AI for Science is a specialised stream within the AIMS South Africa Master’s in Mathematical Science, created in partnership with Google DeepMind. It offers an exciting path for students who want to explore how artificial intelligence can accelerate scientific discovery.
The programme launched its first cohort in September 2023. It is a fully residential, one-year master’s degree that blends coursework with a focused research component. Applications are open to students across Africa who are passionate about mathematics, machine learning and scientific inquiry. AIMS is looking for individuals driven by curiosity and a desire to use AI to understand and transform the world around them.
Benefits
Successful applicants receive full financial support, covering tuition, equipment and computational resources. Students become Google DeepMind Scholars and gain mentoring opportunities with Google DeepMind engineers and researchers. More information on the scholarship can be found here: Google DeepMind Scholarships
The programme also draws heavily on Google DeepMind’s global expertise in AI for Science to enrich the academic experience.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the 2026 intake, candidates must:
- Be residents of Africa at the time of application
- Be citizens of any African country
- Have completed a four-year undergraduate degree, or a three-year degree plus an honours year, by August 2025 (or December 2025 for applicants from Southern Africa; see FAQ)
- Not have previously held a scholarship at any AIMS centre
Eligible backgrounds include physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering or any field with strong mathematical and computational foundations.
Selection Process
The online application is not designed as an exam. Instead, the questions help the selection panel understand how applicants think, analyse problems and communicate their ideas. Applicants are encouraged to start early to prepare a complete and thoughtful submission.
Short online interviews for the final round will take place in May 2026.
Required Documents
Applicants will need to upload:
- Curriculum vitae
- A motivation letter (around 500 words)
- Academic transcripts
- Samples of previous mathematical science work (provided on the application portal)
- A coding problem (also on the portal)
Deadline
March 6, 2026
How to Apply
Register and upload all required documents at apply.aims.ac.za before 11:59 PM on 6 March 2026.
More details are available on the AIMS Scholarship page.
Content & Social Media Manager planning and publishing educational content, including scholarship updates, career resources and student-focused articles at The Students Forum Nigeria.
