Applications are now open for the Microsoft Research Fellowship 2026, inviting academic scholars, faculty members, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers to collaborate with Microsoft Research on addressing some of the world’s most pressing scientific and societal challenges.
The fellowship serves as a bridge between academia and industry, supporting open research that advances technological progress and delivers real-world impact.
Focus and Aim
The programme seeks to deepen understanding of artificial intelligence and its potential to shape a sustainable, equitable future.
It supports diverse research areas, including AI for societal impact, biological modelling and clean energy applications.
Fellows are encouraged to explore responsible AI development, examine its influence on employment and society and advance technical foundations such as generative model evaluation and reinforcement learning.
Funding details
Funding amounts vary by region. Fellows from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America will receive $17,000 USD; those in Europe will receive $27,000 USD; and fellows in the United States and Canada will receive $47,000 USD.
Each fellowship also includes travel funding to enable collaboration with Microsoft Research teams across global labs. Payments are processed through fellows’ institutions and disbursed between March and April 2026.
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to researchers affiliated with accredited or degree-granting institutions in eligible regions, including Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
Eligible applicants include:
● PhD students currently enrolled at an accredited university
● Postdoctoral researchers employed at a degree-granting institution
● Faculty members holding a terminal degree and including a student collaborator in their proposal
Requirements
Applicants must submit a statement of interest outlining their motivation, research focus and alignment with Microsoft’s core themes. Proposals should demonstrate how the project promotes responsible, inclusive and innovative research.
Faculty-led applications must include at least one student collaborator to foster mentorship and joint discovery.
Programme Benefits
In addition to funding, fellows gain access to Microsoft Research’s global resources, mentorship, and academic networks. They will have opportunities for direct collaboration with Microsoft researchers, participation in specialised workshops and engagement with global AI communities.
The fellowship also encourages interdisciplinary research, connecting computing with the social sciences, sustainability and creativity to address complex global challenges.
Deadline
Applications close on December 2, 2025. Visit the Microsoft website to apply.
Explore more top-tier research programmes on our Opportunities page.
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