Microsoft Research Fellowship Program 2026

The Microsoft Research Fellowship creates opportunities for academic scholars (faculty, PhD students, and postdocs) to collaborate with Microsoft Research on open research challenges that advance scientific understanding, drive innovation, and deliver societal benefit.

In an era of rapid innovation, this fellowship brings together academia and industrial researchers across disciplines to shape the future through open research collaborations. Academic collaboration is foundational to advancing scientific discovery, and today, it’s more critical than ever. Academic institutions contribute deep domain expertise, novel perspectives, and a culture of exploration. Microsoft Research’s global labs offer deep technical expertise, cutting-edge academic inquiry, and real-world application. By working together, we believe we can accelerate innovation, promote responsible development, and address complex challenges that can best be solved through interdisciplinary exploration.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: December 2, 2025
2. Value: Up to $47,000 (varies by region)
3. Study Level: Masters, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Undergraduate
4. Sponsor: Microsoft
5. Host Country: Canada
6. Eligible Country: All Countries

Eligibility Criteria for Microsoft Research Fellowship Program 2026

General eligibility

Microsoft is seeking scholars in academia who are pursuing research and instruction in academic venues across a range of disciplines.

Eligibility guidelines vary by research challenge. Some challenges accept proposals from students, others from faculty, and some from both. Please refer to the “Research Challenges” tab and the eligibility details below to understand the criteria for each challenge.

This program accepts proposals from individuals based in the following regions: Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, Europe, India, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

Microsoft actively seeks to foster greater levels of diversity in our workforce and in our pipeline of future researchers and collaborators. We are always looking for the best and brightest talent and celebrating individuality. We invite candidates to come as they are and do what they love.

Fellows selected to be a part of the Microsoft Research Fellowship program are subject to disciplinary proceedings for inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), or plagiarism will forfeit their funding. If accepted, a standard background screen will be conducted. Though Microsoft is not hiring you for employment, a successful screen is required as a stipulation to transfer funds under this fellowship.

Student Eligibility

1. Students may submit proposals on their own behalf. See “How to Apply” for more details
2. Students must be actively pursuing a PhD at an accredited institution
3. Students must be enrolled at a degree-granting university in one of the following regions: Africa; Australia & New Zealand; Canada; Europe; India; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea; Singapore; Taiwan; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Colombi; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.

Faculty Eligibility

1. Professors, Assistant Professors, or Associate Professors may submit a proposal on their behalf. See “How to Apply” for more details
2. Proposals submitted by eligible faculty should also identify a student to be involved in the collaboration. If selected, both the faculty member and student will be named as Fellows. See “How to Apply” for more details.
3. Faculty must have received their terminal degree (e.g., PhD, DSc). A terminal degree is defined as the highest-level college degree that can be achieved within your academic discipline or professional field.
4. All faculty members and students listed in the proposal must be employed or enrolled at a degree-granting university located in one of the following regions: Africa; Australia & New Zealand; Canada; Europe; India; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea; Singapore; Taiwan; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Colombi; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.

Postdoc Eligibility

1. Postdocs may submit a proposal on their behalf. See “How to Apply” for more details
2. Proposals submitted by eligible postdocs should attest to support from a faculty advisor or department chair supporting postdoc’s participation in this collaboration with Microsoft through the Fellowship program.
3. Postdocs must be employed or enrolled at a degree-granting university located in one of the following regions: Africa; Australia & New Zealand; Canada; Europe; India; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea; Singapore; Taiwan; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Colombi; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.

Selection Process

1. Call for proposals: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
2. Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET
3. Proposal notifications sent by: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Benefits of Microsoft Research Fellowship Program 2026

The Microsoft Research Fellowship is designed to create meaningful opportunities for collaboration between academic researchers and Microsoft Research. These opportunities will vary by research challenge and may include working sessions, regular check-ins, asynchronous collaboration, workshops, and other formats tailored to the nature of the research.

All funds are distributed as unrestricted gifts as a one-time payment made directly to the institution/university and disbursed according to the institution/ university policies. Direct payments to individuals are not made by the program.

Funding amounts vary by the region a fellows’ organization/institution of employment is located in.

1. Africa – $17,000 (USD)
2. Australia & New Zealand – $17,000 (USD)
3. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico – $17,000 (USD)
4. Canada – $47,000 (USD)
5. Europe – $27,000 (USD)
6. India – $17,000 (USD)
7. Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan—$17,000 (USD)
8. United States – $47,000 (USD)

These stipend amounts include travel funding to support in-person collaboration. Fellows may use this funding to visit Microsoft Research principal investigators and collaborators at a Microsoft Research lab or office.

All payments will be distributed in March/April 2026. If selected, Microsoft will work with respective departmental finance liaisons to transfer funds.

*Stipend rates are reviewed annually and benchmarked against comparable fellowship programs in each geography to ensure competitive alignment.

How to Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to Microsoft on webportalapp.com to apply

For more details, visit Microsoft Webpage

Application Deadline

December 2, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Microsoft Research Fellowship Program 2026