NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program 2026-2027
- Omran Aburayya
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
If you're a driven PhD student researching cutting-edge topics like AI, robotics, autonomous systems, or related fields, the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program 2026–2027 is now open—and it could be your gateway to groundbreaking impact. This fellowship, now in its twenty-fifth year, offers not only vital financial support but also immersive industry collaboration and unmatched access to NVIDIA’s technologies.
🎓 NVIDIA Fellowship Summary
Location: Worldwide (internship to be completed in person at NVIDIA research offices in the United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, or Taiwan)
Host Institution: Your university (award administered through your institution, not directly to the student)
Level: PhD
Target Group: PhD students who have completed at least one year of doctoral-level studies by the time of application; actively engaged in research
Fields of Research: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, System Architecture, Electrical Engineering, AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, graphics, high-performance computing, and related areas
Value & Coverage: Up to $60,000, covering stipend, tuition, and mandatory fees; delivered to university; no overhead allowed
Duration: Fellowship year 2026–2027 (nine months)
Application Deadline: 3 pm Pacific Time, September 15, 2025
Recommendations due by 12 noon Pacific Time, September 15, 2025
Start Date: Fellowship begins academic year 2026–2027, after completion of in-person internship summer 2026
Eligible To: International and domestic PhD students enrolled full-time, not graduating before May/June 2027, with no immediate family ties to current NVIDIA employees
🖥️ Program Overview
The NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program is a prestigious, highly competitive initiative that supports PhD candidates engaged in innovative research. Applicants are selected based on academic excellence, research merit, strong professor nominations, and alignment with NVIDIA's mission—advancing accelerated computing in areas like AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and more.
The fellowship grants up to $60,000, offers immersion in NVIDIA’s ecosystem, and includes a mandatory summer internship at one of their global research sites. Recipients join a network of world-class researchers and gain unique exposure to NVIDIA's products, mentorship, and industry landscape.
🎁 Benefits
Financial Support: Up to $60,000 for research costs without overhead
In-Person Summer Internship: Hands-on experience at NVIDIA’s global research facilities
Access to Resources: Work with leading-edge NVIDIA hardware and tools
Networking: Connect and collaborate with top researchers, engineers, and industry peers
Prestigious Community: Become part of a celebrated cohort shaping future tech advancements
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be considered eligible, you must:
Have completed at least one year of your PhD program by application time
Be enrolled full-time for the 2026–2027 academic year and not graduate before May/June 2027
Be actively engaged in your PhD research thesis
Be available for an in-person summer internship at a designated NVIDIA research office
Not be an immediate family member of a current NVIDIA employee
Ensure the award is administered through your university, not personally to you
📝 Application Procedure
Prepare the following:
Research Summary / Thesis Proposal: Up to 2 pages plus bibliography (which does not count toward the page limit)
Resume / CV: With up-to-date contact details
Professor Nomination Letters: Minimum of 2 (including one from your thesis advisor); maximum of 3
Confirmation of Internship Availability: Statement confirming you can complete the required in-person summer internship
Submission Process via Portal:
Submit online via the official portal
Create and manage your profile; can revisit until final submission
Upload your research proposal and CV
Add recommenders’ details so the portal sends them invitation emails
Monitor and ensure recommenders submit by 12 noon PT, September 15, 2025
Only submit your application once all recommendation status shows “completed”
Final submission by 3 pm Pacific Time, September 15, 2025
🤓 Additional Insights & Tips
The award is meant to cover actual stipend, tuition, and mandatory fees—coordinate with your university to ensure compliance
The evaluation panel is led by NVIDIA’s Chief Scientist and includes extensive senior technical staff—be precise and compelling in your proposal
Highlight the relevance of your work to NVIDIA’s focus areas—how it might influence GPU design, performance, or usage
Remember: you are responsible for reminding your recommenders—don't wait to the last minute!
