Computer Science Scholarships

Currently enrolled students at accredited colleges or universities who are at least 18 years old may compete in Microsoft Imagine Cup by building AI-powered startup ideas. Teams of up to four students are welcome. Prize funding reaches up to $100,000 through competition paths such as Scale and Launch, along with Azure credits, mentorship, and access to Microsoft's AI tools. Specific funding levels and round dates are set in the official rules each season. Register online, develop a minimum viable product, and advance through semifinals toward the World Championship. Imagine Cup connects student founders with technology, guidance, and a global community focused on real-world problem solving.

World's largest pre-college science and engineering competition for high school students in grades 9–12. Finalists qualify by winning a top prize at a Society-affiliated local, regional, or state science fair, then compete at the annual ISEF finals. More than $7 million in grand and special awards is distributed annually, including a $100,000 top prize and category awards from $600 to $6,000 plus dozens of sponsor special awards.

PhD students past their first year in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related fields who are doing active GPU-relevant thesis research may apply for the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship. The fellowship provides up to $60,000 for the fellowship year, administered through the university. Applicants must submit a research proposal, CV, and professor nomination letters, and complete a mandatory in-person NVIDIA summer internship before the award year.

U.S. citizens or permanent residents pursuing a PhD in the applied physical, biological, or engineering sciences, mathematics, or engineering may apply for the Hertz Graduate Fellowship. Candidates should show exceptional creativity and a commitment to solving major societal problems. Fellows receive up to five years of fellowship funding, plus mentorship and career support. The application includes references and multi-round interviews for selected candidates.

Teams of two PhD students at participating North American universities can compete for the Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship. Entrants must be enrolled in a PhD program for the full fellowship academic year, with at least one team member in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related department. Winning teams receive $50,000 per entrant paid to the university department to fund research during the program year. Qualcomm also provides research mentors and may offer collaborative activities or internships. Teams submit registration materials and, if selected, a detailed innovation proposal and presentation to a judging panel. Faculty recommendation is required. The fellowship has run for many years and recognizes innovative proposals in EE, CS, and related technical fields at a fixed set of participating universities in the United States and Canada.

Doctoral students enrolled in good standing at an accredited U.S. or international university may apply for the NIH Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP) to conduct dissertation research in the NIH Intramural Research Program while remaining enrolled at their degree-granting institution. Eligible degrees include PhD, DPhil, PharmD, DrPH, PsyD, MD/PhD, and DVM/PhD. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible international students (including J-1 pathways) may participate through individual or institutional partnerships. While at NIH, GPP students are paid on the NIH predoctoral IRTA stipend table based on research experience after the bachelor's degree. Annual stipends range from $46,100 for a first-year predoctoral fellow with up to one year of experience to $59,300 in later years. NIH also provides health insurance supplements, a $1,500 relocation benefit for new fellows, and professional development, advising, and well-being resources. There is no fixed application deadline; students arrive year round once they secure an NIH principal investigator willing to host their dissertation research and obtain permission from their university graduate program. Individual partnership applicants contact PIs directly and apply through the NIH Application Center. Institutional partnership students apply through specific university partner programs. GPP lets doctoral students combine university coursework with mentored intramural research at NIH institutes and centers across multiple campuses.

U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. dual citizens who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in a DoD-relevant science or engineering discipline at a U.S. institution may apply for the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. Baccalaureate, master's, and early-stage PhD candidates are eligible. The three-year fellowship covers full tuition and required fees (excluding room and board), a $3,600 monthly stipend ($43,200 annually), and health insurance support up to $1,600. The program typically awards between 150 and 350 fellowships each year. Apply through the NDSEG program portal during the annual cycle. Research areas must align with DoD service Broad Agency Announcements and related strategy documents.

PhD students at U.S. universities may be nominated by a doctoral faculty member for the IBM PhD Fellowship. Nominees must be enrolled full time, remain in the same program for the award period, and be within about two years of graduation. Awards for U.S. universities are $40,000, paid to the university rather than directly to the student. IBM selects nominees based on research excellence, alignment with IBM focus areas, and faculty endorsements; awardees are strongly encouraged to pursue an IBM internship. Students cannot self-nominate. Faculty submit nominations through IBM's invitation-only fellowship awards portal when the nomination window is open.

College students who excel at computer science may apply to become Neo Scholars. The program targets future founders and provides mentorship, a premier technical community, and startup career support. Optional Neo Residency offers student teams a $40,000 equity-free grant, workspace in San Francisco, and guaranteed admission to a three-month builder residency. Neo also funds companies scholars start and expedites recruiting at partner startups. The sponsor site states the current application deadline has passed; check Neo for the next cycle. The process includes a technical screen and interviews. Neo Scholars have founded companies including Cursor, Cognition, Chai Discovery, Applied Compute, and Flint.

Fellowship program supporting Indigenous American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander graduate students pursuing STEM master's or doctoral degrees at Montana State University. SIGP strengthens recruitment, retention, and graduation of Indigenous students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through scholarships, professional development, and community support. Awards range from $20,000 to $40,000 depending on program and funding level. MSU partners with the Montana University System on this Sloan Foundation grant. Interested Indigenous STEM graduate applicants should contact the Graduate School to discuss eligibility and application steps.