of AWS AI and ML Scholars Programis brought to you by Udacity in partnership with Amazon Web Services and is designed to equip learners with in-demand artificial intelligence and machine learning skills. Powered by AWS Skill Builder, this initiative aims to train up to 100,000 participants worldwide in fundamental AI and agent AI capabilities tailored to real-world industry needs.
The program focuses on hands-on, hands-on learning experiences that allow participants to gain career-related expertise while working with real-world AWS tools.
Build career-ready AI skills
This program enables learners to build a strong AI foundation to support career advancement. Participants will work through a structured learning path and gain exposure to real-world AI applications.
Key achievements include:
- Development of basic AI and generative AI knowledge
- Hands-on experience with AWS tools such as Amazon PartyRock and Amazon Bedrock.
- Understanding responsible AI practices and ethical implementation
- Exposure to real-world use cases across industries
Early phase graduates will also receive three months of access to AWS Skill Builder, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and continue skill development beyond the core curriculum.
Eligibility and accessibility
The AWS AI & ML Scholars program is designed to be inclusive and accessible to a global audience. We welcome individuals from diverse educational and professional backgrounds.
Eligibility criteria include:
- Applicants must be 18 years or older
- No AI or machine learning experience required
- Participants from all over the world can participate
- Ideal for students, early career professionals, and career changers
This holistic approach allows learners at different stages to benefit from AI education and career development opportunities.
Program structure and phases
The program is divided into two main phases, with each phase designed to progressively build skills and expertise.
Phase 1: Challenge phase
- Recruitment period: March 24, 2026 – June 24, 2026
- Up to 100,000 learners worldwide
- Fully funded by AWS
- Based on the AWS AI Practitioner Learning Plan
- Self-paced learning with practical exercises
- Certificate of completion awarded upon successful participation
Phase 2: Udacity Nanodegree
- Operates from August 4, 2026 to November 4, 2026
- Available to top 4,500 participants in Phase 1
- Fully Funded Nano Degree Scholarship
- Focus on specialized, career-aligned AI tracks
- Includes project-based learning for portfolio development
This structured pathway ensures both accessibility and progression to advanced expertise.
Learning path and key skills
Participants will begin by building a strong AI foundation through guided learning and hands-on practice. This program focuses on practical application of concepts.
During the challenge phase, learners consider:
- Core AI concepts and generative AI technologies
- Natural language processing and computer vision applications
- Data preparation, model training, deployment, and monitoring
- Responsible AI principles and case studies
This approach ensures that learners gain both theoretical understanding and practical experience.
Advanced career specializations
Top-performing participants will advance to specialized Nanodegree tracks tailored to in-demand AI roles. These tracks are designed to prepare learners for real-world careers.
Future AWS AI Programmer
- Advanced Python programming for data analysis and visualization
- Developing machine learning models using PyTorch
- Exploring neural networks and transformer models
- Introductory-level Python certification concept preparation
Future AWS Agentic AI Business Professional
- Using AWS tools for business intelligence and analysis
- Data transformation and visualization using QuickSight
- Designing AI-driven decision-making systems
- Workflow and business process automation
Future AWS Agent Engineer
- Developing an AI system using Amazon Bedrock and advanced models
- Applying prompting strategies and search augmentation generation (RAG)
- Building single-agent and multi-agent AI systems
- Creating portfolio projects such as AI agents and automation systems
These tracks provide learners with work-ready skills and hands-on experience for AI-focused careers.
Program timeline
The AWS AI & ML Scholars program follows a structured timeline and guides participants through each step.
- March 24 to June 24, 2026: Application and Challenge Phase
- July 5, 2026: Evaluation distribution
- July 13, 2026: Evaluation deadline
- July 27, 2026: Announcement of Nano degree winners
- August 4th – November 4th, 2026: Nano degree program
This timeline ensures clear progression from basic learning to advanced specialization.
About AWS
Amazon Web Services is the world leader in cloud computing, offering more than 200 fully-featured services from data centers around the world. We support millions of customers, including startups, enterprises, and government agencies, enabling them to innovate, scale operations, and reduce costs.
Through programs like AWS AI & ML Scholars, AWS continues to invest in global talent development and digital transformation.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not a scholar program organization. For inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not submit your application or resume to GSO as it cannot be processed by GSO. Due to the large volume of emails we receive every day, we may not be able to reply to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
