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AWS AI & ML Scholarship program
Get ready for a career in AI with access to scholarships, hands-on learning, and mentors for students underserved or underrepresented in technology
AWS AI & ML Scholarship program
Get ready for a career in AI with access to scholarships, hands-on learning, and mentors for students underserved or underrepresented in technology
Launch your career with an AWS Scholarship!
Whether you're new to AI or looking to break into the field, the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program allows students globally to learn foundational skills to prepare for careers in tech. Start your journey with skills training designed by AWS and Udacity experts to get you hands-on with real projects, learn from mentors in the field, and access career resources.
Break into tech with the new Generative AI Scholarship

New this year - all scholarship applicants who complete the necessary prerequisites get free access to the Introducing Generative AI with AWS course, a $250 USD value! Through practical training and labs, you'll gain in-demand skills in this cutting-edge domain and receive a certificate upon completion.
Scholarship benefits

Build job-ready AI skills through this comprehensive scholarship program, including free courses, hands-on projects, on-demand technical tutors, industry mentors, and career development resources. At each stage of the scholarship, you will gain AI knowledge, receive coaching from professionals, and develop a portfolio to demonstrate your career-readiness in technology.

AWS DeepRacer Student
Free for students 16+ years globally
Take the first step with AWS DeepRacer Student, a hands-on learning experience that lets you get started with ML by building and racing an autonomous vehicle in a 3D simulated environment. Here you can complete the two application prerequisites to prequalify and help prepare you for the scholarship content ahead.

(NEW) Introducing Generative AI with AWS
Free for all scholarship applicants
Completing AWS DeepRacer Student prerequisites unlocks your unique application code on Udacity. By submitting your application, you'll automatically gain access to the AWS Generative AI Scholarship as an added benefit, which includes free enrollment in the new Introducing Generative AI with AWS course ($250 USD value) and certificate.

AI Programming with Python Nanodegree
Scholarship 1 (2,000 students)
Receive skills-based training through Udacity nanodegrees. 2,000 recipients annually are awarded a 3-month virtual nanodegree scholarship ($4,000 USD value) to work on real-world projects, learn programming tools, and receive technical support. Recipients will get access to exclusive events and mentoring to help further your career. Review the course syllabus to learn more »

Deep Learning & ML Engineer Nanodegree
Scholarship 2 (Top 500 students)
The top 500 students completing the first Nanodegree can earn a second, advanced nanodegree scholarship in Deep Learning and ML engineering to further build their AI and ML skills. You will also receive personalized mentorship and career guidance from industry experts. Review the course syllabus to learn more »
Vani Agarwal is charting her own path in AI & ML and moving away from her hometown to pursue academic goals – all while mentoring the next generation.
José Tapia is applying hands-on learnings from the scholarship program to build a livestreaming device that brings families together using machine learning.

Hear from AWS AI & ML Scholarship students who are navigating and defining what a career in technology can look like today.
Click to learn more about their story and envision your own future in tech with the AI & ML Scholarship.
Start your application today!
Sign up for the scholarship program on AWS DeepRacer Student
Complete prerequisites to unlock your unique application code
Submit your scholarship application on Udacity using your unique code
2024 Scholarship Dates
The scholarship program works on a cohort-based approach. Each year, two cohorts of 1,000 students are selected (2,000 total). Winter cohort applications open June 1, 2024 once summer applications close.
Scholarship prerequisites available to complete on AWS DeepRacer Student.
Applications open on Udacity for the 2024 scholarship summer cohort.
Applications close for the 2024 scholarship summer cohort.
Nanodegree program AI Programming with Python begins.
Start your application today!
Sign up for the scholarship program on AWS DeepRacer Student
Complete prerequisites to unlock your unique application code
Submit your scholarship application on Udacity using your unique code
How does the program get you ready for a career in tech?
Gain the latest AI & ML skills through a comprehensive curriculum equipped with two nanodegree scholarship programs, one generative AI course, and an interactive AWS service. You will work on real-world projects, get coaching from professionals, and build a portfolio to demonstrate your career-readiness in the tech field.

AWS DeepRacer Student
Start learning the basics of ML with access to 20 hours of AI & ML content to learn the foundations of reinforcement learning. Apply your learnings in an autonomous racing league by building and tuning your first ML model.
Available free to students 16 years and older

Introducing Generative AI with AWS
This one-month course provides learners with the fundamentals of generative AI including understanding large language models (LLMs) and it's real-world applications. Build a generative AI project reviewed by a technical tutor to earn a certificate upon completion.
Available free to students who complete their scholarship application on Udacity

AI Programming with Python Nanodegree (Scholarship 1)
Learn the foundations for building your own neural network in this three-month virtual course teaching programming tool fundamentals for ML, with live technical tutors, and real-world projects. Review the course syllabus to learn more »
2,000 students annually will be awarded a nanodegree scholarship

Deep Learning and ML Engineer Nanodegree (Scholarship 2)
The four-month course teaches deep learning and ML skills required to build and deploy ML models in production. The nanodegree includes live technical tutors and projects with AWS services. Review the course syllabus to learn more »
500 students from the first scholarship will be awarded an additional scholarship
2024 Scholarship Dates
The scholarship program works on a cohort-based approach. Each year, two cohorts of 1,000 students are selected (2,000 total). Winter cohort applications open June 1, 2024 once summer applications close.
Scholarship prerequisites available to complete on AWS DeepRacer Student.
Applications open on Udacity for the 2024 scholarship summer cohort.
Applications close for the 2024 scholarship summer cohort.
Nanodegree program AI Programming with Python begins.
Frequently asked questions
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General program information
Q: What is the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program?
The AWS AI & ML Scholarship program, in collaboration with Udacity, is an AI/ML-focused scholarship program providing 2,500 scholarships annually, as well as a mentorship program, to students that identify as underserved or underrepresented in technology. The program aims to make the future tech workforce more diverse by removing financial barriers, providing training for a career in tech, and offering mentorship support to individuals that are underserved or underrepresented in tech.Q: How does the Scholarship program leverage AWS DeepRacer?
The AWS AI & ML Scholarship program uses a student-only version of the award-winning AWS DeepRacer League to qualify participants for scholarship opportunities. This league engages students with fun, hands-on learning opportunities. Students that complete the program requisites (from high school students over the age of 16 to college students) are invited to apply for one of 2,500 Udacity Nanodegree scholarships, with the opportunity to continue learning with a more advanced nanodegree, helping them prepare for a career in technology.Q: When does the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program begin?
Applications open for the new 2024 AWS AI & ML Scholarship program on February 1, 2024 through Udacity. Students can complete scholarship prerequisites for the 2024 program on AWS DeepRacer Student to unlock their unique code to finish their application in mid October. AWS DeepRacer Student provides more than 20 hours of learning content, assessments, and the ability to compete in the AWS DeepRacer Student League.Q: What are the important program dates?
AWS AI & ML Scholarship Event Start Date End Date Applications Open - Summer Cohort 2/1/2024 5/31/2024 Application Open - Winter Cohort 6/1/2024 9/30/2024 Udacity NanoDegree 1 – Summer Cohort (1000 students) 6/19/2024 9/19/2024 Udacity NanoDegree 1 – Winter Cohort (1000 students) 10/16/2024 1/16/2025 Udacity NanoDegree 2 – Combined Cohorts (500 Students) 4/14/2025 8/15/2025 Q: Where is The AWS AI & ML Scholarship program available?
The AWS AI & ML Scholarship program is available globally, except where prohibited by law. See here for official terms and conditions.Q: What differentiates the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program from other scholarship programs?
The AWS AI & ML Scholarship program is unique because it uses AWS DeepRacer and corresponding AI/ML training content as a mechanism to inspire, engage, and educate participants in ways no other scholarship program does. Unlike traditional scholarships, all participants, not just winners, benefit from the program by learning the fundamentals of ML, AWS offerings, and the real-world problems that AWS ML solves (through content developed in collaboration with Udacity).One of the issues those new to ML face is the feeling that ML is out of reach for them. By familiarizing students with cloud and ML offerings in fun and hands-on ways, AWS DeepRacer provides inspiration and confidence students need to not only enroll in STEM fields, but also overcome challenges and successfully graduate. Demystifying ML through gamified and hands-on AWS DeepRacer competitions creates a cycle to help these individuals graduate and create a more diverse workforce. Improved diversity leads to creation of technologies that are more welcoming to the next generations of currently underrepresented minority groups.
Compared to traditional scholarships, AWS DeepRacer makes learning more engaging by teaching the fundamentals of AI & ML while having fun racing a model car.
Q: How do I gain access to the AWS Generative AI course?
Students need to prequalify on AWS DeepRacer Student and submit their scholarship application on Udacity. Upon completion of their application, Udacity will contact students with steps to enroll in the course “Introducing Generative AI with AWS”.
Q: What is a Udacity NanoDegree?
Udacity nanodegrees are massive open online courses (MOOCs) designed to bridge the gap between learning and career goals. For more details, see What is a Nanodegree Program? in the Udacity support documentation.Q: Are there any costs associated with applying to the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program, including completing the prerequisites?
No, there are no costs to apply. Additionally, all aspects of AWS DeepRacer Student, the service used to complete the application requisites, is free for students to learn, train, and participate.Q: When are scholarship recipients selected?
The AWS AI & ML Scholarship program works on a cohort-based approach. Each year, two cohorts of 1,000 students are selected. The applications for the first cohort in 2024 are due May 31, 2024 and the applications for the second cohort are due Septmeber 30, 2024. -
Program eligibility
Q: Who can apply to the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program?
Any student over the age of 16 that self identifies as underserved or underrepresented in technology, and is currently enrolled in high school or college, may apply (subject to terms and conditions on Udacity).Q: How do I prequalify for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program?
Prequalifying for the scholarship is based on two criteria:
- Review coursework and pass assessments. To qualify you must score 80% or better on all required assessments on AWS DeepRacer Student learning modules. Each assessment is based on different chapters you can find in the Learn section in the AWS DeepRacer Student navigation pane.
- Achieve a minimum single lap time. Each month from March to September, a new leaderboard is launched in the AWS DeepRacer Student League, featuring a new track design. To qualify for the scholarship, you will need to complete a single lap in less than 2 minutes on any single leaderboard.
Q: If I prequalify for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship, do I automatically receive a Udacity Nanodegree scholarship?
No. Students who prequalify for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship are given access to the application for the Udacity Nanodegree scholarship. Udacity determines which prequalified students are awarded Udacity Nanodegree scholarships.
Q: How will I know if I have completed all of the prerequisites on AWS DeepRacer Student?
By opting in to the AWS AI & ML Scholarship at AWS DeepRacer Student registration, students have their progress towards completing the prerequisites tracked automatically in the dashboard section of DeepRacer Student. When a student successfully completes all requirements, they will receive an automated email with a unique application code and instructions to finish their application on Udacity. At the close of each application period, selected recipients will receive an email from Udacity regarding their enrollment.
Q: Am I required to provide proof of enrollment before being selected for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship?
You may be asked to provide proof of enrollment (such as a college transcript) to receive the AWS AI & ML Scholarship. -
Scholarship selection
Q: How are students selected for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program?
Students that successfully complete prerequisites within AWS DeepRacer Student and submit their application on the Udacity website by the submission deadline are considered for the scholarship. Udacity will use a combination of application data, including but not limited to prerequisite knowledge assessments, to determine 2,000 scholarship applicants annually.
Q: How are the top 500 students selected for the advanced Udacity Nanodegree program with one-on-one mentoring?
To determine the top 500 students, students will be evaluated based on the completion of coursework during the first nanodegree, including course assessments and module completion.
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Educators
Q: Are educators eligible to use the AWS DeepRacer Student service?
Yes, educators are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the free educational content and service on AWS DeepRacer Student. The learning content provided has been curated by AWS ML experts to help students get started with ML, and is a great addition and resource for any computer science and related course.
Q: Are educators eligible to apply for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship?
No, at this time the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program is only open to currently enrolled students at high school, secondary school, and higher education institutions. However, you are encouraged to share the opportunity with your students and help them take advantage of the scholarship opportunity.
Q: Who can I contact to learn more about incorporating AWS DeepRacer Student into my curriculum?
To connect regarding AWS DeepRacer Student opportunities, please complete this form and an AWS DeepRacer Student expert will contact you.