE student membership, like all IEEE memberships, will expire at the end of the current member year. All IEEE memberships and subscriptions expire on 31 December of each year. Using the current member year as an example. If a member joins/renews their membership between 16 August 2025 and 15 August 2025 their membership will expire on 31 December 2026. If a member were to join on or after 16 August 2026 their membership will expire on 31 December 2027.
What leadership opportunities are available to student members?
Volunteering at conferences and getting involved with your local chapter offers opportunities to take on different roles and responsibilities. For example, returning conference volunteers who prove their value often have the chance to take on greater responsibilities each year.
These opportunities give students the ability to stand out among their peers, build a positive reputation with professionals for mentorship and letters of recommendations, and provides invaluable experience prior to entering the workforce.
If I want to volunteer, but I’m not sure where to start, who should I contact?
Let us know what types of roles you’re interested in by filling out
this form
To volunteer with your local chapter, you can use the
chapter locator tool
to find your chapter and the chapter chair’s contact information.  Or you can look at
open volunteer opportunities
For information on volunteering at conferences, email
conferences@computer.org
What mentorship opportunities does IEEE Computer Society offer its student members?
The IEEE Computer Society offers formal mentor sessions at several of its conferences, including
Quantum Week
The IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
(CVPR)
, and
SC
. For mentor sessions at other conferences, check
individual conference websites
For many students, the best mentorship opportunities arise by simply getting involved, whether by
joining your local chapter
or
volunteering
at a conference or an event. These experiences can be an ideal for meeting passionate professionals who share your interests.