Sofia University Google DeepMind AI Master's Scholarships 2026 in Bulgaria (Fully Funded)
Applications are now open for the Google DeepMind AI Master's Scholarships 2026–2027 at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Bulgaria. Offered through the GATE Institute – Big Data for Smart Society and the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, the program provides two fully funded scholarships for outstanding students pursuing postgraduate studies in artificial intelligence and related fields.
Each scholarship offers comprehensive financial support throughout the 18-month Master's program, allowing students to focus on academic excellence, research, and career development in artificial intelligence.
Scholarship Details
- Host Country: Bulgaria
- University: Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Host Institute: GATE Institute
- Scholarship Provider: Google DeepMind
- Degree Level: Master's
- Duration: 18 Months
- Number of Scholarships: 2
- Funding: Fully Funded
- Application Deadline: 09 October 2026
Degree Level
The scholarship is available for:
- Master's Degree
Available Subjects
Applicants must be admitted to one of the following Master's programs:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Information Retrieval and Knowledge Discovery
- Big Data Technologies
Benefits
Each selected scholar will receive financial support worth approximately USD 28,695.06 covering:
- Full tuition fees.
- Housing and living expenses.
- Academic travel support.
- Equipment expenses.
- Relocation costs.
- Funding to attend AI-related academic conferences.
- Financial support for the entire 18-month Master's program.
Eligible Nationalities
Applicants must be ordinarily resident in:
- Bulgaria
- Any European Union (EU) Member State
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, candidates must:
- Be ordinarily resident in Bulgaria or another European Union Member State.
- Have a candidate-student examination success rate of at least 4.50.
- Hold a Bachelor's degree with a minimum overall grade of 4.50.
- Apply for and be admitted to one of the eligible Master's programs at Sofia University for the 2026–2027 academic year.
- Meet the scholarship's financial eligibility requirements.
- Demonstrate that the household income per family member is below the minimum salary level in Bulgaria as of 1 January 2026
Application Procedure
Required Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Completed application form.
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Motivation letter.
- Bachelor's degree diploma or academic transcripts.
- Documents verifying financial eligibility.
- Proof of application or admission to an eligible Master's program.
- Additional supporting documents (if applicable).
Selection Process
Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee consisting of professors from the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics and representatives from the GATE Institute.
The selection process includes:
- Verification of eligibility requirements.
- Review of submitted documents.
- Assessment of academic achievements.
- Evaluation of motivation, qualifications, and experience.
- Financial eligibility verification.
Following the assessment, two scholarship recipients and one waitlisted candidate will be selected.
Important Dates
- Applications Open: 07 July 2026
- Application Deadline: 09 October 2026
- Final Selection: By 31 October 2026
- Academic Year Begins: October 2026
Application Process
To apply for the scholarship:
- Apply for admission to one of the eligible Master's programs at Sofia University.
- Prepare all required application documents.
- Complete the online scholarship application form.
- Upload all supporting documents.
- Submit your application before 09 October 2026.
Only complete applications received before the deadline will be considered.
About the Google DeepMind AI Master's Scholarships
Since 2017, Google DeepMind has partnered with universities worldwide to support talented students pursuing careers in artificial intelligence and computer science. The scholarship program aims to increase access to advanced AI education by supporting students from diverse backgrounds and providing comprehensive financial assistance.
The program has supported scholars across several countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the United States, and Colombia.
Why Study at GATE Institute?
The GATE Institute – Big Data for Smart Society is Bulgaria's first Centre of Excellence in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. Students benefit from an interdisciplinary research environment that brings together academia, industry, government institutions, and international partners to develop innovative AI and data-driven solutions for real-world challenges.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the Google DeepMind AI Master's Scholarships 2026–2027 is 09 October 2026.
