NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027: How to Apply for the $60,000 PhD Award
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027 offers up to $60,000 for PhD research
Applications are now open for the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program 2027–2028, giving doctoral researchers around the world an opportunity to receive up to $60,000 toward their PhD research.
The NVIDIA fellowship is designed for researchers working in areas connected to accelerated computing and NVIDIA’s research interests, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, autonomous vehicles, computer graphics, healthcare, high-performance computing and related fields.
Unlike many postgraduate scholarships aimed at students beginning a degree, the NVIDIA programme targets researchers who have already completed their first year of PhD-level study.
The application deadline is October 30, 2026, and recommendation letters must also be submitted by that date.
What Is the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program?
The NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship is a research funding programme for PhD students whose work has potential relevance to NVIDIA technologies and accelerated computing.
For the 2027–2028 fellowship year, successful applicants can receive up to $60,000 per award. The funding is administered through the recipient’s university and can support eligible stipend, tuition and mandatory fees.
The programme also provides opportunities for research collaboration with NVIDIA and requires selected fellows to complete an in-person summer internship at an eligible NVIDIA research office before the fellowship year begins.
NVIDIA says international PhD students are eligible to apply, making the fellowship open to researchers worldwide.
Who Can Apply for the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship?
Applicants must meet several academic and research conditions.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Have completed their first year of PhD-level studies before applying.
- Be studying computer science, computer engineering, system architecture, electrical engineering or a related field.
- Be actively conducting research as part of their PhD thesis.
- Remain a full-time, active PhD student throughout the nine-month fellowship year.
- Not plan to graduate before the end of the fellowship academic year.
- Be available for the required in-person summer internship before the fellowship year.
- Attend a university that can administer the fellowship award.
- Not be a full-time NVIDIA employee or an immediate family member of a full-time NVIDIA employee.
The programme does not restrict applicants to a particular nationality. International PhD students are explicitly eligible.
Which Research Areas Does NVIDIA Support?
Applicants do not need to work on one specific research topic. NVIDIA lists several research domains that may be relevant to the fellowship.
These include:
- Generative AI
- Language models and speech
- Neural architectures, theory and algorithms
- AI software platforms
- Autonomous vehicles
- Computer vision and computational imaging
- Computer architecture, circuits and VLSI
- Computer graphics
- Healthcare and medical sciences
- Networking and interconnects
- Parallel programming systems and algorithms
- Robotics
- Security and privacy
- Quantum computing
Applicants should be able to explain how their research connects with NVIDIA’s research areas and could contribute to future developments in accelerated computing.
How Much Is the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Worth?
The fellowship provides up to $60,000 per student.
The award is administered by the student’s university rather than paid directly to the recipient. NVIDIA says the award can be used toward the student’s stipend, tuition and mandatory fees and cannot exceed those eligible costs.
The fellowship also comes with research collaboration opportunities and a required internship before the award year.
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What Documents Are Required?
Applicants should prepare the following materials before submitting their application:
Research proposal
The research summary or thesis proposal must be no more than two pages, excluding the bibliography.
The proposal should clearly communicate the research problem, progress, proposed work and relevance of the research.
CV or resume
Applicants must submit a current resume or CV containing their contact information and relevant academic and research experience.
Recommendation letters
Applicants need at least two recommendation letters and no more than three.
At least one letter must come from the applicant’s thesis advisor or professor. Other recommendation letters can come from non-professors where appropriate.
Internship confirmation
Applicants must confirm that they are available to complete the required in-person summer internship at an eligible NVIDIA research office.
How to Apply for the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027
The application process is completed online through the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship application portal.
Step 1: Create your student profile
Applicants should begin by creating their profile and entering the required personal and academic information.
The profile can be updated before the final application is submitted.
Step 2: Upload your application materials
Complete the application fields and upload your research proposal and CV or resume.
You should also provide confirmation that you can participate in the required summer internship.
Step 3: Add your recommenders
Enter the contact details of the professors or other people providing recommendation letters.
The portal will send an email invitation to each recommender, so applicants should contact their recommenders before adding them to the system.
Step 4: Monitor recommendation letters
Applicants are responsible for making sure their recommendation letters arrive before the deadline.
The NVIDIA application portal allows applicants to monitor the status of each recommendation.
Do not wait until the final day to contact recommenders.
Step 5: Submit the application
Submit the completed application after all required materials and expected recommendation letters have been completed.
The final deadline is October 30, 2026, including recommendation letters.
What Happens After Selection?
Successful fellows will participate in the fellowship year while continuing their doctoral research.
Before the fellowship year begins, selected students must complete the required in-person summer internship at an eligible NVIDIA research office.
NVIDIA currently lists internship locations in the United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan and Singapore.
The fellowship also provides opportunities for recipients to work with NVIDIA researchers and present their research to the GTC community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship open to international students?
Yes. International PhD students can apply. NVIDIA states that the programme is open to applicants worldwide.
How much does the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship pay?
The fellowship provides up to $60,000 per award. The money is administered through the recipient’s university and is intended for eligible stipend, tuition and mandatory fees.
Can Nigerian students apply for the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship?
Yes. The programme is open worldwide, so eligible Nigerian PhD students can apply if they meet the academic, research and internship requirements.
Do I need to be studying in the United States?
No. The fellowship is open to international PhD students, and applicants can be studying at eligible universities outside the United States.
Can a first-year PhD student apply?
Applicants are generally expected to have completed their first year of PhD-level study before applying. NVIDIA’s guidance also discusses exceptional cases, but applicants should review the programme’s current FAQ carefully if they have limited PhD experience.
What subjects are eligible for the NVIDIA Fellowship?
Eligible applicants generally study computer science, computer engineering, system architecture, electrical engineering or a related field. Research should also connect with NVIDIA’s areas of interest.
Is an IELTS score required?
NVIDIA’s current fellowship requirements do not list IELTS as an application requirement.
How many recommendation letters are required?
Applicants need at least two recommendation letters, including one from their thesis advisor or professor. A maximum of three letters can be submitted.
When is the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027 deadline?
The deadline for the 2027–2028 fellowship is October 30, 2026, including recommendation letters.
When will NVIDIA announce the fellowship winners?
NVIDIA currently lists January 15, 2027 for winner notifications.