2026/2027 Cohort · March 2026 – March 2027

DataWired × DataCamp Scholarship Programme

A fully funded, one-year self-paced learning journey powered by DataCamp Premium and delivered through DataCamp Donates. Build job-ready data skills, earn recognised certifications, and grow alongside a supportive community of scholars.

1 Year
Premium access
100%
Fully funded
Self-Paced
Learn anytime
3+
Certifications
Programme Overview

About the Scholarship

The DataWired and DataCamp scholarship is a strategic initiative of DataCamp Donates. It is a one-year, self-paced learning programme through DataCamp Premium, designed to promote learning in a chosen data specialism through free, high-quality education.

  • Full year of DataCamp Premium at no cost to you
  • Learn at your own pace around work and study commitments
  • Structured tracks, certifications, and portfolio projects
  • Peer accountability, mentorship, and community recognition

At a glance

ProgrammeDataCamp Premium
Duration12 months
FormatSelf-paced, online
CohortMar 2026 – Mar 2027
CostFully funded
Delivered byDataWired & DataCamp Donates
Curriculum

What you'll learn

Choose focused skill tracks, follow comprehensive career pathways, and validate your expertise with industry-recognised certifications.

Skill Tracks

Python Fundamentals SQL Fundamentals R Fundamentals Statistics Fundamentals Data Visualization Data Manipulation Power BI Essentials Tableau Essentials + Many more

Career Tracks

Data Analyst

Collect, process, and analyse data to help businesses make informed decisions.

Data Scientist

Combine programming, statistics, and machine learning to extract actionable insights.

Machine Learning Scientist

Design and implement advanced algorithms and predictive models for AI applications.

Data Engineer

Build the infrastructure and pipelines that let data be collected, stored, and analysed.

Business Analyst

Bridge IT and business by using analytics to assess processes and deliver recommendations.

Analytics Engineer

Sit between engineering and analysis, bringing software best practices to data.

+ Many more

Explore additional career pathways across data, analytics, and AI on DataCamp.

Certifications

Career Certifications

Role-aligned credentials proving job readiness as a Data Analyst, Data Scientist, or Data Engineer.

Technology Certifications

Tool-specific validations for SQL, Python, R, Power BI, and Tableau to prove technical proficiency.

Theory Certifications

Foundational assessments in Statistics, Probability, and Machine Learning to verify core understanding.

12-Month Roadmap

Your learning journey, month by month

A guided path from kickoff to final showcase — each milestone builds toward job-ready expertise.

1
March 2026

Programme kickoff and complete 1 Skill Track

2
April 2026

Start a Career Track

3
May 2026

Reach over 60,000 XP

4
June 2026

Complete 1 guided project and publish it on GitHub or any portfolio site of choice

5
July 2026

Reach over 80,000 XP

6
August 2026

Earn 1 Theory Certification and post it on LinkedIn

7
September 2026

Complete 2+ Skill Tracks and earn 1 Technology Certification

8
October 2026

Build a portfolio project and publish it on GitHub

9
November 2026

Earn 1 Career Certification and post it on LinkedIn

10
December 2026

Build another portfolio project and publish it on GitHub

11
January 2027

Strengthen portfolio and certifications

12
February 2027

Prepare final learning journey presentation

March 2027

Final showcase and cohort closeout

Quarterly Meetings

We meet every quarter on the 3rd Saturday

Live sessions keep the cohort connected, accountable, and celebrating progress together.

21
March
2026
Kickoff
Session 1

Cohort Kickoff & Orientation

20
June
2026
Q1
Session 2

Quarter 1 Progress Check-in

19
September
2026
Q2
Session 3

Quarter 2 Learning Review

19
December
2026
Q3
Session 4

Quarter 3 Portfolio & Certification Check-in

20
March
2027
Finale
Session 5

Final Showcase & Cohort Closeout

Every session covers a consistent agenda:

Progress updates Scholar spotlights Accountability check-ins Certification tracking Project sharing Q&A Community announcements
Peer Partners - Coming soon in August

Accountability partners for the journey

Scholars are paired with accountability partners to support consistency, motivation, and progress throughout the 12-month learning journey.

Scholar Name Peer Partner Learning Track
Showing the first 10 pairs — use the search box above to find any scholar by name.
Weekly Leaderboard

Top 10 scholars · ranked by XP

Our Top 10 is ranked by XP earned over the last 30 days. A fresh snapshot is published here every week to celebrate consistency, learning progress, course completion, and community participation.

Live Top 10 · Last 30 Days Updated weekly
DataCamp Top 10 leaderboard ranked by XP earned over the last 30 days
Top 10 scholars by XP earned (last 30 days). Snapshot refreshed weekly.

Top XP Earner

Highest XP accumulated this week

Siphathisile Ncube

Most Consistent Learner

Longest active learning streak

Siphathisile Ncube

Certification Champion

Most certifications earned

Tatenda Alicia Murwira

Project Builder

Most learning projects completed

Siphathisile Ncube

Community Contributor

Top support and sharing in forums

-
The leaderboard image and weekly category winners are refreshed every week to motivate consistent learning and celebrate scholar progress.
Recognition & Awards

Your effort, recognised

We spotlight achievement across the cohort with regular awards and incentives that reward consistency and excellence.

Monthly Top Learners

Awarded to the top 3 learners with the highest XP accumulation each month. Consistency is key.

Quarterly Rising Stars

Recognising learners who show the greatest improvement in skill proficiency and engagement.

End-of-Programme Awards

Prestigious recognition for completing Career Tracks and outstanding capstone projects.

Potential rewards

Public Shout-outs Digital Badges Mentor Sessions DataWired Swag

Ready to start your data journey?

Join the 2026/2027 cohort and turn a year of focused learning into a lasting career advantage.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the scholarship and how the cohort works.

The scholarship provides 12 months of DataCamp Premium access. The 2026/2027 cohort runs from March 2026 to March 2027, fully self-paced.
Nothing. The programme is fully funded through DataCamp Donates, so there is no cost to selected scholars.
No. Tracks start with fundamentals like Intro to Python, R, and SQL, so beginners are welcome. Motivation and consistency matter most.
Aim to study at least 30 minutes a day, complete skill and career tracks, earn 3+ certifications, build 2 portfolio-ready projects, and accumulate 10,000+ XP. The monthly roadmap guides you.
Each scholar is paired with an accountability partner to track progress together, share insights, and celebrate milestones throughout the journey.
We meet every quarter on the 3rd Saturday for progress updates, scholar spotlights, accountability check-ins, certification tracking, project sharing, Q&A, and community announcements.
Reach our Points of Contact at info@datawired.co.za. Gcinithemba Maphosa (Founder, Cape Town) and Wendy Utter Ndlovu (Community Manager, Victoria Falls) are here to guide you.