The third phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University (ASU) marks a significant step in empowering young African leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovative and sustainable development on the continent.
Building on the success of previous phases, this new chapter will engage 700 young adults between 2024-2030.
The Program will support a range of pathways, including in-person and online degrees as well as English language learning delivered in partnership with African institutions, and certificates in fields such as supply chain management and global management.
Through these programs, ASU aims to equip African youth with the critical technological, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Arizona State University, will provide 160 graduate scholarships from 2025–2030.
Scholars will pursue ASU degrees online with in-person support and wrap-around services from Kepler College in Rwanda, blending flexible online learning with personalized guidance and community engagement.
For fall 2025, the Mastercard Foundation at ASU is recruiting 40 Scholars for the following online graduate degree programs at ASU:
College of Global Futures
W.P Carey School of Business
The Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Summary Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- Type: Undergraduate, Postgraduate scholarships
- Location: Kigali, Rwanda
- School to study: Arizona State University
- Sponsor: Mastercard Foundation
- Eligible Countries: African Countries
- Perks: Full tuition fees, On-campus accommodation, Comprehensive support, Airfare to and from Kigali, Mentorship and Leadership development, Costs incurred for visa application
- Deadline: March 9, 2025
Criteria for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- Must meet academic and English proficiency requirements
- Must be an African citizen committed to ethical leadership and community engagement
- Applicants must be between 18 and 33 years
- Proven leadership, service, and academic excellence
- Undergraduate degree earned by July 2025
- No prior graduate degree started or completed before August 2025
- Must reside in Kigali, Rwanda for the program duration.
Benefits of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- The scholarship covers full tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, and comprehensive support for the two-year graduate program.
- Recipients will also benefit from individual mentorship, leadership development, and engaging events and programming.
- Additionally, Scholars will participate in a two-month summer intensive experience at ASU in the United States between the first and second year, aligned with their program of study.
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
Deadline: March 9, 2025