Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University

Ednah Carrick October 12, 2025

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Closing Date: 2 November 2025

Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University

Phase III: Innovation and Technology

The third phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University (ASU) marks a significant step in empowering young African leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovative and sustainable development on the continent.

Building on the success of previous phases, this new chapter will engage 600 young adults between 2024-2030. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University will support a range of pathways, including in-person and online degrees as well as English language learning delivered in partnership with African institutions, and certificates in fields such as supply chain management and global management. Through these programs, ASU aims to equip African youth with the critical technological, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Innovation and Technology Scholarship details

The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Arizona State University, is offering 40 opportunities for graduate study through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The new Mastercard Foundation Scholars will pursue ASU degrees online with in-person support and wrap around services from Kepler College in Rwanda, blending flexible online learning with personalized guidance and community engagement.

Scholarships are available for the following full-time, on-campus graduate programs:

MS Global Technology and Development
MSE Sustainable Engineering
MS Information Technology
MS Business Analytics
MEd Learning Design and Technologies

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the degree of their choice that includes English proficiency.
Applicants must be a citizen of an African country committed to ethical leadership and demonstrated engagement in their community.
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 33 on or before the application deadline.
Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service in their community.
Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and ambitions that exceed one’s financial resources.
Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree conferred by July 2026.
Applicants must not have started or completed other graduate or masters degrees before July 2026.
Applicants must be able to live in Kigali, Rwanda for the duration of the program

Value of the Scholarship

The Scholarship will cover the following:

Costs incurred for visa application processing
Costs incurred for English language tests
Costs incurred for program application
Travel to and from Kigali, Rwanda
Full tuition, books and fees
Medical expenses
Student housing
Participation in Scholarship programming

Awards are tenable for the duration of the graduate program of study.

How To Apply

The deadline for all applications will be 23:59 GMT on Sunday, 2 November. No applications will be accepted past this deadline. All applicants must first apply for the scholarship. Those who are selected to advance beyond the initial review, will be assisted in the process of applying for admission to Arizona State University. Do not apply to admission to ASU to be considered for the scholarship. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email to schedule a video or phone interview. Final scholarship decisions will be made by late April 2026. Successful applicants will travel to Kigali, Rwanda to join the Program in July 2026.

All applicants, once registered, should have read and understood the application guidance and eligibility criteria before submitting an application to the Program to avoid any errors or incorrect information. Arizona State University and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at ASU reserve the right to cancel incomplete and/or late applications, to effect changes to the conditions of the scholarship or to make no awards at all.

Admission to the academic program does not guarantee being awarded the scholarship.

There are 2 ways to submit your application:

ASU encourage applicants to submit an online application.
OR
If you have limited internet access, view and download the PDF Version of the form. To submit, email your completed application and required attachments (Scholarship Application, CV/Resume, Letter of Recommendation, and Transcripts) to [email protected].