The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), will provide graduate scholarships to train 160 young African professionals at the master’s level for various programs over 5 years (2025 – 2030). This scholarship program offers a unique opportunity for students to pursue an ASU Online degree while benefiting from in-person support and comprehensive wrap-around services provided through Kepler College in Rwanda. This innovative approach combines the flexibility of an online education with the personalized guidance, resources, and community engagement available at Kepler College to ensure a well-rounded and supportive learning experience.
40 Scholarships are available for students admitted for the 2025/2026 academic year, which will cover the full tuition fees, expenses for accommodation, and comprehensive support for the 2-year graduate program. On top of financial support, Scholars will participate in enriching activities including individual mentorship, leadership development, and other events and programming. Between the first and second year, Scholars will be supported to participate in a 2-month summer intensive experience in the United States at ASU that aligns with their program of study.
A strong expectation of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is that participants use the skills and education they gain to contribute to their communities, fostering social and economic growth in their home countries. Women, refugees and displaced persons, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Scholarships are available for the following full-time, on-campus graduate programs:
MS Global Technology and Development
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 2025.
- Applicants must not have started or completed other graduate or masters degrees before August 2025.
- 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
- Airfare to and from Kigali, Rwanda
- Full tuition, books and fees
- Food and Living stipend
- Medical expenses
- Housing
- Participation in Scholarship programming
Awards are tenable for the duration of the graduate program of study.
The deadline for all applications will be 23:59 GMT on Sunday, 9 March. All applicants must apply for the scholarship first and, if successful, will be assisted in the process of applying for admission to Arizona State University. All successful applicants will travel to Kigali, Rwanda to join the Program in August 2025.
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 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.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions here and direct any questions to [email protected].
Deadline: 9 March, 2025
Click HERE to Apply
