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Google PhD Fellowship

Award Overview

Purpose

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 they encourage people of a wide range of backgrounds to apply.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be full-time graduate students pursuing a PhD in one of the research areas listed below.
  • Not be Google employees, their spouses, children, or members of their household.

Recipients must:

  • Have completed all graduate coursework by the time the Fellowship begins.
  • Remain enrolled full-time in the PhD program for the duration of the Fellowship or forfeit the award.
  • Not be already supported by a comparable industry award (government or non-profit organization funding is exempt).

Note: past Google PhD Fellowship awardees are not eligible to apply again.

Research areas

  • Algorithms 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
  • Additional specific research areas will be listed on Google’s application forms during the application/nomination window.

Selection 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.

A nominee’s status as a member of a historically marginalized group is not considered in the selection of award recipients.

Research should align with Google AI Principles.

Application Process

The University of Toronto may submit up to four (4) nominations university-wide for the Google PhD Fellowship competition. Given the extremely competitive and prestigious nature of this international award, graduate units are asked to carefully consider and forward only the highest quality applications to SGS for nomination.

Applicants must submit an electronic copy of their completed application as a single flat (not portfolio) PDF file via email to their graduate unit by the graduate unit’s application deadline.

Please note: Reference letters should not be sent to the Graduate Awards Office. Students must ensure that letters are sent to their graduate unit.

A complete application package will include all of the following items in the order listed:

  1. Cover sheet signed by the Department Chair or designate confirming that the student passes the eligibility requirements, as stated above (to be supplied by graduate unit before forwarding to SGS).
  2. Student CV with links to website and publications (if available).
  3. Short (1-page) CV of the student’s primary supervisor.
  4. Research / dissertation proposal (maximum 3 pages, excluding references).
  5. Student (research) essay response (maximum 350 words): 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.
  6. Student (leadership) essay response (maximum 350 words): 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. It 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? Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? 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?)
  7. Transcripts for all current and previous undergraduate and graduate studies to date. Scans of official transcript are preferred but unofficial and web-based transcripts are accepted.
  8. 2-3 letters of recommendation from those familiar with the nominee’s work (at least one must be from the applicant’s thesis advisor). Letters must be emailed by each referee as a PDF attachment directly to the graduate unit (not SGS) by the graduate unit’s application deadline.

Applicants should list their Google Research Area(s), in order of relevance if more than one, in the body of the submission email to their graduate unit.

Results

The University competition results will be communicated by the SGS Graduate Awards Office in late April. The results of the international competition will be communicated to nominees when available, likely in late Summer 2026.

Contacts & Resources

For more information, visit the Google PhD Fellowship FAQ page and/or contact phdfellowship@google.com or:
Janine Harper
Graduate Awards Office
School of Graduate Studies
416-978-3555
janine.harper@utoronto.ca