The scholarship is aimed at female students or those with limited financial means who wish to pursue a Master’s degree in one of the following programs offered by the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI) at Sofia University: Artificial Intelligence, Information Retrieval and Knowledge Discovery, and Big Data Technologies. 

Sofia University, through GATE Institute, is one of only four institutions in Europe selected to offer the Google DeepMind AI Scholarship, alongside École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay (France), the University of Warsaw (Poland), and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania). 

The scholarship provides financial support of USD 25,000. It covers tuition fees and mandatory university charges (for up to two years), monthly living expenses, a travel allowance for academic events, access to research conferences, guidance and mentorship from both Google DeepMind AI and the GATE Institute, as well as a laptop. 

 “Our mission is to offer the best possible education to talented young people. Through the Google DeepMind AI program, we are not just opening doors—we are helping shape a new wave of leaders in the fields of big data and artificial intelligence,” says Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute and Head of the Master’s Program Big Data Technologies. 

The primary goal of the partnership between GATE and Google DeepMind AI is to highlight the societal value of encouraging talented students to pursue research careers in the strategic fields of big data and artificial intelligence – especially those from underrepresented groups and low-income backgrounds. 

Since 2017, Google DeepMind has supported universities through scholarships to help widen access to AI and computer science. Today, the program reaches scholars in numerous countries, including Bulgaria, Colombia, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Uganda, Turkey, as well as the UK, Canada, and France. 

 This scholarship is part of Google DeepMind’s broader commitment to building a more inclusive AI community where everyone has the opportunity to participate. 

 Eligibility Criteria 

Applicants must meet the following criteria: 

  • Identify as female or come from a low socio-economic background that would prevent them from pursuing a degree without financial assistance; 
  • Have permanent residency in Bulgaria or an EU country; 
  • Be admitted for the 2025–2026 academic year to one of the following Master’s programs at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI), Sofia University: Artificial Intelligence, Information Retrieval and Knowledge Discovery, or Big Data Technologies; 
  • Have been accepted into the respective program with an entrance exam score of at least 4.50 (out of 6.00); 
  • Have completed a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 4.50. 
  • Applications must be submitted by 10.10.2025 via our online application form. After submitting the application, candidates are also required to email their documents to: . Please include your full name so we can attach the documents to your application. 

Required documents: 

  • Motivation letter (free format); 
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV); 
  • Signed declaration of voluntary and informed consent for personal data processing on behalf of the GATE Institute and Sofia University; 
  • Copy of the Bachelor’s degree diploma; 
  • Document verifying admission to the Master’s program with the stated entrance exam score; 

 For candidates from low socio-economic backgrounds: 

  • Income statement from each parent/guardian from their employer, showing payments over the last 6 months; 
  • Income declaration for the candidate and their parents from the National Revenue Agency (for 2025) or confirmation of no declared income. This certificate is free of charge and must be obtained from the local office of the National Revenue Agency. 
  • A low socio-economic status is defined as a household’s total monthly income divided by the number of household members, resulting in an amount below the minimum wage in Bulgaria (as of January 1, 2025, BGN 1,077 or USD 575). 
  • Handwritten and signed declaration by the applicant stating whether they or any of their family members own registered businesses (notarization not required). 

 Selection Process 

  • Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of faculty members from FMI and GATE Institute, based on the following: 
  • Compliance with the eligibility criteria; 
  • Submission of all supporting documents (financial status, academic performance, CV, etc.); 

 

The successful candidate and one runner-up will be chosen based on: 

Quality and content of the application, including the motivation letter and CV; 

Confirmation of eligibility through submitted documentation. 

 

Important Dates 

  • Scholarship recipient announcement: October 31, 2025 
  • Start of the academic year: October 1, 2025 
  • End of the academic year: June 2026 
  • Program duration: 18 months