The ISACA Foundation is inviting students worldwide, including South African students, to apply for its Digital Trust Scholarship. The scholarship supports undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing qualifications related to IT audit, cybersecurity, risk, governance and assurance.
Fourteen students will be selected to receive scholarships worth between US$1,000 and US$2,500 each, together with an ISACA Career Building Bundle designed to support their education and future careers in technology.
Applications close on 3 November 2026 at 11:59 pm US Central Time.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: ISACA Foundation
Opportunity type: International academic scholarship
Academic year supported: 2027
Who it’s for: Undergraduate and postgraduate students worldwide studying digital-trust-related fields
Study institution: Accredited college, university or technical training institute in any country
Minimum age: 18 years
Number of scholarships: 14
Scholarship value: US$1,000 to US$2,500 per recipient
Closing date: 3 November 2026 at 11:59 pm US Central Time
Application method: Online through the official ISACA Foundation scholarship portal
Last verified: 11 September 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
- The scholarship is open worldwide, so eligible South African students may apply.
- Both undergraduate and postgraduate students are eligible.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Applicants must already be enrolled or accepted at an accredited tertiary or technical training institution.
- Study fields must relate to IT audit, risk, cybersecurity, governance or assurance.
- A letter of recommendation is compulsory.
- International students must provide proof of enrolment.
- Fourteen scholarships will be awarded.
- Scholarship amounts range from US$1,000 to US$2,500, depending on financial need, typical tuition costs in the applicant’s country and merit.
- Scholarship funds are expected to be distributed between January and February 2027.
- Recipients must agree to attend at least one ISACA event, either virtual or in person, during 2026.
- Recipients must also remain in contact with the ISACA Foundation twice per year for two years regarding their studies and career progress.
About the sponsor
The ISACA Foundation was established to expand access to education and careers in fields such as cybersecurity, IT audit, risk, governance and digital trust.
Its scholarship programme supports undergraduate and postgraduate students around the world while also providing professional-development resources, mentorship and access to the wider ISACA community.
The Foundation states that it has awarded more than US$1.5 million in scholarships to more than 800 students since 2022.
What it covers
Selected students will receive an academic scholarship worth between:
- US$1,000 and US$2,500
The exact amount awarded to each recipient is determined according to:
- Financial need
- Average tuition costs in the applicant’s country
- Academic merit
Scholarship funds must be used for education-related expenses at the institution the recipient will attend in 2027.
Approved expenses may include:
- Full-time enrolment costs
- Part-time enrolment costs
- Credit courses
- Registration fees
- Tuition fees
- Other approved school fees
- Books
- Study supplies
- Essential technology
For students studying outside the United States, including South African recipients, scholarship funds will be paid directly to the student.
ISACA Career Building Bundle
In addition to the scholarship funding, recipients will receive an ISACA Career Building Bundle.
This includes:
- One year of ISACA student membership
- Access to ISACA career-development events and webinars
- One ISACA certificate online review course
- Registration for one ISACA Virtual Conference
- Access to the ISACA Mentorship Program
- Opportunities to connect with certified digital-trust professionals
- Resources to establish an ISACA Student Group at the recipient’s university or college, where applicable
- Access to additional ISACA and ISACA Foundation resources
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college, university or technical training institute
- Be studying at an institution in any country
- Be pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification
- Be studying in a field related to digital trust
- Provide a valid letter of recommendation
Fields of study supported
Relevant fields include:
- Cybersecurity
- IT Audit
- Information Systems Audit
- IT Risk
- Technology Risk
- Information Security
- Governance
- IT Governance
- Assurance
- Related digital-trust disciplines
Applicants studying related qualifications should use the official application to determine whether their particular programme fits the scholarship criteria.
Documents to prepare
Applicants should prepare:
- Proof of enrolment if attending an institution outside the United States
- Letter of recommendation
- Information about their university, college or technical training institution
- Details of their undergraduate or postgraduate programme
- Any additional academic, personal or financial information requested by the scholarship application
The recommendation letter may come from:
- An educator, such as a professor or academic counsellor; or
- A professional who works closely with the applicant, such as an employer or volunteer manager
Recipient commitments
Successful scholarship recipients must agree to:
- Attend at least one ISACA event, virtually or in person, during 2026
- Communicate with the ISACA Foundation twice per year for two years
- Provide updates regarding their educational and career progress
- Use the scholarship only for approved education-related expenses
Applicants should consider these commitments carefully before accepting an award.
Closing date
3 November 2026 at 11:59 pm US Central Time.
South African applicants should pay careful attention to the time-zone difference and are advised to submit their applications well before 3 November rather than relying on the final few hours.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying if you are younger than 18
- Applying without being enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution
- Applying for a qualification unrelated to digital trust
- Forgetting the compulsory recommendation letter
- International applicants forgetting proof of enrolment
- Leaving the application incomplete
- Assuming the scholarship covers any type of study regardless of field
- Ignoring the recipient commitments
- Waiting until the deadline and miscalculating the US Central Time cut-off
How this opportunity was verified
This opportunity was verified directly from the official ISACA Foundation Digital Trust Scholarship application page.
The official listing confirms that the programme is open worldwide, supports undergraduate and postgraduate students, offers 14 scholarships worth US$1,000 to US$2,500 each, requires a recommendation letter and closes on 3 November 2026 at 11:59 pm US Central Time.
ISACA’s official announcement dated 9 September 2026 also confirms that the latest global scholarship cycle is now open and that applications close on 3 November 2026.
How to apply
- Open the official ISACA Digital Trust Scholarship page.
- Create a free ISACA account, or sign in if you already have one.
- Start the Digital Trust Scholarship application.
- Complete all required personal and study information.
- Upload proof of enrolment if you are studying outside the United States.
- Arrange and submit the required recommendation letter.
- Complete any additional supporting-information sections.
- Review the application carefully.
- Submit before 3 November 2026 at 11:59 pm US Central Time.
- Keep confirmation of your submission.