The Fatima Institute for Global AI Research Fellowship is a free, mentor-led program that helps aspiring AI and machine learning researchers from developing countries gain research experience and prepare for graduate school. The nonprofit institute has opened applications for its first Fall cohort, following a Spring 2026 group of 67 fellows from 22 countries.
About the Fatima Institute for Global AI Research Fellowship
The Fatima Institute began with a single email in 2018 and has grown into a global community that aims to widen access to AI research, particularly for students from regions underrepresented in the field. Because the institute argues that a small number of countries produce most AI research, its fellows tackle projects such as low resource languages, algorithmic fairness, and global health.
Fellows work with mentors from institutions including Stanford, Harvard, and Georgia Tech, and the institute reports a 36 percent graduate school acceptance rate among its fellows along with papers at venues such as NeurIPS and ACL. Since the Fall cohort is new, applicants should watch the official website for timelines as they are announced.
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Funding Size
- The fellowship is free to join
- Fellows receive up to $1,000 in computational resources for model training and experiments
- The number of places in the Fall cohort has not been published
- Earlier cohorts ran for nine months, though the Fall duration is unconfirmed
- Support includes mentorship, graduate school application guidance, and a chance at a recommendation letter
Who Can Apply
- Aspiring PhD students and researchers from developing countries
- Students planning to apply to Master’s or PhD programs in AI, machine learning, or related fields
- Applicants who want hands-on research experience with a mentor
- Formal eligibility criteria for the Fall cohort have not been published
Geographic Eligibility
- The institute focuses on developing countries and regions underrepresented in AI
- Spring 2026 fellows came from 22 countries
- Applicants should confirm country eligibility on the official website
Sector or Thematic Focus
- AI and machine learning research
- Low resource languages and algorithmic fairness
- Global health applications
- Graduate school preparation
Application Process
Applicants apply through the institute’s website by choosing the option to apply as a fellow, and in earlier cycles selected fellows were paired with mentors to pursue a research project. The institute has not yet shared review stages or a decision timeline for the Fall cohort, so applicants should check the site regularly for updates.
Required Materials
- A completed fellow application form on the institute website
- Academic transcripts, a resume, and readiness exercises, as required in earlier cycles
- Any additional items listed on the current application page
Key Dates
- Applications for the first Fall cohort opened in September 2026
- The application deadline has not been published
- Program start and end dates have not been published
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Selection Notes
- The institute says it has trained 100 fellows from more than 1,500 applicants, which points to strong competition
- Mentor availability can shape placements
- Fellows are pre-screened before mentor matching