How to Apply for Google Conference Scholarships for African Students

Google has made the 2025 Google Conference Scholarships for African students open for submissions.

University students can attend prestigious conferences in Africa with full financing thanks to the Google Conference Scholarships.

The goal of the scholarship is to assist in removing the obstacles that keep underrepresented groups in business and technology from attending important conferences.

For complete information about the chance, read this post through to the end.

When is the deadline for applications?

There is no fixed deadline.**
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted at least one month before the date of the conference you wish to attend.

Describe the award to me:

The Google Conference Scholarship provides full financial support for African university students to attend top-tier computer science conferences held on the continent. The aim is to increase representation and remove financial barriers for talented students in tech and research fields.

Which fields qualify?

Research areas within Computer Science and related disciplines, particularly where Google has active research interests, such as:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Machine Learning (ML)
• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Systems
• Robotics
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
  👉 See full list: research.google.com

The type:

🎓 Conference Travel Grant / Scholarship

Who is eligible for the Google Conference Scholarship?

To apply, candidates must:

• Be full-time students (undergraduate, master’s, or PhD) at recognized African universities
• Need financial support to attend the conference
• Have a paper accepted at a top-tier computer science conference (oral or poster presentation, main program only)
• Be the sole or joint first author of the accepted paper
• Not be funded already by another industry travel grant

How Do They Choose Applicants?

Applicants are selected based on:

• The quality and relevance of the accepted paper
• The prestige of the conference
• Applicant’s academic status and financial need
• Google’s research interest in the conference topic

Which nations are qualified?

🌍 All African countries
Applicants must be enrolled in universities located in Africa.

Where will the prize be accepted?

📍 Conferences held in Africa, especially in top-tier venues recognized in the computer science research community.

How Many Honors?

❓ Not specified
Awards are given on a case-by-case basis, depending on the quality of applications and available funding.

What Advantage Does the Award Offer?

The scholarship covers:

• Conference registration fees
• Round-trip travel to/from the venue
• Hotel accommodation
• A $100 stipend for travel-related costs
• Google swag (merchandise)

⚠️ Students should not make travel arrangements on their own.

What’s the Duration of the Award?

⏳ One-time travel support
Covers the duration of the selected conference only.

How do I apply for the 2025 Google Conference Scholarship?

You can apply online through the regional application form for Africa. Applications are accepted year-round, but apply at least 1 month before the conference date.

👉 Click here to apply

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the Google Conference Scholarship

🔹 What is the Google Conference Scholarship?

The Google Conference Scholarship provides funding support to individuals from underrepresented groups in tech to attend leading conferences in computer science and related fields around the world. It aims to foster diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

🔹 What does the Google Conference Scholarship cover?

Depending on the region and conference, the scholarship may include:

• Conference registration fees
• Travel and accommodation expenses
• Daily stipends or reimbursements

🔹 What is the Google Conference Scholarship 2025 timeline?

• Rolling applications based on upcoming conferences
• Deadlines are typically 1–2 months before the conference start date
• For 2025, applications are expected to open in late 2024 and throughout 2025

🔹 What is the acceptance rate for the Google Conference Scholarship?

Google doesn’t publish an official acceptance rate, but competition is moderate to high. Having:

• A clear purpose for attending the conference
• Demonstrated impact in tech or diversity
• A strong resume or academic background
  will increase your chances.

Reddit users report mixed outcomes—some got accepted with little experience, others were waitlisted despite strong backgrounds.

🔹 Are there specific scholarships for African students?

Yes! The Google Conference Scholarships – Africa are open to African students and professionals attending international or regional conferences.

Past African recipients attended events like:

• Grace Hopper Celebration
• AfriCHI
• NeurIPS
• ACM Conferences

🌍 Google Conference Scholarships Africa 2024/2025 are ongoing. Check regional Google announcements and partner sites.

🔹 What about applicants from India, UK, or North America?

Yes, Google offers region-specific scholarships:

• India: Open to students and early-career tech professionals in India.
• North America: Supports Black+, Latinx+, and Indigenous students in Canada and the U.S.
• UK/Europe: Focused on students in the UK, EU/EEA pursuing computing-related studies.

🌐 Applications must match eligible conferences in your region.

🔹 Are there other tech conference scholarships like Google’s?

Yes! Here are other great programs:

• NSBE Conference Scholarships (for Black engineering students)
• AnitaB.org GHC Scholarships (Grace Hopper Celebration)
• IEEE and ACM Student Travel Grants
• Facebook (Meta) and Microsoft Conference Scholarships
• OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Apple Research Scholarships

Many are aimed at diversity, students, or first-time attendees.