Google PhD Fellowship Program
Deadline: April 20, 2025Google PhD Fellowships directly support graduate students as they pursue their PhD, as well as connect them to a Google Research Mentor.
Nurturing and maintaining strong relations with the academic community is a top priority at Google. The Google PhD Fellowship Program was created to recognize outstanding graduate students doing exceptional and innovative research in areas relevant to computer science and related fields. Fellowships support promising PhD candidates of all backgrounds who seek to influence the future of technology. Google's research teams impact technology used by people all over the world and people of a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Google currently offer fellowships in Africa, Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and the United States.
GW will send up to four candidates to the national committee.
Learn more about the Google PhD Fellowship Program
Award Details
- Up to 2 year fellowship included: US $85K per year: $70K Cost of Education allowance towards tuition and fees and $15K stipend to be used for living expenses, travel and personal equipment (effective from 2025 for new recipients)
- Google Research Mentor
General Eligibility Requirements
- Students must remain enrolled full-time in the PhD program for the duration of the Fellowship or forfeit the 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. Government or non-profit organization funding is exempt.
- Past awardees from the PhD Fellowship program are not eligible to apply again.
- Students must have completed graduate coursework in their PhD by the academic award year when the Fellowship begins.
Review Criteria
Applications are evaluated on the strength of the research proposal, research impact, student academic achievements, and leadership potential. Research proposals are evaluated for innovative concepts that are relevant to Google’s research areas, as well as aspects of robustness and potential impact to the field. Proposals should include the direction and any plans of where your work is going in addition to a comprehensive description of the research you are pursuing. In Canada and the United States, East Asia and Latin America, essay responses are evaluated in addition to application materials to determine an overall recommendation.
Required Application Materials to Submit to GW
Please note that additional application materials will be required if your application is accepted to move forward to the nomination stage. See below for more details.
- Student CV with links to website and publications (if available)
- Research/dissertation proposal (maximum 3 pages, excluding references)
- Student essay response (350-word limit) to: "Describe the desired impact your research will make on the field and society, and why this is important to you. Include any personal, educational and/or professional experiences that have motivated your research interests."
- Student essay response (350-word limit) to: "Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. (A leadership role can mean more than just a title...)"
- Official transcripts of current and previous academic records
Application Process
PhD students must be nominated for the fellowship by George Washington University. Applicants should apply via GW's online portal and will be notified if their application is selected to move forward to the nomination stage.
Students will submit applications for GW review by April 20, 2025
If applicants are selected to move forward, the following additional materials will be required:
- Cover sheet signed by the Department Chair confirming the student passes eligibility requirements. (See FAQ "What are the eligibility requirements for students?")
- Short (1-page) CV of the student's primary advisor
- 2-3 letters of recommendation from those familiar with the nominee's work (at least one from the thesis advisor)
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