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Student with visual impairment using assistive technology

Microsoft Disability Scholarship

The Microsoft Disability Scholarship seeks to empower students with disabilities to achieve more through access to education leading to a career in technology.
Person using a wheelchair, works on a laptop while in the lobby of an office building.

Scholarship eligibility

Recipient will receive a $5,000 award. Up to 10 awards will be granted. Awards are renewable up to three years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of satisfactory academic performance maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, full-time or half-time enrollment, and continued enrollment in the eligible major.

Requirements

To be considered for the Microsoft Disability Scholarship, you must:

  • Be a current high school senior living with a disability as defined by WHO, including visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, and/or speech disabilities or other disability
  • Plan to enroll in an undergraduate program at an accredited 2 or 4-year University/College or Vocational/Technical School, in the United States, in the fall of the upcoming academic year.
  • Pursue a degree in the following eligible majors: engineering, computer science, computer information systems, law, business, or a related field (e.g. paralegal, pre-law, finance, business administration, or marketing).
  • Demonstrate a passion for technology.
  • Demonstrate leadership at school and/or in the community.
  • Have a high school cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 grading scale or equivalent.
  • Require financial assistance to attend college.
  • Enrollment status must be full-time or half-time.

How to Apply

Thank you for visiting our scholarship site. The 2024 Microsoft scholarship cycle is closed. The 2025 Microsoft scholarship application process will open in January 2025. Please check back in January.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit the following:

Your future plans:

  • Information about the post-secondary school you plan to attend
  • Your educational and career goals

Information about you:

  • Activities, Awards, and Honors (if possible, include awards that are technology related)
  • Work experience
  • Financial information
  • Any unusual family or personal circumstances (include circumstances caused by ongoing disability related expenses)

Transcript:

  • A current academic transcript. 

Essay:

  • Please share your idea for a new technology innovation that would enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Explain how it differs from existing solutions and how it relates to your plans to be engaged in the technology industry. (2,000 characters max).  

A letter of recommendation:

  • An online recommendation form from a faculty or staff member at your school or a member of the community that has worked with you in a supervisory role.  
  • The letter of recommendation should be original and should not be duplicates of college recommendation letters.
  • Applicants are not permitted to include relatives as references.

For questions, please email [email protected]

Please note, emailed or mailed scholarship applications will not be accepted.

Frequently asked questions

  • No, all high school students living with a disability with a financial need are encouraged to apply.

  •  

    Yes, only applicants who plan to attend a school based in the USA will be considered for this scholarship.

     

  • Yes, as long as your undergraduate program meets the eligibility requirements.

  • No, all materials must be submitted through the online application link.

  • Yes, awards are renewable up to three years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of satisfactory academic performance maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, full-time or half-time enrollment, and continued enrollment in the eligible major.

  • Not at this time. If you are interested in applying, you can find more information here: Microsoft Internships

  • Yes, you can take advantage of Microsoft’s student certification offer.

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