(a) Amount of grants.--The agency shall award a SciTech Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 per academic year or a lesser amount following application of Federal and State grants under section 4(d)¹ to a student enrolled full time in an approved educational institution pursuing a bachelor's degree program or its equivalent in an approved course of study. The student must take at least 12 semester hours per semester, or its equivalent, in an approved course of study. The grant shall be used for educational costs related to the undergraduate program as determined by the agency.

(b) Term of grant.--A grant shall be awarded beginning no earlier than the second academic year of enrollment in an approved educational institution in a bachelor's degree program or its equivalent in an approved course of study. The grant shall be for a maximum of three academic years or for up to four academic years if the student is enrolled in an approved course of study that according to the agency requires five academic years to complete. In order to qualify for renewals beyond three years, the student must be in compliance with the requirements of section 4(e) and the agency must determine that the student is making satisfactory progress toward completing a degree.

(c) Internship or work experience.--A student who accepts a grant under this section must complete a college-approved or university-approved internship or work experience related to the student's approved course of study with an employer located in this Commonwealth prior to receiving a bachelor's degree. The student must comply with any conditions placed upon the internship by the agency or by the department in consultation with the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board. Proof of completion of the internship or work experience requirements must be submitted to the agency prior to graduation unless otherwise authorized by the agency.

(d) Grades.--At the time of application, an applicant for a SciTech Scholarship must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent. The agency shall annually verify a program participant's maintenance of the required grade point average.