Apple & Google PhD Fellowships
Notice
Applications for the 2026 Apple AI/ML Fellowships are now closed. This page will be updated when the next round opens.
Apple AI/ML PhD Fellowship 2026 - more information & how to apply
Google PhD Fellowship 2025 - more information & how to apply
The School of Technology coordinates the University’s internal selection process for nominations to industry PhD Fellowships. The most common Fellowships are:
Apple Scholars in AI/ML PhD Fellowships
What are industry PhD Fellowships?
Industry PhD Fellowships are awarded by companies to current PhD students, to recognise achievement in their field. They are usually aimed at students in their later years (2-4). They usually include some or all of the following elements:
- a donation towards the student’s university fees and living expenses (administered by the Department on the student’s behalf)
- travel allowance / research expenses
- internship opportunities
- mentorship with an employee from the company
- networking with other Fellows
Do they provide PhD funding?
Industry PhD Fellowships function like an academic prize, and are aimed at existing students.
These Fellowships are NOT suitable as a sole source of PhD funding for incoming students, for three reasons:
- The cash donation does not cover the full costs of a PhD, whether home or overseas fees.
- The Fellowships are aimed at later-stage students, and it is very unlikely that an incoming student would be competitive against existing students, unless they had significant industry experience prior to their PhD.
- The timing of industry PhD Fellowships varies year by year, and usually does not sync up with the deadline to meet the financial conditions of admission to the University.
How can I apply for a Fellowship?
Applications for the 2026 Apple AI/ML Fellowships are now open. Internal deadline Sunday 13 July 2025.
Apple AI/ML PhD Fellowship 2026 - more information & how to apply
Students cannot apply directly to companies for these Fellowships. Instead, each University is allowed to submit (typically) three nominations.
At Cambridge we run an internal selection process, in which students send outline applications to the School of Technology Office. A panel of academics selects the nominees for the Scheme, based on the funder criteria, and the School Office then works with nominees to put together a full application and submit this to the funder.
Details of the internal selection process and deadlines are circulated to Department Graduate Offices and Research Offices each year. Students must provide a letter of support from their Department as part of their outline application, and each Department will send instructions for obtaining this when they circulate details to their students.
Can students apply for a Fellowship before they begin their PhD?
No, we do not allow this. Applications to the internal selection process are only accepted from current PhD students in year 1 onwards. This is because the number of applications received is extremely high, the funders usually aim these schemes at later-stage students, and therefore incoming students are highly unlikely to have enough experience to be competitive.
What are companies looking for?
This varies by scheme. Always read carefully the funder website and/or any information included in the email advertising the scheme, before writing your application.
When will the next opportunities open?
Applications for the 2026 Apple AI/ML Fellowships are now open. Internal deadline Sunday 13 July 2025.
Apple AI/ML PhD Fellowship 2026 - more information & how to apply
Applications for the Google PhD Fellowship will next run in spring 2026. We do not know when the next calls from IBM or JP Morgan will run.
Contact for more information
If your question is not answered here, please email PhDFellowships@tech.cam.ac.uk.