NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028
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NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028: Up to $60,000 for PhD Research (Guide for Indian Applicants)
Last updated: October 2026. Official source: research.nvidia.com/graduate-fellowships
NVIDIA invites PhD students worldwide to apply for its Graduate Fellowship Program, now in its 26th year.
The programme awards up to $60,000 per fellowship for research that advances accelerated computing.
Fellows also complete a mandatory paid summer internship at an NVIDIA research office before the award year begins.
This guide explains the award structure, eligibility, application steps and internship rules, with dedicated notes for Indian PhD candidates.
Table of Contents
- What is the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship?
- Programme at a Glance
- Financial Benefits and What the Award Covers
- Eligibility Criteria
- Priority Research Areas
- Mandatory Summer Internship
- Required Documents
- How to Apply Step by Step
- Deadlines and Notification Timeline
- How NVIDIA Evaluates Applications
- Special Notes for Indian Applicants
- FAQs for Indian Applicants
What is the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship?
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028
NVIDIA runs the Graduate Fellowship Program to support doctoral researchers working on topics relevant to its technology stack.
Since its launch in 2002, the programme has awarded over 220 grants worth roughly $8 million.
Recipients gain funding, mentorship and access to NVIDIA products, technology and senior researchers.
Furthermore, the programme serves as a pipeline for NVIDIA to engage with future leaders in accelerated computing.
Each year, a committee of more than 80 senior technical staff, led by Chief Scientist Bill Dally, reviews all applications competitively.
Programme at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme Name | NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program |
| Degree Level | PhD (doctoral research) |
| Award Value | Up to $60,000 per award |
| Payment Route | Paid to the university, not directly to the student |
| Duration | Nine-month award year |
| Internship | Mandatory in-person summer internship before the award year |
| Internship Locations | United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan, Singapore |
| Eligible Nationalities | All nationalities; international PhD students welcome |
| Application Opens | 30 September 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 30 October 2026 (including recommendation letters) |
| Winner Notification | 15 January 2027 |
| Official Portal | research.nvidia.com/graduate-fellowships |
Financial Benefits and What the Award Covers
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028
NVIDIA provides up to $60,000 per fellowship, and the exact amount may vary by country, region or location.
The university administers the award, and funds are applied toward stipend, tuition and mandatory fees.
Because the payment goes to the institution, the fellowship does not count as direct taxable income in the student’s hands in the same way a salary would.
Additionally, the paid summer internship offers separate compensation and hands-on experience with NVIDIA hardware and researchers.
Most importantly, the stipend aims to free fellows from teaching or research assistantship duties so they can focus fully on their thesis.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must have completed at least their first year of PhD-level studies before applying.
NVIDIA considers exceptional cases where a student has a strong enough research record despite less time in the programme.
Majors in computer science, computer engineering, system architecture, electrical engineering or a related area qualify.
Candidates must be actively engaged in research that forms part of their PhD thesis.
They must remain full-time, active PhD students throughout the nine-month award year.
Students planning to graduate before the end of the award year should not apply.
Full-time NVIDIA employees and their immediate family members cannot participate.
Finally, the student’s university must agree to administer the award.
Priority Research Areas
NVIDIA especially welcomes proposals in artificial intelligence, generative AI, language models and speech, neural architectures, robotics and autonomous vehicles.
Other relevant areas include computer architecture, circuits and VLSI, computer graphics, computational imaging, healthcare and life sciences, networking, parallel programming, security and quantum computing.
Applicants should demonstrate how their work connects to NVIDIA’s primary research domains and could influence the design, performance or use of future GPUs.
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028
Mandatory Summer Internship
Before the fellowship year begins, every recipient must complete an in-person summer internship at an NVIDIA research office.
Eligible locations span the United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan and Singapore.
This internship is a condition of the award, not an optional add-on.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, candidates must be available for the internship in summer 2027.
Indian applicants should therefore plan their PhD timelines and visa requirements well in advance.
Required Documents
NVIDIA requires four core items, and the submission portal manages all of them.
Research Proposal
The proposal should run up to two pages, plus a bibliography.
The bibliography does not count toward the page limit.
Include your name at the top, and ensure that all text and images fit within the two pages.
Resume or CV
Provide an updated resume or CV with clear contact information.
Recommendation Letters
Submit two to three recommendation letters.
At least one letter must come from your thesis advisor or a professor.
Letters from non-professors are acceptable as additional references.
The portal sends each recommender an email, and the student must monitor the status until every letter shows “completed.”
Internship Availability
Confirm in the portal that you can complete the mandatory in-person summer internship.
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028
How to Apply Step by Step
Step 1: Create your profile on the official submission portal linked from research.nvidia.com/graduate-fellowships.
Step 2: Complete the application fields and upload your research proposal and resume or CV.
Step 3: Confirm your availability for the mandatory in-person summer internship.
Step 4: Ask your recommenders first, then add their contact details in the portal.
Step 5: Monitor recommendation status and follow up until every expected letter shows “completed.”
Step 6: Submit the final application only when all materials and letters are in place.
Because the portal sends recommendation requests automatically, add your recommenders early so they have enough time to write and upload their letters.
Deadlines and Notification Timeline
| Stage | Date | Note for Indian Applicants (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | 30 September 2026 | Start drafting your proposal in September |
| Application deadline | 30 October 2026 | Treat 29 October IST as your personal deadline |
| Recommendation letters due | 30 October 2026 | Follow up with recommenders a week before the deadline |
| Winner notification | 15 January 2027 | Results usually arrive in mid-January |
| Summer internship | Summer 2027 | Plan visa and travel well in advance |
| Fellowship year begins | 2027–2028 academic year | Nine-month award period |
How NVIDIA Evaluates Applications
The selection committee assesses three broad dimensions: student quality, research quality and relevance to NVIDIA.
For student quality, reviewers look at recommendation letters, academic performance (GPA) and achievements.
For research quality, they examine results to date, the fellowship research proposal and the publication record.
For relevance, they judge how the work connects to NVIDIA’s primary research domains and how it might influence future GPUs.
Notably, prior recipients have had multiple publications in top-tier venues, so at least one strong publication is effectively necessary to be competitive.
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028
Special Notes for Indian Applicants
Currency and Real Value
At roughly ₹85–₹90 per US dollar, $60,000 converts to about ₹51–₹54 lakh.
Exchange rates fluctuate constantly, so treat this as indicative only.
Because the award goes to the university and covers stipend, tuition and fees, the actual benefit depends on your institution’s cost structure.
Visa and Internship Logistics
The mandatory internship takes place in summer 2027, and Indian nationals will need the appropriate visa for the destination country.
If the internship is in the United States, the most common route is a J-1 exchange visitor visa, which NVIDIA or the hosting university typically sponsors.
For internships in Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan or Singapore, visa rules differ by country.
Apply for the visa as soon as NVIDIA confirms the internship location, because Indian passport holders often face appointment backlogs.
Tax and Payment Structure
NVIDIA pays the fellowship to the university, not to the student.
The university then applies the funds toward your stipend, tuition and mandatory fees.
Because the payment routes through the institution, the fellowship generally does not count as direct salary income in India.
Nevertheless, Indian tax residents should consult a chartered accountant about disclosure and foreign asset reporting, since rules depend on residency status and the duration of stay abroad.
No GATE or Indian Entrance Exam Required
NVIDIA does not ask for GATE, CSIR-NET or any Indian entrance score.
Selection rests on your research record, proposal, publications and recommendation letters.
Beware of Unauthorised Agents
No third-party website or agent can submit an NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship application.
Use only the official submission portal linked from the NVIDIA Research website.
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028
FAQs for Indian Applicants
1. Am I, as an Indian PhD student, eligible for the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship?
Yes. NVIDIA explicitly welcomes international PhD students, and Indian nationals can apply from any accredited university worldwide.
You must have completed at least your first year of PhD-level studies and be enrolled full-time during the award year.
2. What is the real value of $60,000 in Indian rupees?
At roughly ₹85–₹90 per dollar, $60,000 works out to about ₹51–₹54 lakh.
However, the award goes to your university and is applied toward stipend, tuition and fees, not paid directly to you as cash.
Exchange rates change constantly, so treat this conversion as indicative only.
3. Do I need a publication to be competitive?
Effectively, yes. NVIDIA states that prior recipients have had multiple publications in top-tier venues.
To be competitive, you should have at least one strong publication.
4. What visa will I need for the mandatory summer internship?
The visa depends on the internship location. For the United States, the most common route is a J-1 exchange visitor visa sponsored by NVIDIA or the hosting university.
For Canada, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan or Singapore, each country has its own rules.
Apply as soon as NVIDIA confirms the location, because Indian passport holders often face appointment backlogs.
5. Is the fellowship taxable in India?
NVIDIA pays the award to the university, and the university applies it toward stipend, tuition and fees.
Because the payment routes through the institution, it generally does not count as direct salary income.
However, Indian tax residents should consult a chartered accountant about disclosure and foreign asset reporting, as rules depend on residency status and time spent abroad.
6. The deadline is 30 October 2026. What does that mean in Indian time?
NVIDIA does not specify a time zone, but treat the deadline as the close of business in the Pacific time zone.
In practice, submit by 29 October IST to be safe.
Also ensure your recommendation letters show “completed” before that date, because the deadline applies to letters as well.
7. Can I apply if I am in the first year of my PhD?
You can apply, but NVIDIA states that it is very unlikely you will be awarded without a research track record.
The requirement is not black and white, and exceptional cases with sufficient history are considered.
NVIDIA suggests comparing your profile with the list of past recipients before applying.
8. Can I receive the NVIDIA fellowship more than once?
Yes. There is no limit on the number of times you can be awarded the fellowship, but you can receive only one award per year.
You may apply each year you remain enrolled full-time until the year before you complete your PhD.
9. Can I work as a TA or RA while holding the fellowship?
The fellowship aims to free you from TA/RA duties so you can focus on research.
Part-time work may be acceptable if it benefits your PhD progress, you remain full-time enrolled and no conflict of interest exists.
Check with your NVIDIA fellowship contact if you are unsure.
10. Is there an application fee, and do I need an agent?
Applications go through the official NVIDIA submission portal, and any fee (if applicable) is stated there.
Never pay an agent or a third-party blog for an NVIDIA fellowship application.
Neither jehlum.in nor similar information sites can submit applications on your behalf.
