​​Microsoft Scholarship: Overview, Eligibility & Process (2024)

Scholarships are a gateway to quality education abroad, and bagging the Microsoft scholarship is an accolade that you must not miss. The Microsoft scholarship invites budding scholars from all over the globe and is an ongoing program. Students who wish to study in the diverse field of STEM can aim for this prestigious scholarship. These scholarships are available in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. 

Overview of Microsoft Scholarships

Microsoft offers global scholarships to students pursuing computer science, engineering, and related technology fields. These scholarships aim to empower and enable students from underrepresented groups in tech to realize their potential and bring fresh perspectives. They are part of Microsoft’s larger initiative to advance diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

Some prominent Microsoft scholarships include:

1. Microsoft Undergraduate Scholarship: Aims to encourage undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to consider careers in tech. It offers funding, mentorship, Azure credits, and more.

2. Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship: Supports promising PhD students from diverse backgrounds pursuing research in computing and engineering. Includes funding, mentoring, conference visits, etc.

3. Microsoft Conference (MSR) Scholarship: Enables students from underrepresented groups to attend research conferences and present their work. Covers registration, travel, and lodging costs.

4. Microsoft Disability Scholarship: Offers funding, resources, and support to students with disabilities studying computer science or related fields.

5. Microsoft Tuition Scholarship: Need-based tuition funding for students from underrepresented groups studying computer science.

Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria regarding country of residence, underrepresented status, field of study, academic level, GPA threshold, etc. But most emphasize enabling access to tech education for those facing systemic barriers.

Eligibility Criteria 

While specific eligibility factors vary across scholarships, some common criteria are:

Academic Level and Performance

1. Undergraduate, masters, PhD, or postdoc students are eligible depending on the program
2. Minimum GPA thresholds are set – often 3.0 or higher out of 4.0

Field of Study 

1. Computer science, computer engineering, software engineering 
2. Related majors like data science, applied mathematics, etc. qualify depending on the scholarship

Underrepresented Identity

Students must belong to communities underrepresented in tech to qualify, including:

1. Women and gender minorities
2. Racial and ethnic groups like Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, etc.  
3. People with disabilities
4. Socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds

Other eligibility factors can include:

1. Country of residence – some are limited to the US, while others are global
2. Enrollment in 4-year university program
3. Attending conferences or events supported by the scholarship program

The aim is to uplift applicants who show promise but lack access and face systemic barriers in tech. Both academic merit and background are considered.

Microsoft Tuition Scholarships

Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a 4-year undergraduate degree program at a college or university in Canada, Mexico, or the United States.

Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic achievement and grades. 

A minimum GPA must be maintained at the applicant’s university:

    * 3.0 out of 4.0

    * 4.0 out of 5.0

Applicants must be making satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related STEM field.

Microsoft Diversity Conference Scholarships

1. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate, master’s, or PhD program at a university or college in Canada, Mexico, or the United States (applicable to international students).

2. Applicants must be pursuing higher education in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or an associated STEM degree program in the USA, Canada, or Mexico (applicable to international students).

Application Process

Microsoft scholarships follow an annual cycle, with applications opening around September and closing by January. The processes typically involve:

Registration

1. Find the relevant scholarship on the Microsoft website like academics.microsoft.com
2. Review eligibility criteria before applying
3. Create a student profile with basic information

Application Form 

1. Answer questions proving eligibility and fitness
2. Describe academic and career goals, obstacles faced, contributions to diversity
3. Upload transcripts, test scores, CV/resume, etc.

Supplementary Items

1. Letters of recommendation highlighting applicant’s talents, character, and research
2. Optional essay for additional details
3. Disability documentation if applying for a disability scholarship

Submission

1. Submit the completed application by the deadline through the online portal
2. Receive confirmation email upon successful submission

Evaluation 

1. Initial screening to filter eligible applicants 
2. The committee reviews applications and rates them on criteria like goals, grades, recommendations, writing skills, etc.
3. Finalists selected after committee deliberation
4. Announcement of winners occurs within 2-3 months of the deadline

Ongoing Support

Scholarship recipients get:

1. Monetary funding dispersed across years of study  
2. Azure credits for cloud services access 
3. Career guidance and mentoring 
4. Interview practice and talent connections
5. Conference participation and research publication opportunities
6. Recruiting pipelines and future employment prospects at Microsoft

So Microsoft scholarships deliver financial aid, mentorship, resources, exposure, and professional growth. The programs uplift talented students from diverse backgrounds who require support to realize their potential and succeed in computer science and tech fields.

Selection Process

The company aims to encourage students to study STEM courses and Computer Science programs in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

The recipients of the scholarship will get the award based on their excellence in technology and exceptional leadership abilities. The scholars will also be judged concerning their craving to climb up and devote themselves to the welfare of the software industry.

Factors Affecting Scholarship Selection Decision

The recipients of the Microsoft Scholarships will be handpicked based on elements like,

• Co-curricular interests
• Citizenship
• Interest in Computer Science or STEM-related subjects

The decisions taken by the committee will be final and cannot be countered.

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Grant Details

The company especially wants to provide scholarships to individuals who are from backgrounds that were underrepresented in the technical field for some historical reasons.

Here’s a brief detail about the grant:

Benefits of Microsoft Scholarships

• Microsoft Tuition Scholarship covers the total or partial tuition fees, based on the candidate’s application.
• Microsoft Diversity Conference Scholarship provides a travel, residence, and meal stipend of around USD 12,000.

Besides, the opportunity to study in the USA, a preferred destination, Canada or Mexico is an additional gift for the scholars.

Conclusion 

After a detailed overview of the scholarship, give your wings flight. If you wish to pursue STEM and conduct extensive research, craft the perfect application with Admissify. We will assist you with university shortlisting, loans, and accommodation- this is your one-stop shop when it comes to having an immersive academic journey. 

FAQs

Who is eligible for Microsoft scholarships?

Microsoft scholarships are open to undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students pursuing degrees in computer science, computer engineering, or related technical fields. Applicants must be from groups underrepresented in tech such as women, minorities, people with disabilities, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

What types of scholarships does Microsoft offer?

Major Microsoft scholarships include undergraduate scholarships, Ph.D. scholarships, disability scholarships, women’s scholarships, and conference attendance scholarships. There are also region-specific scholarships for countries like India and China.

What does the Microsoft scholarship cover?

Microsoft scholarships provide funding to cover costs like tuition, books, and housing. Scholars receive additional benefits like mentorship, Microsoft Azure credits, access to conferences and events, recruitment opportunities at Microsoft, and more.

How much funding do Microsoft scholarship recipients get?

Scholarship amounts vary by region and program, ranging from $5,000 up to covering the entire cost of tuition plus housing expenses. The average Microsoft undergraduate scholarship amount is $7,000 while graduate/PhD awards can be up to $60,000. 

When is the application deadline for Microsoft scholarships? 

Most Microsoft scholarships open applications in September and close around January every year for programs commencing the next academic year. Exact deadlines differ slightly by scholarship.  

How are Microsoft scholars selected?

Applications are screened for eligibility first, and then evaluated by committees based on merit factors like academic performance, goals, leadership, recommendations, etc. Final selections emphasize both promising talent and backgrounds facing significant barriers.

What are the requirements to renew the scholarship?

Scholars must maintain grades above a specified threshold like a 3.0 GPA and continue studying an eligible computing major. Some scholarships require submitting progress reports detailing academic work, leadership activities, etc. for review.