NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship
The NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program provides up to $60,000 per award for PhD research that advances accelerated computing. Fellows work with NVIDIA researchers and complete a required in-person summer internship before the award year.
What Fellows say
Who is eligible for the Fellowship?
- PhD experience Complete your first year of PhD-level studies before applying. See the FAQ for guidance on exceptional cases.
- Field of study Major in computer science, computer engineering, system architecture, electrical engineering, or a related area.
- Active research Be actively engaged in research as part of your PhD thesis.
- Full-time enrollment Remain a full-time, active PhD student throughout the nine-month award year. Do not plan to graduate before the end of that academic year.
- In-person internship Be available for a summer internship at an eligible NVIDIA research office before the Fellowship year begins.
- Participation restrictions Full-time NVIDIA employees and immediate family members of NVIDIA employees cannot participate.
- University administration Your university must administer the award. Payment goes to the university, not directly to you.
Internship locations: United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan, and Singapore. International PhD students are eligible to apply.
Explore research areas
- AI — Generative AI
- AI — Language Models and Speech
- AI — Neural Architectures, Theory, and Algorithms
- AI Software Platform
- Autonomous Vehicles
- Computational Imaging and Computer Vision
- Computer Architecture, Circuits, and VLSI
- Computer Graphics
- Healthcare, Medical, and Life Sciences
- Networking and Interconnects
- Parallel Programming Systems and Algorithms
- Robotics
- Security and Privacy
- Quantum Computing
2027–2028 Fellowship
Application dates
- Applications open
- September 30, 2026
- Application deadline
- October 30, 2026 Including recommendation letters
- Winner notifications
- January 15, 2027
What does NVIDIA evaluate?
Applications are evaluated on student quality, research quality, and relevance to NVIDIA.
Student quality
- Recommendation letters
- Academic performance (GPA) and achievements
Research quality
- Results to date
- Fellowship research proposal
- Publication track record
Relevance to NVIDIA
- Connection to NVIDIA’s primary research domains
- Potential influence on the design, performance, or use of future GPUs
How to apply for the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship
- Research proposal Up to 2 pages, plus a bibliography. The bibliography does not count toward the limit. Include your name at the top; text and images must fit within 2 pages.
- Resume or CV Include your contact information.
- 2–3 recommendation letters At least 2 letters, including one from your thesis advisor/professor; no more than 3. Other letters may come from non-professors.
- Internship availability Confirm that you can complete the required in-person summer internship.
How to submit your application — five steps
- Create your profile Start early. You can return to the submission portal and update your application until you submit the final version.
- Add your application materials Complete the application fields and upload your research summary/thesis proposal and resume or CV. Confirm internship availability.
- Invite your recommenders Ask them first, then add their contact details in the portal. The portal sends each person an email on your behalf.
- Check every letter Monitor recommendation status and follow up until every expected letter shows “completed.” Recommendation letters must be received by October 30, 2026.
- Submit the final application Submit only when all materials and expected letters are complete. The application deadline, including recommendation letters, is October 30, 2026. You are responsible for ensuring every item arrives on time.
Before submitting: submit your application and all recommendation letters by October 30, 2026. Wait until every expected recommendation is marked “completed.”
Helpful hints from the program
Write a focused research proposal
- Describe your vision Explain your PhD research and what you hope to do with it after graduation.
- Share an internship direction If you have ideas for a 3–4 month internship, include them. You do not need a fully planned internship project.
- Show your progress Describe your results and publications to date. The first-year guideline gives applicants time to build a research track record.
- Connect the work to NVIDIA Explain how you use GPUs, how NVIDIA technologies affect your research, or how your work could influence future GPU design, performance, or use.
- Add relevant context If you previously interned at NVIDIA, describe the work. If your field is outside mainstream computer science or engineering, explain its connection to NVIDIA’s research domains.
Get strong recommendation letters
- Choose people who know your work Your thesis advisor is required. For the other letters, prioritize people who can give a strong, specific assessment. A well-known researcher who barely knows you will add little.
- Ask before the portal invitation Check that each person can write a strong letter by the deadline. Give a former instructor the chance to say they do not know you well enough; if so, thank them and ask someone else.
- Bring industry contacts up to date Remind a former manager or internship supervisor what you have worked on since you last collaborated. Keep in touch between requests when possible.
- Give at least two weeks’ notice if possible Send portal invitations early. Ask recommenders to confirm receipt within 24 hours and check spam folders if needed.
- Follow up politely With two weeks’ notice, send a reminder after one week and again three days before the deadline if the letter is still outstanding. Check the portal and thank each recommender once the letter is submitted.
Meet recent NVIDIA Graduate Fellows
Explore the three latest published cohorts and the research NVIDIA has supported.
2026 Graduate Fellows
Explore the recipients and their research.
Meet the 2026 Fellows NVIDIA Research2025 Graduate Fellows
Explore the recipients and their research.
Meet the 2025 Fellows NVIDIA Research2024 Graduate Fellows
Explore the recipients and their research.
Meet the 2024 FellowsAll earlier cohorts in one listing.
Graduate Fellowship FAQs
Are international PhD students eligible?
Yes. International PhD students may apply. Award amounts may vary by country, region, or location. Fellowship internships are supported in the United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan, and Singapore.
I’m starting my PhD this fall. Can I apply?
Applicants should have completed their first PhD year. The published guidance allows exceptional cases with enough prior research to make a compelling application, but applicants without PhD experience are very unlikely to receive an award. Compare your research record with past recipients.
Is a specific research specialty required?
No specific specialty within electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science is required. Related fields are considered. Explain how your work connects to NVIDIA’s research domains.
Do I need accepted publications?
Past recipients have typically published multiple papers in leading venues in their fields. To be competitive, applicants should have at least one strong publication.
Can my research proposal include images?
Yes. All proposal text and images must fit within two pages. The bibliography is excluded from the two-page limit.
How many recommendation letters can I submit?
Submit at least two and no more than three letters. One must be from your thesis advisor/professor. Other letters may come from non-professors.
What if my advisor hasn’t uploaded a letter?
Your advisor’s letter and at least one additional letter are required. Invite recommenders early, monitor the portal, and follow up before the deadline. Ensuring every required letter is received by the deadline is your responsibility.
Can current or past Fellows apply again?
Yes. Current recipients may reapply each year they are enrolled full-time, through the year before completing their PhD, using the same process as new applicants. There is no limit on repeat awards, but a student can receive only one NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Award per year.
Is there an award limit per university or research team?
No. The published program guidance sets no limit per university or research team, provided the research is different and of interest to NVIDIA.
How are Fellows selected?
A committee of NVIDIA engineers and senior technical staff reviews applications competitively in several sessions. Winners will be notified on January 15, 2027. Many qualified candidates are not selected because the number of awards is limited.
Can I work part-time during the Fellowship?
Part-time work may be acceptable if it benefits progress toward your PhD, you remain enrolled full-time, and there is no conflict of interest with NVIDIA. The award is intended to let you focus on research. If there is any doubt about a conflict, check with your NVIDIA Fellowship contact.
Can I combine this award with another fellowship?
It depends on the circumstances. Contact the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship program for guidance. University-specific restrictions may also apply; the award cannot exceed stipend, tuition, and mandatory fees.
Terms and conditions
Read the full terms and conditions
The Graduate Fellowship Award must be used to further your research. The amount of the award is based on the individual student's actual costs of stipend, tuition and mandatory fees. The award is an unrestricted gift to be used to further the student’s research over the academic year. We require that no overhead or indirect costs are charged to the award. Awards are not transferable to another student.
Whether it is OK to combine the NVIDIA fellowship with another fellowship depends on several factors -- please contact the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship for details on this matter. Awards are issued to the university for disbursement, not directly to the student. Amount of the award cannot exceed stipend, tuition, and mandatory fees. There may also be university-specific restrictions that pertain.
Applications include permission to use the student’s submission data for evaluation of a potential fellowship award. Applicants may choose to opt-in for an internship evaluation outside of the fellowship (in the event the applicant is not chosen for an award.) If selected for an award, a completed internship at NVIDIA is required before the Fellowship award year can begin. Full-time NVIDIA employees and immediate family of NVIDIA employees cannot participate.