If you are thinking about where Artificial Intelligence might take your business, career, research, professional development or next qualification, there is an extraordinary range of fellowships and scholarships emerging in Australia and internationally, with opportunities spanning applied AI, AI policy and governance, AI safety, machine learning, research, postgraduate study and the practical application of AI in industry.
I’ve been researching what is available, particularly opportunities that Australians can apply for, and rather than writing a long explanation about every fellowship, I wanted to bring them together in one place so you can scan the list, see what stands out and follow the links directly.
This is also closely connected to my role as Deputy Chair of the Australian Artificial Intelligence Industry Group (AAIIG) and my broader work in strategic workforce planning and development, because the AI conversation cannot only be about technology; it needs to be about people, changing occupations, new and emerging skills, workforce transformation and how Australia develops the capability to take advantage of what is coming next.
You can also connect with me on LinkedIn where I regularly share opportunities across AI, workforce development, VET/TVET, skills, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Australian AI Fellowships and Scholarships
Faculty AI Fellowship – Australia
Type: Applied AI Fellowship
Funding/support: Fully funded eight-week program, including AI training, an industry project and networking.
Suitable for Australians: Yes.
Current status: Check current cohort.
Find out more: Faculty AI Fellowship
This is particularly worth a look for people wanting to move from STEM, research or academia into applied AI and industry, because it combines technical development with the opportunity to actually apply AI to organisational challenges.
CSIRO Next Generation Graduates – AI
Type: PhD/Research Scholarship
Funding/support: Stipend plus research and industry training and placement opportunities.
Suitable for Australians: Yes, for people pursuing an eligible research degree.
Current status: Check next intake.
Find out more: CSIRO Next Generation Graduates Programs
The connection between research and industry is particularly important here, because Australia needs people who can translate emerging AI capability into practical applications across our industries and workplaces.
ANU Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarship
Type: PhD/Higher Degree by Research Scholarship
Funding/support: Australian Government-funded living stipend plus research degree support.
Suitable for Australians: Yes, for eligible PhD/HDR candidates.
Current status: Applications vary by program.
Find out more: ANU Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend
This isn’t exclusively an AI scholarship, but it is an important potential funding pathway for people pursuing eligible AI-related doctoral or higher-degree research.
International AI Fellowships and Scholarships Open
IAPS AI Policy Fellowship – USA, UK or Remote
Type: AI Policy Fellowship
Funding/support: US$18,000–US$24,000 stipend, plus US$3,000 for DC/London participants, travel and accommodation for the Washington DC event and mentorship.
Suitable for Australians: Yes.
Due date: 27 September 2026 – OPEN NOW.
Find out more/apply: IAPS AI Policy Fellowship
This is one I would look at quickly if your interests sit at the intersection of AI, policy, government, strategy, governance or the wider economic and societal implications of artificial intelligence.
Memories.ai Research Fellowship – Remote
Type: Research Fellowship
Funding/support: US$1,000 per month, plus GPU/cloud compute, datasets, mentorship and publication support.
Suitable for Australians: Yes, particularly applicants with a technical AI or machine-learning background.
Due date/status: Rolling applications.
Find out more/apply: Memories.ai Research Fellowship
MBZUAI Graduate Scholarship – United Arab Emirates
Type: Master’s Scholarship
Funding/support: Full tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance, visa and airfare/other benefits.
Suitable for Australians: Yes, subject to relevant Bachelor’s degree and admission requirements.
Current status: 2027 admissions.
Find out more/apply: Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Graduate Admissions
For anyone seriously considering postgraduate AI study internationally, MBZUAI is worth investigating because of both the specialist AI environment and the level of potential financial support.
Pivotal AI Safety Research Fellowship – United Kingdom
Type: Research Fellowship
Funding/support: £6,000–£8,000, plus housing, travel, meals, computing resources and mentorship.
Suitable for Australians: Potentially.
Current status: Next cohort.
Find out more: Pivotal AI Safety Research Fellowship
EMAI – Erasmus Mundus Artificial Intelligence – Europe
Type: Master’s Scholarship
Funding/support: Erasmus Mundus funding can include a living allowance, tuition/participation costs, travel, visa and insurance.
Suitable for Australians: Yes.
Current status: Next application cycle.
Find out more: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Artificial Intelligence
Google DeepMind AI Master’s Scholarships – UK/Partner Universities
Type: Master’s Scholarship
Funding/support: Scholarship funding, mentorship and networking, with the exact package varying by participating university.
Suitable for Australians: Potentially, depending on the partner university.
Current status: Varies by university and application cycle.
Find out more: Google DeepMind Education
Vector Institute AI Scholarship – Canada
Type: Master’s Scholarship
Funding/support: C$21,000, plus access to the Vector AI ecosystem, networking and mentorship.
Suitable for Australians: Yes, where the applicant is entering an eligible Ontario Master’s program.
Current status: 2027 cycle.
Find out more: Vector Institute Scholarship
MATS Fellowship – USA/UK
Type: AI Safety Research Fellowship
Funding/support: Stipend, housing, travel and compute depending on the cohort.
Suitable for Australians: Potentially.
Current status: Next application cycle.
Find out more: MATS Fellowship
SPAR AI Risks Research Program – Remote
Type: Research Program
Funding/support: Mentorship, research experience and access to an AI safety research network.
Suitable for Australians: Yes.
Current status: Next cycle expected.
Find out more: SPAR
Cambridge ERA:AI Fellowship – Cambridge, UK
Type: Research Fellowship
Funding/support: £10,000, plus visa, travel, meals, research support and mentorship.
Suitable for Australians: Yes – applicants 18+.
Current status: The current deadline passed on 13 September 2026, so put this one on the list to watch for the next intake.
Find out more: ERA:AI Fellowship
GovAI Research Fellowship – UK/USA
Type: AI Governance Fellowship
Funding/support: Paid fellowship plus research support, mentorship and professional networks.
Suitable for Australians: Yes.
Current status: Winter 2027 applications have closed – watch for the next round.
Find out more: GovAI Opportunities
PIBSS Fellowship – South Africa
Type: AI Safety Research Fellowship
Funding/support: US$3,000 per month, plus accommodation, meals, return flight, visa support and mentorship.
Suitable for Australians: Potentially.
Current status: Current cohort closed – watch for the next intake.
Find out more: PIBSS Fellowship
AIAF Research Fellowship – USA/Remote
Type: AI Alignment Research Fellowship
Funding/support: US$12,000 stipend, compute, research support and Demo Day travel.
Suitable for Australians: Potentially, particularly technical applicants.
Current status: 2026 applications closed.
Find out more: AI Alignment Foundation Fellowship
Google PhD Fellowship – Global
Type: PhD Fellowship
Funding/support: Significant research/stipend funding plus access to a Google Research Mentor.
Suitable for Australians: PhD candidates, subject to program eligibility.
Current status: Next cycle.
Find out more: Google PhD Fellowship
Microsoft Research Fellowship – Global
Type: PhD Research Fellowship
Funding/support: Research funding plus travel and collaboration support.
Suitable for Australians: PhD-level applicants subject to program requirements.
Current status: 2026 round closed.
Find out more: Microsoft Research Academic Programs
Eric & Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship – Global Partner Universities
Type: Postdoctoral Fellowship
Funding/support: Substantial stipend, AI training and research funding, with relocation and travel support depending on the host institution.
Suitable for Australians: Primarily PhD/postdoctoral researchers.
Current status: Host-specific.
Find out more: Schmidt Sciences AI in Science
Heilbronn AI Fellowship – Germany
Type: Research Fellowship
Funding/support: Research funding plus travel/support.
Suitable for Australians: Generally aimed at advanced researchers or PhD-level applicants.
Current status: Next call needs to be verified, so I would watch for the official announcement before applying.
Why This Matters for Workforce Transformation
What jumps out from this list isn’t simply the amount of money being invested in AI; it is the breadth of capability being developed, from highly technical machine learning and AI safety research through to governance, policy, industry application and the relationship between people and increasingly capable AI systems.
This matters enormously for strategic workforce planning and skills development because the impact of AI isn’t going to be confined to a new group of occupations with “AI” in their job title. It will change tasks inside existing jobs, reshape entry-level work and career pathways, create new combinations of technical and human capability, affect how businesses organise work and place increasing pressure on education, VET, universities and professional development systems to respond much faster.
Australia certainly needs more AI researchers, engineers and technical specialists, but we also need leaders who understand AI, workforce planners who can anticipate occupational change, educators who can translate emerging skills into learning, managers who can redesign work, policymakers who understand the workforce implications and people across every industry who know how to work productively and responsibly with AI.
That is why I am interested in these fellowships and scholarships, and why this work connects closely with my role as Deputy Chair of the Australian Artificial Intelligence Industry Group, where the focus is firmly on building Australia’s AI industry, capability and practical connections across business, government, education, research and the wider community.
If one of these opportunities catches your eye, follow the link rather than assuming it isn’t for you, particularly where international programs explicitly accept Australian applicants or offer remote participation, travel, accommodation, tuition or substantial stipend support.
And if you know of another Australian or international AI fellowship or scholarship that should be included, connect with me on LinkedIn and send it through, because I would love to keep building and sharing this list as new opportunities open.