What Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Innovation and Technology Scholarships 2027/2028 actually covers.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University is running its Innovation and Technology cohort for the 2027/2028 intake, offering fully funded two-year master's places to young African leaders who want to build technical careers with a development purpose. The award sits within the third phase of the Foundation's partnership with ASU and is deliberately narrow in focus: rather than funding any master's degree, it channels scholars into nine named engineering, computing and sustainability programmes where the sponsors believe African economies face the sharpest skills shortages.
The funding is comprehensive rather than partial. Tuition, required books and student fees are covered in full, and the package extends to the practical barriers that usually decide whether an admitted student can actually travel: airfare to Phoenix, visa processing costs, a voucher for the English proficiency test where one is needed, and a waiver of the application fee itself. Once on campus, scholars receive on-campus housing, medical support and access to the leadership programming that distinguishes Mastercard Foundation cohorts from ordinary tuition awards.
Selection weighs leadership and service as heavily as transcripts. The programme is explicitly looking for applicants with a documented history of community contribution and a credible commitment to returning that experience to the continent. The age band of 18 to 33 and the bar on prior graduate study are firm; this is a first master's degree scheme, not a top-up for people already holding postgraduate qualifications.
Candidates should note the residency requirement, which is stricter than many US-based awards. Scholars must relocate to Tempe and remain resident on campus for the full two years, so the programme suits applicants who can commit to an uninterrupted period abroad. Applications close on 27 September 2026, and given that admission to ASU and the scholarship are assessed together, applicants should allow time to assemble transcripts, English test results and referee statements well before the closing date.
Who can apply.
Open to masters applicants seeking to study in United States.
Open to applicants from across the African continent. Confirm specific nationality eligibility on the official application page.
Every academic discipline is accepted.
This programme does not restrict by field. Research proposals across humanities, sciences, engineering, agriculture, and medicine are all accepted.
From here to submitted.
Scholar Africa helps you discover, shortlist, and track. The application itself is submitted on the provider's site.
-
Save itAdd this to your shortlist so we can recommend similar scholarships and remind you of the deadline.
-
Prepare your documentsMost providers ask for the same set - transcripts, references, a personal statement, ID. Use the checklist below to track progress across all your applications.
-
Apply on the provider's siteSubmit on the provider's site before September 27, 2026 · 17 days left.
-
Track the outcomeAdd to your tracker so you can update the status as the provider responds (shortlisted, interview, decision).
Document checklist
Checks are local to this device - they're not stored. Always confirm exact requirements on the provider's official application page.
What we checked, when we checked it.
Scholar Africa runs a link-liveness check on every listing before it goes live and an admin manually reviews every scholarship submitted by providers. Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Innovation and Technology Scholarships 2027/2028 has been reviewed and verified by our team. Five deeper checks (contact, organisation, winners, third-party, formal audit) are on the roadmap.
Report an issue
Other scholarships worth a parallel application.
Same eligibility window or destination. Many strong applicants apply to three or four programmes per cycle.