Cooperative AI PhD Fellowship 2026

Benefits & funding

• Every fellow receives yearly budgets for conferences and research computing, with possible early access to new models.
• Fellows receive invitations and travel funding for relevant foundation events, research visibility, and collaboration opportunities.
• A subset of exceptional candidates receives living-cost funding of up to US$40,000 per year; existing stipends may be topped up to that amount.
• Tuition is not funded. Benefits and scholarships last for at most three years and depend on continued work in cooperative AI.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be current PhD students or expect to begin a PhD in 2026 at an accredited university.
• The university may be anywhere in the world and the PhD may be in any department, but the proposed research must focus on multi-agent or cooperation problems involving AI systems.
• Applicants may apply before or after admission and may already hold other funding; an award is conditional on enrolment.
• No university nomination is required. The page states no nationality, residency, age, gender, or minimum-experience restriction.

Application process

1. 1
   Complete the official application form by the cycle deadline.
2. 2
   Submit a CV, a two-page research proposal, answers to several short questions, and arrange two reference letters.
3. 3
   Ensure reference letters arrive no later than one week after the application deadline.
4. 4
   Applications pass through screening and full review; a small number of applicants may be invited to a brief call.

Program timeline

1. Application deadline

   16 November 2025, 23:59 AoE

2. Final day for reference letters

   23 November 2025

3. Intended decision timing

   End of January 2026

4. 6 February 2026

   2026 fellows announced