About the 2026 Innovation and Technology Scholarship Application
Over the course of five years (2025–2030), the Mastercard Foundation and Arizona State University (ASU) will offer graduate scholarships to train 120 young African professionals at the master’s level for a variety of programs.
With a focus on innovation and technology, this two-year master’s program is both traditional and fully immersive on campus.
Given how quickly the global digital economy is developing, this program seeks to provide African youth the abilities and information needed to take the lead in fields like technology and sustainable innovation.
(30) Scholarships are offered to students accepted for the 2026–2027 school year, covering all tuition costs, living expenses, and full assistance for the two-year graduate program.
Scholars will receive financial assistance as well as involvement in leadership training, one-on-one mentoring, and other events and programs as part of ASU’s broader Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
The Baobab Platform team or the larger ASU community offer Scholars the chance to work part-time on-campus jobs during the academic year.
During their first and second years, scholars will get financial assistance to engage in a two-month internship that complements their course of study.The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program strongly encourages its participants to return home and use their knowledge and newly acquired skills to support the social and economic development of their nations.
Applications are highly encouraged from women, people with disabilities, and refugees and internally displaced people. By making all programs and services accessible, ASU is dedicated to improving the calibre of students’ educational experiences.
PROGRAMS OFFERED AND AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Scholarships are available for the following full-time, on-campus graduate programs:
MS Global Technology and Development
MS Information Technology
MS Human Systems Engineering – Intelligent Systems
MS User Experience
MSC Computer Science
MS Data Science Analytics & Engineering
MS Robotics and Autonomous Systems
MS Civil, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering
MS Clean Energy Systems
MS Modern Energy Production and Sustainable Use
Eligibility Criteria for the scholarship
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.
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• 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 August 2026. Â
• Applicants must not have started or completed other graduate or masters degrees before August 2026.
  • Applicants must be able to live in Phoenix, Arizona for the duration of the program.
Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be reviewed or considered.
Benefits 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 applicationÂ
• Airfare to and from Phoenix, Arizona
• Full tuition, books and fees• Medical expenses•
On campus housing
• Participation in Scholarship programming
How to Apply
The awards are valid for the length of the graduate course of study. The cutoff time for all applications is Sunday, September 14 at 23:59 GMT.
Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted. The scholarship must be applied for by all applicants. The application process for admission to Arizona State University will be aided for those who are chosen to move on past the first evaluation. Refrain from applying for admission to ASU.
Emails will be sent to the shortlisted candidates to arrange a phone or video interview. Scholarship decisions will be finalised by the end of February 2026.
In August 2026, selected candidates will journey to Phoenix, Arizona, to become part of the program.To prevent mistakes or inaccurate information, all candidates should have read and comprehended the eligibility requirements and application instructions after registering.
The Mastercard Foundation and Arizona State University maintain the right to reject late or incomplete applications, alter the terms of the scholarship, or not award any money at all.Admission to the academic program does not guarantee being awarded the scholarship.
How to submit the application.
There are 2 ways to submit your application:
We encourage applicants to submit an online application. To proceed to the online application, please click the APPLY NOW at the bottom of this page to begin. OR If you have limited internet access, click APPLY NOW , view and download the PDF version of the form.
To submit, email your completed application and all required attachments (CV/Resume, Letter of Recommendation, and Transcripts) to mastercardfdnscholars@asu.edu.
However, if you are able to submit online, please click NEXT ON THE PDF after clicking Apply Now to proceed to the application.Deadline – September 14th, 2025.
