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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.
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Scholarship award

Eight (8) $20,000 scholarships distributed over 4 years ($5,000 per year, renewable). Awards are renewable for 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.

Eligibility 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.

Employees and children of Microsoft are ineligible.

Selection criteria

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. (3,000 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.

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

How to apply

Our next scholarship cycle will open on January 22, 2025, and applications will be accepted until March 13, 2025. 

Applications will be submitted via the Scholarship America Hub.

For questions, please email disscholarshipinfo@microsoft.com.

Frequently asked questions

  • No. The Microsoft Disability Scholarship is open to high school seniors only.

     

  • Yes, if your undergraduate program meets the eligibility requirements.

     

  • International applicants planning to study in the US can apply. However, if selected and you do not attend college in the US, you will become ineligible for the scholarship.

     

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

     

  • Yes, all applications must contain a current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display the student name, school name, grades, and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

  • 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

     

  • To learn more about Microsoft Internships, please visit Early in profession | Microsoft Careers.

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

  • The Microsoft Employee Resource Groups (ERG) scholarships are managed by the ERG Community Experience Team and the Employee Giving Team. The Seattle Foundation and Scholarship America administer the scholarships.

  • Please email disscholarshipinfo@microsoft.com

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