Google PhD Fellowship
The limited competition (up to four nominees from UIC). Campus deadline: April 16
March 16, 2026 Update:
The competition is open! Students must be nominated by UIC and thus the Graduate College is running a limited (four slots) competition.
The Google PhD Fellowship directly supports graduate students doing exceptional and innovative research in computer science and related fields as they pursue their PhD. Fellowships also provide a unique gateway to connect with Google researchers and a global community of peers, enabling long-term partnerships that catalyze scientific advancement.
The information below pertains to applications from US institutions. There does not seem to be a citizenship requirement.
Fellowship recipients are not subject to intellectual property restrictions unless they complete an internship at Google. If that is the case, they are subject to the same intellectual property restrictions as any other Google intern.
Benefits include:
- Up to 2 years of Fellowship
- $85,000 per year towards tuition and fees; living expenses [stipend], and personal equipment [these details are new]
details
Fellowship recipients are not subject to intellectual property restrictions unless they complete an internship at Google. If that is the case, they are subject to the same intellectual property restrictions as any other Google intern.
Fellowship recipients are eligible for these scholarships
Eligibility and research areas of focus
Students must:
- Be enrolled full-time and pursuing a PhD in computer science or related program*;
- have completed graduate coursework by the Fall of the award year, when the Fellowship begins. This is usually the 3rd year for US and Canadian students;
- remain enrolled full-time in the PhD program for the duration of the Fellowship or forfeit the award;
- Not be Google employees, and their spouses, children, and or members of a Google employee household;
- Not be already supported by a comparable industry award.
- Conduct research that aligns with Google AI Principles.
* For the 2026 cycle, we are accepting applications in the following research areas/fields:
- Algorithms and Optimization
- Computer Architecture
- Health Research
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Machine Learning and ML Foundations
- Machine Perception
- Natural Language Processing
- Privacy, Safety, and Security
- Quantum Computing
- Software Engineering and Programming Languages
- Systems, Networking, and Cloud Computing
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.
[The early campus deadline allows Graduate College staff to provide feedback on the essays.]
Nomination Procedures
Applications [for the 2026 competition]
For each student nomination, the university will be asked to submit the following material in a single PDF file. Thus, it is the student’s and their program’s responsibility to furnish the following as a single PDF:
- Cover sheet signed by the Department Chair/Head confirming the student passes eligibility requirements. This paragraph should include the student’s UIN, semester of PhD matriculation, anticipated graduation term, when coursework was completed, current funding, and Google employment. (See FAQ “What are the eligibility requirements for students?”); [no form is provided]
- Student CV with links to website and publications (if available)
- Short (1-page) CV of the student’s primary advisor
- Two to three (2-3) letters of recommendation from those familiar with the nominee’s work (at least one from the thesis advisor) [addressed to the Google PhD Fellowship]
- Research / dissertation proposal including references (maximum 3 pages, excluding references)
- Student essay response (350-word limit) to this prompt: “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 this prompt: “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…” [Pro tip from last year: “Leadership” can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?)
- Transcripts of current and previous academic records
Submissions
Given that the application includes confidential letters of recommendation, the head/chair, DGS, mentor, or a grad staff member is expected to submit the nomination file. Nominations must be sent as an email attachment (with all the materials in a single file) to the Graduate College’s Limited Competition folder in Box (a FERPA-compliant cloud storage service): Google_.zhfor4o63qdyszg3@u.box.com
File naming convention:
The PDF files should be saved using the following naming convention: Google2025_ DepartmentName_NomineeLastNameFirstInitial.pdf
Example of Keith Moon’s application from Computer Science without using spaces in the file name: Google2026_CS_BaudelaireC.pdf
FAQs
Why is there a limited competition? The university is permitted only four nominations and tasked with submitting the nominations. Since students could be based in a number of different programs/departments, it falls to the Graduate College to coordinate.
Who is the Graduate College contact? Benn Williams, Fellowships and Awards Coordinator (bwilli7@uic.edu)
Are fellowship recipients eligible for the Google scholarships? Yes, these scholarships.
deadline
DEADLINE: Deadline: 4 p.m. (CT), April 16, 2026.