Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027/2028 at Arizona State University (Fully Funded)

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Arizona State University – 2027/2028

Applications just opened for the 2027–2028 Mastercard Foundation Innovation and Technology Scholarship at Arizona State University. This one's a big deal: 30 fully funded spots for young African professionals who want to do a master's in tech, innovation, or engineering.

It's run by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program together with ASU. If you're picked, you'll study full-time, in person, on ASU's Tempe campus, with academic, professional, leadership, and financial backing the whole way through.

What the scholarship actually covers

• Full tuition and required fees
• Required books
• On-campus housing
• Medical and healthcare support
• Visa processing costs
• Airfare to and from Phoenix, Arizona
• An English proficiency test voucher, if you need one
• ASU's graduate application fee, waived
• Leadership development and signature programming
• Academic advising
• Mentorship and professional development
• Community engagement opportunities
• A two-month internship between year one and year two

Who can apply

• You're a citizen of an African country
• You're between 18 and 33 as of 27 September 2026
• You've earned a bachelor's degree, or you're on track to finish one by August 2027
• Your academic record is strong, roughly a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale or better
• You meet ASU's English proficiency requirements for grad admission
• You can show leadership, community service, or some real commitment to making things better
• You haven't done a master's or graduate program before
• You're not enrolled in, or starting, another graduate program while this application is pending
• You're willing to move to and live on ASU's Tempe campus for the full program

Women, refugees, displaced people, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Programs you can choose from

1. MS Global Technology and Development
2. MS Information Technology
3. MS Computer Science
4. MS Data Science, Analytics and Engineering (Computing and Decision Analytics)
5. MS Robotics and Autonomous Systems
6. MS Clean Energy Systems
7. MS Civil, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering
8. MS Modern Energy Production and Sustainable Use
9. MS Human Systems Engineering – Intelligent Systems

All of these are the standard two-year, in-person track at ASU's Tempe campus.

What you'll need to put together

• Completed application form
• Resume or CV, PDF
• One signed recommendation letter, dated within the last three years, PDF
• Academic transcripts, official or unofficial, PDF
• English translation of transcripts if they're not already in English
• Proof of English proficiency, if you have it and it applies, PDF
• Three essays: one on career goals and community impact, one on resilience and leadership, one on the personal experiences that shaped you

How to apply

Start with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application, not ASU directly. Don't apply straight to ASU or to a specific program unless the Mastercard Foundation team tells you to.

1. Get your info and documents ready
2. Fill out the online application
3. Add your personal, academic, leadership, and background details
4. Pick your preferred master's program
5. Write all three essays within the word limits
6. Upload your CV, recommendation letter, transcripts, and English proficiency proof if you have it
7. Go back through everything before you hit submit
8. Submit before the deadline

If you make it through this round, you'll get invited to interview and get guidance on the ASU admission process from there. If you're invited to apply to ASU itself, your application fee gets waived, so don't pay it.

A couple more things worth knowing

If you need English testing done, you might get a voucher for it. You don't need proof of English proficiency to submit the initial scholarship application, but you will need it later for actual admission if it applies to your program.

Deadline: Sunday, 27 September 2026, 23:59 GMT