Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 Opens for 30 African Students
Arizona State University has announced a new round of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program opportunities for young African professionals seeking graduate education in technology and innovation.
For the 2027/28 academic year, the Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will provide 30 graduate study opportunities for African students to pursue selected full-time, on-campus master’s degrees at ASU in the United States. The programme is part of the third phase of ASU’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, which has shifted its focus toward technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and skills that can support economic and social development across Africa.
The scholarship comes with comprehensive financial support covering tuition and fees, on-campus accommodation, books, visa expenses, airfare and medical expenses. Selected Scholars will also receive leadership development, academic advising and support, as well as a two-month internship between their first and second years of study.
The application deadline for the 2027/28 opportunity is September 27, 2026, at 23:59 GMT. Prospective applicants therefore need to begin checking their academic qualifications, preparing their application materials and understanding the eligible master’s programmes before submitting their applications.
What the Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Offers
The current ASU programme is not simply a tuition scholarship. It is structured as a broader educational support package intended to remove several of the financial and practical barriers that can prevent talented African students from pursuing advanced education abroad.
According to ASU, successful Scholars receive full tuition and fees for their approved programme. The scholarship also covers on-campus housing and books, while financial support is provided for visa-related costs, airfare and medical expenses.
This matters because international postgraduate study can involve expenses well beyond university tuition. For an African student relocating to the United States, accommodation, immigration costs, health-related expenses and international travel can quickly become significant financial obligations.
The scholarship is designed to address those costs as part of one comprehensive package.
Students should nevertheless read the official scholarship conditions carefully rather than assuming that every personal expense will automatically be covered. The published scholarship information identifies the specific categories of support available to Scholars.
30 Graduate Opportunities Available for 2027/28
ASU’s current Phase III Innovation and Technology scholarship will offer 30 opportunities for the 2027/28 academic year. The programme is specifically aimed at young African professionals interested in graduate study connected to technology and innovation.
This focus represents a change from earlier phases of the ASU and Mastercard Foundation partnership.
The first phase supported African students pursuing undergraduate degrees, with 120 Scholars selected across four cohorts. That phase has now ended, and ASU states that it is no longer accepting applications for those undergraduate cohorts.
The second phase concentrated on strengthening institutional links with partner universities in Ghana and supported students through an accelerated degree pathway involving undergraduate and master’s study. That phase has also concluded.
The current third phase places greater emphasis on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship and introduces several educational pathways designed to reach young Africans through different forms of learning.
Master’s Programmes Covered by the Scholarship
Applicants for the 2027/28 scholarship can pursue one of the master’s programmes specifically listed by ASU.
The eligible programmes are:
- MS Global Technology and Development
- MS Information Technology
- Master of Computer Science
- MS Data Science, Analytics and Engineering
- MS Robotics and Autonomous Systems
- MS Clean Energy Systems
- MS Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
- MS Modern Energy Production and Sustainable Use
- MS Human Systems Engineering, Intelligent Systems
These programmes cover several areas that are closely connected to the technological and economic challenges facing many African countries, including digital systems, data, artificial intelligence-related fields, robotics, energy and sustainable engineering.
Applicants should therefore avoid approaching the scholarship as though any master’s degree at ASU qualifies. The current scholarship opportunity is tied to the programmes identified by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at ASU.
Who Is the Scholarship Intended For?
The programme is aimed at young African professionals seeking graduate-level education in technology and innovation.
ASU says there is a strong expectation that Scholars will use the knowledge and skills acquired through the programme to contribute to their communities and support social and economic growth in their home countries.
That expectation is important when preparing an application.
A student should not view the scholarship simply as a route to obtaining an American master’s degree. The programme is designed around a broader idea of education linked to leadership, innovation and community impact.
Applicants should therefore be prepared to explain what they intend to do with their education after completing their studies.
For example, a technology professional might explain how advanced training could help them develop digital solutions for businesses or public institutions in their country. An engineering applicant could connect their academic goals to energy, infrastructure or environmental challenges. A data-focused applicant could explain how advanced analytical skills could support decision-making in a particular sector.
The strongest answers will be specific rather than relying on broad statements about wanting to “change Africa.”
Women, Refugees and People With Disabilities Encouraged to Apply
ASU has specifically stated that women, refugees and displaced persons, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply for the Innovation and Technology scholarship.
This is consistent with the broader Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which places emphasis on expanding educational opportunities for young people who face significant barriers to accessing higher education.
The Mastercard Foundation also states that its Scholars Program places particular emphasis on young women, persons with disabilities and forcibly displaced young people. However, applicants must still satisfy the eligibility and selection requirements of the specific partner institution through which they apply.
Encouragement to apply should not be confused with automatic selection. The scholarship remains competitive, and meeting a stated eligibility condition does not guarantee an award.
Leadership Development Is Part of the Programme
One of the features that distinguishes the ASU scholarship from a straightforward tuition award is its emphasis on leadership development.
The programme provides Scholars with leadership development opportunities alongside their academic studies. ASU also identifies academic advising and support as part of the scholarship package.
The wider ASU Mastercard Foundation programme has historically incorporated professional development, community engagement and activities intended to prepare Scholars for life after university.
ASU describes its programme as one that seeks to equip Scholars with academic skills and professional competencies that can contribute to economic growth and social development in Africa.
This means applicants should think about leadership in practical terms.
Leadership does not necessarily require holding the title of president, founder or chief executive. It can be demonstrated through work undertaken in a community, a professional organisation, a university project, a technology initiative, research activity or another setting where an applicant has taken responsibility and produced measurable results.
Two-Month Internship Included
The 2027/28 scholarship package also includes a two-month internship between the first and second years of study.
For students entering technology and innovation-related master’s programmes, this component can provide an opportunity to connect classroom learning with professional experience.
An internship can also help a student understand how technical knowledge is applied outside an academic environment. Depending on the placement, students may encounter professional workflows, project management, industry expectations, teamwork and practical problem-solving.
Applicants should therefore consider the internship as part of the overall educational experience rather than viewing the scholarship only through its financial benefits.
The Programme Is Part of a Larger ASU-Mastercard Foundation Partnership
The current scholarship did not emerge in isolation.
Arizona State University and the Mastercard Foundation began their partnership in 2012. The first phase provided undergraduate opportunities for 120 African Scholars representing 20 countries.
The second phase later supported 150 Scholars from selected partner institutions in Ghana through an accelerated degree pathway. Students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Ashesi University were able to complete the final year of their bachelor’s degree followed by an accelerated master’s degree at ASU.
ASU’s current third phase, launched in 2024, has a stronger emphasis on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
ASU reported in 2025 that the third phase had welcomed new Scholars into master’s programmes involving areas such as computer science, civil engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics, clean energy systems and user experience design.
The programme has also expanded beyond traditional on-campus degree study, with additional pathways involving online education, professional certificates and English-language learning opportunities delivered through partnerships with institutions in Africa.
What Applicants Should Prepare
Students interested in the 2027/28 scholarship should not wait until the final days before the deadline to begin preparing.
The first task is to confirm that your academic background fits one of the listed master’s programmes. There is little value in preparing an application for a programme that is outside the scholarship’s current scope.
The next step is to examine your professional and academic experience.
Applicants should be able to explain why they want to pursue the selected master’s programme and how it connects with their previous education or professional work. They should also be prepared to discuss what they intend to accomplish after graduation.
A clear career direction is particularly useful for a programme that emphasizes technology, innovation and community impact.
Students should also gather their academic records and other required documents early. If an application requires references or other supporting information, giving recommenders adequate notice can help avoid last-minute problems.
Do Not Confuse the Current Scholarship With the Old Undergraduate Programme
There is an important point that students searching online need to understand.
Several older articles still describe the Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program as an undergraduate scholarship. Those articles may refer to Phase I of the partnership.
ASU’s current information clearly states that the university is no longer accepting applications for its previous undergraduate cohorts. The active Phase III opportunity is focused on graduate education and professional learning, with the current 2027/28 scholarship offering 30 master’s-level opportunities in technology and innovation.
This distinction could prevent applicants from wasting time following outdated application instructions.
Students should always check the year, phase and eligible programme before beginning a scholarship application.
Application Deadline for the 2027/28 Scholarship
The deadline for the current Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Innovation and Technology Scholarship is Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 23:59 GMT.
This is a firm date that applicants should treat seriously.
Because the deadline is expressed in GMT, students living in different time zones should convert the closing time carefully rather than waiting until the final minute.
Applicants should also allow time for document preparation and technical issues. A scholarship application is not the kind of submission that should be completed in a hurry.
The official ASU scholarship information provides an email contact for applicants who have questions about the programme and application process. Students with questions about their individual eligibility should use the official channel rather than relying on information circulating on social media.
Why This Scholarship Matters to African Students
For many African professionals, the cost of an international master’s degree can make an otherwise realistic academic goal financially difficult.
Tuition is only one part of that challenge. International students also have to think about accommodation, books, transportation, health expenses, immigration costs and the price of travelling between continents.
The ASU Mastercard Foundation scholarship addresses several of these expenses within one package.
More importantly, it connects the financial support with a programme designed around technology, innovation, professional development and leadership.
That combination is relevant at a time when African economies are dealing with major questions around digital transformation, energy access, infrastructure, sustainable development, entrepreneurship and the future of work.
The scholarship does not promise that a graduate will automatically solve any of these challenges. What it provides is access to advanced education and professional development that can become part of a much larger career journey.
Final Thoughts
The Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 is currently offering 30 graduate opportunities for young African professionals who want to pursue selected master’s degrees in technology and innovation. The scholarship provides full tuition and fees, accommodation, books, visa and airfare support, medical expenses, leadership development, academic advising and a two-month internship.
The application deadline is September 27, 2026, at 23:59 GMT, making early preparation essential for students who meet the programme requirements.
Applicants should also remember that the current opportunity is not the same as the older ASU undergraduate Mastercard Foundation scholarship. The undergraduate phase has concluded, while the current Phase III programme is focused on graduate education and professional pathways connected to innovation and technology.
For a prospective applicant, the central question should not only be whether the scholarship pays for a master’s degree. It should be whether the selected programme fits your academic background, professional experience and long-term plans for contributing to your community.
A well-prepared application should make that connection clear. Your academic record establishes your preparation, your professional or leadership experience provides evidence of what you have already done, and your future plans show how the opportunity could be used beyond the university campus.
The scholarship is competitive, so students should verify every requirement from the current ASU programme information before submitting an application. The Mastercard Foundation also advises prospective Scholars to apply through its partner institutions and warns applicants about unofficial groups that request application fees in exchange for scholarship recruitment.
