A perpendicular spin orbit torque MRAM memory cell comprises a magnetic tunnel junction that includes a free layer in a plane, a ferromagnetic layer and a spacer layer between the ferromagnetic layer and the free layer. The free layer comprises a switchable direction of magnetization perpendicular to the plane. The ferromagnetic layer is configured to generate perpendicularly polarized spin current in response to an electrical current through the ferromagnetic layer and inject the perpendicularly polarized spin current through the spacer layer into the free layer to change the direction of magnetization of the free layer.