Location: Bulgaria
Program: Master’s Degree Programs
Eligibility: Domestic and International Students
Duration: 18 months
Deadline: October 9, 2026
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The GATE Institute Google DeepMind AI Master’s Scholarships are offered by the GATE Institute (Big Data for Smart Society Institute) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in collaboration with Google DeepMind, as part of Google DeepMind’s global AI Master’s Scholarship programme which has been running since 2017 and has expanded internationally to support universities and scholars in Bulgaria, Colombia, Greece, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and France. For the 2026–2027 academic year, GATE Institute is offering two fully funded scholarships an increase from the one scholarship offered in previous years to talented students pursuing a Master’s degree at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI) of Sofia University in one of three eligible programmesC.
The GATE Institute (Big Data for Smart Society Institute), established in 2019 as an autonomous structure of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” is Bulgaria’s first Centre of Excellence in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. Founded through a partnership between Sofia University, Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), and Chalmers Industriteknik, GATE brings together researchers, students, industry, public institutions, and international partners to develop data-driven technologies and AI solutions addressing real-world societal and economic challenges. Sofia University, founded in 1888 and located in Sofia, is Bulgaria’s oldest and most prestigious university, consistently ranked among the top universities in South-Eastern Europe.
Benefits of the Programme
This programme will provide the following to its recipients:
- Full tuition fees for the 18-month Master’s programme
- Housing and living costs support for the duration of the programme
- Academic travel allowance
- Equipment expenses coverage
- Relocation expenses support
- Access to AI-related academic conferences
- Total indicative funding: USD $28,695.06 per scholar for the full 18-month duration
Also Check:
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TU Berlin Scholarships and Funding for International Students 2026–2027 – Germany
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this programme, applicants must meet the following:
- Must be ordinarily resident in Bulgaria or another European Union Member State
- Must have a candidate-student examination success rate of at least 4.50 (on the Bulgarian grading scale)
- Must hold a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall grade of 4.50
- Must apply for and be admitted to one of the following eligible Master’s programmes at Sofia University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics for the 2026–2027 academic year: Artificial Intelligence; Information Retrieval and Knowledge Discovery; or Big Data Technologies
- Must meet the financial eligibility criteria: total family income divided by the number of household members must result in a per-household-member income below the minimum salary level in Bulgaria as of January 1, 2026
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements.
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Selection Criteria
Applications are reviewed by a selection panel composed of professors from the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Sofia University and representatives of GATE Institute. The selection process includes: verification that applicants meet all eligibility requirements; review of submitted supporting documents; assessment of academic performance; evaluation of motivation, qualifications, and experience as presented in the application form, motivation letter, and CV; and verification of financial eligibility. Following the evaluation process, two scholars and one waitlist candidate will be selected. The final selection and nomination decision will be completed by October 31, 2026. Only complete applications submitted by the October 9, 2026 deadline will be considered.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official webpage and submit your application.
