NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship - $60,000
Source: https://research.nvidia.com/graduate-fellowships
Description
Create account to comment on specific lines or Sign in
+ 1 The NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program awards up to $60,000 to PhD students conducting research relevant to accelerated computing and NVIDIA technologies. Now in its 25th year, the program has awarded over 200 grants worth more than $7.3 million since 2002. The fellowship includes a mandatory paid summer internship at an NVIDIA research office before the fellowship year begins. Only about 10 students are selected each cycle from a global applicant pool, making this one of the most competitive and generous fellowships in AI/GPU research. The award covers stipend, tuition, and mandatory fees and is disbursed through your university.
No comments on this line yet.
+ 2
No comments on this line yet.
+
3
No comments on this line yet.
+ 4
No comments on this line yet.
+ 6
No comments on this line yet.
+ 7 • Degree level: Must be enrolled in a PhD program (not master's)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 8 • Progress: Must have completed at least your first year of PhD studies at time of application
No comments on this line yet.
+ 9 • Fields: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, System Architecture, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related area
No comments on this line yet.
+ 10 • Research status: Must be actively working on your PhD thesis research
No comments on this line yet.
+ 11 • Enrollment: Must be a full-time PhD student for the entire fellowship academic year (9 months) — you cannot be graduating before May/June of the fellowship year's end
No comments on this line yet.
+ 12 • Internship: Must be available for an in-person summer internship (3-4 months) at one of NVIDIA's research offices
No comments on this line yet.
+ 13 • Exclusions: Full-time NVIDIA employees and their immediate family members cannot participate
No comments on this line yet.
+ 14 • Geography: Open to applicants worldwide — there is no citizenship or residency restriction
No comments on this line yet.
+ 15
No comments on this line yet.
+
16
No comments on this line yet.
+ 17
No comments on this line yet.
+ 19
No comments on this line yet.
+ 20 1. Visit the official fellowship page at research.nvidia.com/graduate-fellowships
No comments on this line yet.
+ 21 2. Wait for the application window to open (typically early August each year)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 22 3. Prepare your research summary / thesis proposal — up to 2 pages plus bibliography (bibliography does not count toward the page limit)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 23 4. Prepare your CV/resume including full contact information
No comments on this line yet.
+ 24 5. Secure 2-3 professor nomination letters — at least one must be from your thesis advisor, maximum 3 letters allowed
No comments on this line yet.
+ 25 6. Confirm your availability for the mandatory summer internship at an NVIDIA research office
No comments on this line yet.
+ 26 7. Submit everything through NVIDIA's online submission portal before the deadline
No comments on this line yet.
+ 27 8. Recommenders must submit their letters by the separate recommender deadline (typically a few hours before the applicant deadline on the same day)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 28 9. Wait for results — decisions are typically communicated by end of November
No comments on this line yet.
+ 29 10. If selected, complete the summer internship before the fellowship year begins
No comments on this line yet.
+ 30
No comments on this line yet.
+ 31 Key dates (2026-2027 cycle, for reference):
No comments on this line yet.
+ 32 • Application window: August 2025
No comments on this line yet.
+ 33 • Application deadline: September 15, 2025, 3:00 PM Pacific
No comments on this line yet.
+ 34 • Recommender deadline: September 15, 2025, 12:00 PM Pacific
No comments on this line yet.
+ 35 • Notifications: End of November 2025
No comments on this line yet.
+ 36 • Internship: Summer 2026
No comments on this line yet.
+ 37 • Fellowship year: 2026-2027 academic year
No comments on this line yet.
+ 38
No comments on this line yet.
+ 39 The 2026-2027 cycle is now closed. Watch the official page starting in summer 2026 for the 2027-2028 application cycle, which will likely follow the same August-September timeline.
No comments on this line yet.
+ 40
No comments on this line yet.
+
41
No comments on this line yet.
+ 42
No comments on this line yet.
+ 44
No comments on this line yet.
+ 45 NVIDIA looks for research aligned with accelerated computing and GPU innovation. Recent recipients have worked in:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 46
No comments on this line yet.
+ 47 AreaExample Topics
No comments on this line yet.
+ 48 Deep Learning / AINovel architectures, training efficiency, model security
No comments on this line yet.
+ 49 RoboticsGeneralist robots, sim-to-real transfer, manipulation
No comments on this line yet.
+ 50 Autonomous SystemsSelf-driving vehicles, drone navigation
No comments on this line yet.
+ 51 Computer ArchitectureGPU design, hardware accelerators, memory systems
No comments on this line yet.
+ 52 Computer GraphicsReal-time rendering, neural radiance fields, simulation
No comments on this line yet.
+ 53 Programming SystemsCompilers, DSLs for GPUs, performance optimization
No comments on this line yet.
+ 54 SecurityAI agent security, prompt injection defense, adversarial ML
No comments on this line yet.
+ 55 Healthcare / ScienceDrug discovery, medical imaging, computational biology
No comments on this line yet.
+ 56
No comments on this line yet.
+
57
No comments on this line yet.
+ 58
No comments on this line yet.
+ 60
No comments on this line yet.
+ 61 The review is conducted by a committee of over 80 senior NVIDIA engineers and managers, led by Chief Scientist Bill Dally. The review process takes approximately 8 weeks.
No comments on this line yet.
+ 62
No comments on this line yet.
+ 63 Evaluation criteria:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 64 • Student quality — recommendations, GPA, academic track record
No comments on this line yet.
+ 65 • Research quality — results to date, publications, proposal merit
No comments on this line yet.
+ 66 • NVIDIA relevance — how closely your work connects to GPU technology and NVIDIA's research domains
No comments on this line yet.
+ 67
No comments on this line yet.
+ 68 Competitive tips:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 69 • Having at least one strong publication in a top-tier venue significantly strengthens your application
No comments on this line yet.
+ 70 • Explain not just your current research but your long-term vision — what you plan to do after graduation
No comments on this line yet.
+ 71 • If you have ideas for your internship project at NVIDIA, mention them in your proposal
No comments on this line yet.
+ 72 • Demonstrating familiarity with NVIDIA's technology stack (CUDA, cuDNN, TensorRT, etc.) helps
No comments on this line yet.
+ 73
No comments on this line yet.
+
74
No comments on this line yet.
+ 75
No comments on this line yet.
+ 77
No comments on this line yet.
+ 78 The fellowship requires completion of an in-person summer internship at an NVIDIA research office before the fellowship year begins. This is not optional.
No comments on this line yet.
+ 79
No comments on this line yet.
+ 80 Internship locations:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 81 • United States
No comments on this line yet.
+ 82 • Canada
No comments on this line yet.
+ 83 • Germany
No comments on this line yet.
+ 84 • Sweden
No comments on this line yet.
+ 85 • Finland
No comments on this line yet.
+ 86 • Switzerland
No comments on this line yet.
+ 87 • Israel
No comments on this line yet.
+ 88 • Taiwan
No comments on this line yet.
+ 89
No comments on this line yet.
+ 90 What to expect:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 91 • Duration: approximately 3-4 months during summer
No comments on this line yet.
+ 92 • You will work with NVIDIA researchers on projects related to your area of expertise
No comments on this line yet.
+ 93 • The internship is paid separately from the fellowship award
No comments on this line yet.
+ 94 • NVIDIA provides a housing stipend and covers travel costs if you are assigned to an office 50+ miles from your university
No comments on this line yet.
+ 95 • Work-life balance is reasonable — expect roughly 40-hour weeks
No comments on this line yet.
+ 96 • Access to NVIDIA hardware, proprietary tools, and mentorship from senior researchers
No comments on this line yet.
+ 97
No comments on this line yet.
+
98
No comments on this line yet.
+ 99
No comments on this line yet.
+ 101
No comments on this line yet.
+ 102 DetailInfo
No comments on this line yet.
+ 103 AmountUp to $60,000
No comments on this line yet.
+ 104 DurationOne academic year (9 months)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 105 CoverageStipend, tuition, and mandatory fees
No comments on this line yet.
+ 106 DisbursementPaid to the university, not directly to the student
No comments on this line yet.
+ 107 OverheadNo overhead or indirect costs may be charged to the award
No comments on this line yet.
+ 108 TransferabilityNot transferable to another student
No comments on this line yet.
+ 109 Additional perksAccess to NVIDIA products, technology, and mentorship
No comments on this line yet.
+ 110
No comments on this line yet.
+ 111 The actual award amount is based on your individual costs for stipend, tuition, and mandatory fees — $60,000 is the maximum.
No comments on this line yet.
+ 112
No comments on this line yet.
+
113
No comments on this line yet.
+ 114
No comments on this line yet.
+ 116
No comments on this line yet.
+ 117 The most recent cohort of 10 fellows came from:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 118 • Stanford University (4 recipients)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 119 • University of Southern California
No comments on this line yet.
+ 120 • UC San Diego
No comments on this line yet.
+ 121 • UC Berkeley
No comments on this line yet.
+ 122 • Harvard University
No comments on this line yet.
+ 123 • Georgia Institute of Technology
No comments on this line yet.
+ 124 • University of Washington
No comments on this line yet.
+ 125
No comments on this line yet.
+ 126 Four additional finalists were recognized from MIT, Peking University, Max Planck Institute, and Technical University of Darmstadt.
No comments on this line yet.
+ 127
No comments on this line yet.
+
128
No comments on this line yet.
+ 129
No comments on this line yet.
+ 131
No comments on this line yet.
+ 132 If you don't qualify for the fellowship or want additional resources:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 133
No comments on this line yet.
+ 134 • NVIDIA Developer Program — free access to SDKs, tools, and one complimentary DLI self-paced course (worth up to $90). Open to everyone at developer.nvidia.com/developer-program
No comments on this line yet.
+ 135 • DLI Teaching Kit Program — free curriculum materials and DLI course codes for university educators and their students
No comments on this line yet.
+ 136 • NVIDIA Student Network — community program with exclusive training, tools, and projects for AI students (requires faculty advisor and access to NVIDIA hardware)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 137 • Educational Hardware Pricing — academic discounts on H100/H200 GPUs and Jetson developer kits
No comments on this line yet.
+ 138 • Jetson AI Certification — free, open-source courses with certificates for NVIDIA Jetson and AI skills
No comments on this line yet.
+ 139 • Open Hackathons — free events to accelerate research applications with NVIDIA mentors
No comments on this line yet.
+ 140
No comments on this line yet.
+
141
No comments on this line yet.
+ 142
No comments on this line yet.
+ 144
No comments on this line yet.
+ 145 • Timeline awareness — applications typically open in early August with a mid-September deadline. Set a calendar reminder for July to start preparing your materials
No comments on this line yet.
+ 146 • This is not a grant for equipment — the award covers living/tuition costs so you can focus on research. If you need GPU hardware, look into NVIDIA's Academic Hardware Grant program separately
No comments on this line yet.
+ 147 • International students welcome — the program is explicitly open worldwide, but you must be able to obtain authorization to work at an NVIDIA office for the summer internship (visa sponsorship details should be confirmed with NVIDIA)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 148 • Reapplication — if you are not selected, you can apply again in a subsequent cycle as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements
No comments on this line yet.
+ 149 • Not for master's students — this is strictly a PhD program. Master's students should look at the NVIDIA Student Network or DLI programs instead
No comments on this line yet.
+ 150 • Start early on recommendation letters — you need 2-3 letters with a tight deadline. Give your recommenders at least 4-6 weeks notice
No comments on this line yet.
+ 151
No comments on this line yet.
+
152
No comments on this line yet.
+ 153
No comments on this line yet.
+ 154 Sources:
No comments on this line yet.
+ 155 • NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program (Official)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 156 • Applications Open for 2026-2027 Fellowship (NVIDIA Blog)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 157 • 2026-2027 Fellowship Recipients Announced (NVIDIA Blog)
No comments on this line yet.
+ 158 • NVIDIA Higher Education and Research Resources
No comments on this line yet.
+ 159 • NVIDIA Developer Program
No comments on this line yet.
+ 160 • NVIDIA Student Network
No comments on this line yet.