Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

About the Google Europe Scholarship

Access to knowledge is Google’s passion. When it comes to higher education for promising scholars, Google doesn’t want anything to stand in the way. That’s why Google, in partnership with EmployAbility, is proud to present the Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. Google is committed to helping the innovators of the future make the most of their talents by providing scholarships for Computer Science students with disabilities.

Recipients of the Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities will each receive a €7,000 scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of the applicant’s academic background, leadership skills and demonstrated passion for Computer Science. Full terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found at the bottom of this page

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have a disability, mental health or long term health condition (which includes dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, ADHD, visual impairment, hearing impairment, diabetes, epilepsy, depression, anxiety disorders, and any other physical or mental impairments or health conditions)
• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at a university for the 2023-2024 academic year
• Be accepted as a student in a Bachelor’s programme at an accredited university in Europe, the Middle East or Africa (EMEA) for the 2024-2025 academic year
• Be studying computer science, computer engineering, informatics, or a closely related technical field
• Demonstrate a strong academic record
• Demonstrate a passion for computer science and technology

Application Process

Applicants will be asked to complete an online application through EmployAbility which includes:

• General background information (e.g. contact information and details about your current and intended universities)
• Resume/CV

• Academic transcripts from your current and prior institutions (if you have earned a prior degree)

• One letter of reference from a professor, instructor, adviser or supervisor

• At least one letter of reference from a professor, instructor, adviser or supervisor from your university
• Responses to questions on passion and technical ability in computer science
• Recipients will be selected based on the overall strength of their questions and application materials compared to the entire applicant pool.

Application Questions

Passion for Computer Science

This first series of questions is all to do with demonstrating your passion for computer science and why you have chosen to study it.

Please be as specific as possible, making sure to answer all parts of the questions. You should use examples that demonstrate your passion for computer science. For the last question, you try and think about how you will use the knowledge gained during your studies, and how you foresee yourself developing these skills, following completion of your undergraduate degree.

You can make reference to work and academic experiences, achievements and aims in relation to computer science.

• Part one – Why did you first become interested in computer science? (200-300 words)
• Part two – What area of computer science most interests you and what have you done to learn more about it and/or pursue this interest? (200-300 words)
• Part three – What would you like to do with your knowledge of computer science after you have finished your undergraduate degree? (200-300 words)

Technical Project

This final series of questions is an opportunity to demonstrate your talent as a computer scientist. Please use this section to describe one project that you have worked on, either solo or as a major contributor, which best demonstrates your technical abilities and provide any evidence you have to support this.

When answering the questions, please make sure to explain all technical terms and processes accordingly.

Any evidence to support or to help illustrate your essay (e.g. graphs, diagrams, algorithms, sections of code etc.) can be uploaded in the ‘supporting documents’ section, for all such items please include the name of your evidence in square brackets in the appropriate place in your answer, for example [Mygraph1].

You will have space in another part of the application to include links to other projects, code repositories, academic papers, or presentations you have done.

• Part one – briefly describe your project, including the problem your project or research was trying to solve? (100-150 words)
• Part two – Was this done as part of your university studies, an internship/work experience or was it a personal project?
• Part three – What was your solution for the problem your project or research was trying to solve? (100-150 words)
• Part four – What were the technical problems/ difficulties that you faced? (100-150 words)
• Part five – Was this a solo project or were you working as part of a group. If it was a group project, please state your personal involvement in the project. (50 words)
• Part six – Do you consider this project technically challenging, innovative or both? Briefly explain why. (100-150 words)

How to apply

Please note that candidates should apply via EmployAbility’s site. You will not be able to apply directly via Google.

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of the application process with EmployAbility, including mitigating circumstances which have affected your academic and/or work experiences, please contact us at googlescholarship@employ-ability.org.uk

Terms and Conditions

The Google Europe Students with Disabilities Scholarship is open to qualified students who meet the eligibility criteria. Students with disabilities interested in computer science are strongly encouraged to apply. The scholarship award must be spent on tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the students’ classes at their primary university. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled as full time students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Enrollment will be verified after the winners are selected, and all scholarship payments will be made directly to the student to be used towards tuition and education-related expenses. We will withhold the award for any scholar who no longer meets the eligibility requirements and revoke the award for any scholar who does not maintain the eligibility requirements. Selected recipients will receive instructions from Google on how to receive the award. Failure to complete these steps by the specified deadline will disqualify recipients from receiving the award. Recipients may defer their award for up to one (1) year from the time of originally planned payment on a case by case basis as determined by Google. Google employees are not eligible to apply for Google scholarships. Persons who are (1) residents of embargoed countries, (2) ordinarily resident in embargoed countries, or (3) otherwise prohibited by applicable export controls and sanctions programs may not apply for this scholarship.

Other Opportunities

We run first year, internship, and graduate programmes, as well as vacation schemes and training contract opportunities, with our inclusive employer partners. Applying through us, you can be confident that you will be competing on a level playing field, and be provided with full support. You can also benefit from our employer insight days and skills workshops to maximise your chances of success.