The Google Fellowships was created to recognize outstanding graduate students doing exceptional work in computer science and related research areas. They currently offer Fellowships in Australia, China and East Asia, Europe, Africa, India, the United States and Canada.

Google PhD Fellowships directly support graduate students as they pursue their PhD, as well as connect them to a Google Research Mentor. Students receive named Fellowships which include a monetary award. The funds are given directly to the university to be distributed to cover the student’s expenses and stipend as appropriate.

Research Fields 

Google PhD Fellowship students are a select group recognized by Google researchers and their institutions as some of the most promising young academics in the world. The Fellowships are awarded to students who represent the future of research in the following fields:

• Algorithms, Optimizations and Markets
• Computational Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Machine Learning
• Machine Perception, Speech Technology and Computer Vision
• Mobile Computing
• Natural Language Processing (including Information Retrieval and Extraction)
• Privacy and Security
• Programming Languages and Software Engineering
• Quantum Computing
• Structured Data and Database Management
• Systems and Networking

Eligibility Criteria 

Nominated students in North America and Europe

Universities should only nominate students that meet the following requirements:

• Full-time graduate students pursuing a PhD.
• US/Canadian students must be in at least their 3rd year of a PhD program by the fall semester or quarter of the year when the Fellowship begins. The nominating university will be asked to confirm the student’s PhD program start date.
• European students must be in at least their 2nd year of a PhD program with the same rules above.
• The recipient must remain an active, full-time student in a PhD program during at least two academic years of the award or forfeit award.
• Google employees, and their spouses, children, and members of their household are not eligible.
• Students that are already supported by a comparable industry award are not eligible.

Nominated students in Australia, China and East Asia

Universities should only nominate students that meet the following requirements:

• Enrolled in a participating university and nominated by that university.
• Full-time graduate students pursuing a PhD.
• Completed graduate coursework by the Fall of the award year, when the Fellowship begins.
• Google employees, and their spouses, children, and members of their household are not eligible.
• Students that are already supported by a comparable industry award are not eligible.

Direct applicant students in Africa and India

• Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time PhD program at a university in Africa or India. Applicants who are currently in their first year of a part-time PhD program and transferring to full-time positions are also welcome to apply.
• If applicants are in a PhD program already, they should be an early-stage PhD student when submitting their application, i.e., applicants have completed one year or less of their PhD.
• Students must remain enrolled in the PhD program for the duration of the Fellowship or forfeit the award.
• Current undergraduate, master students and professionals may apply. The Google Fellowship award shall be contingent on the awardee registering for a full-time PhD program of an African or Indian university in Computer Science or related areas within the calendar year of the fellowship, or the award shall be forfeited.
  • Applicants enrolled in an undergraduate or masters program must be current, full-time students at an African or Indian university.
  • Professionals must be employed/affiliated with an organization registered in Africa or India, and receipt of the award is contingent on them joining a full-time PhD program at an African or Indian university within the calendar year of the award.
  • Grant of the Google Fellowship does not mean admission to the PhD program of a university. The awardee must also complete the PhD admission process of the respective institute/university where he/she wishes to register for a PhD.
  • Grant of the Google Fellowship will be subject to the rules and guidelines applicable in the institute/university where the awardee registers for the PhD program.
• Google employees, and their spouses, children, and members of their household are not eligible.
• Students that are already supported by a comparable industry award are not eligible.