PhDFully Funded
Google PhD Fellowship Program 2020 - Africa - African Scholar
The Google PhD Fellowship Program provides monetary support up to $30,000 and mentorship to African graduate students currently enrolled in PhD programs., Post a Comment
- Provider
- Various
- Host country
- United States
- Deadline
- April 30, 2026
- Region
- Americas
About this scholarship
[africaindex](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/author/africaindex/)
[February 19, 2020May 25, 2021](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/2020/02/19/)
The Google Ph.D. Fellowship Program provides monetary support up to $30,000 and mentorship to graduate students currently enrolled in Ph.D. programs.
The Google Ph.D. 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 Ph.D. candidates of all backgrounds who seek to influence the future of technology. Google’s mission is to foster inclusive research communities and encourages people of diverse backgrounds to apply.
They currently offer Fellowships in Africa, Australia and New Zealand, East Asia, Europe, India, the United States, and Canada.
Students receive named Fellowships which include a monetary award. The funds are given directly to the university to cover the student’s expenses and stipend as appropriate. The funds are given as an unrestricted gift. In addition, the student will be matched with a Google Research Mentor.
There is no employee relationship between the student and Google as a result of receiving the fellowship. Fellowship recipients are not subject to intellectual property restrictions unless they complete an internship at Google. If a Fellowship student is interested, an internship at Google is encouraged, but not guaranteed or required.
#### **Award:**
- Up to 3-year Fellowship
- Up to $30,000.00 stipend
- Research Mentor from Google
#### How to apply:
The details of each Fellowship vary by region. Please see their [Frequently Answered Question](https://research.google/outreach/faq/?category=phd) [s](https://research.google/outreach/faq/?category=phd) for eligibility requirements and application instructions.
In Africa, students may apply directly during the application period, which opens each February. Applications are open to students in Computer Science and related areas from any African university.
#### Deadline:
The Google Africa Ph.D. Fellowship program application window is now open. Application submissions must be submitted by Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Submit applications by clicking on this [link](https://research.google/outreach/phd-fellowship/).
#### Areas of Study:
Google Ph.D. Fellowship students are a select group recognized by Google researchers and their institutions as some of the most promising young academics in the world. The Fellowships are awarded to students who represent the future of research in the following fields:
- Algorithms, Optimizations, and Markets
- Computational Neuroscience
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Machine Learning
- Machine Perception, Speech Technology and Computer Vision
- Mobile Computing
- Natural Language Processing (including Information Retrieval and Extraction)
- Privacy and Security
- Programming Languages and Software Engineering
- Quantum Computing
- Structured Data and Database Management
- Systems and Networking
Students currently studying outside of Africa are eligible but may have slightly different application guidelines. For more information, you can access Google Research’s Program page [here](https://research.google/outreach/phd-fellowship/).
If you are interested in other fellowship programs covered by ScholarshipsforAfricans.com click [here](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/category/fellowship/).
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Eligibility criteria
Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.
- Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible African country
- Currently applying to or enrolled at the PhD level
- Willing to study in United States
- Strong academic record — typically a minimum GPA equivalent to a UK 2:1 / US 3.3
- English-language proficiency demonstrated by IELTS, TOEFL or an MOI letter
- Two academic or professional references able to speak to your potential
- Demonstrated financial need (most fully funded sponsors verify household income)
Required documents
A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.
- Valid international passport (bio page scan)
- Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
- Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
- Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
- Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
- Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
- Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
- Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
- Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
- Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders
Deadline timeline
Working backwards from the sponsor's stated deadline (April 30, 2026). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.
- 12 months out5 May 2025
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
- 6 months out1 Nov 2025
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
- 3 months out30 Jan 2026
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
- 1 month out31 Mar 2026
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
- Application deadline30 Apr 2026
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.
Editorial verification note
Applications are currently closed for the 2026 cycle. Applications opened March 5, 2026 and closed April 30, 2026. Notification of decisions by Aug. 31, 2026. Public announcement by Oct. 31, 2026. Candidates must be nominated by their university.
Last checked 5/8/2026
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Google PhD Fellowship Program 2020 - Africa - African Scholar?+
Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the PhD level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Various, and be able to relocate to United States for the duration of the programme.
Is the Google PhD Fellowship Program 2020 - Africa - African Scholar fully funded?+
Funding model: Fully Funded. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.
When is the application deadline?+
The application deadline is April 30, 2026. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
What documents do I need to apply?+
At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.
How can I improve my chance of winning?+
Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.