Leading British artificial intelligence (AI) company Google DeepMind has renewed its support for under-represented students pursuing postgraduate studies at Queen Mary University of London.
The donation from Google DeepMind will be used to continue and expand the University’s Google DeepMind Scholarship programme which launched in 2019.
During the academic year 2024/2025, the scholarships will be awarded to women and Black students, who are currently under-represented in the field of AI.
Three scholarships are available for students who wish to study on selected AI masters programmes at Queen Mary, including MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Artificial Intelligence in the Biosciences, MSc Artificial Intelligence for Drug Discovery, and MSc Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Sciences. A full list of eligible programmes and details of how to apply can be found on the university's scholarships pages.
Professor Steve Uhlig, Head of the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science at Queen Mary said, "We’re so pleased to receive another significant gift from Google DeepMind to continue our valued scholarship programme. AI holds immense potential to shape our future. However, there's a critical need for diverse voices and perspectives to drive its development. The Google DeepMind Scholarship Programme is a crucial step in breaking down barriers and ensuring everyone can contribute to this transformative field. We're excited to welcome enthusiastic students and help them inspire a deep love for AI and give them the foundation to become influential figures in the AI landscape."
Obum Ekeke OBE, Head of Education Partnerships, Google DeepMind, said: "At Google DeepMind we want to build AI responsibly to benefit humanity. To achieve this goal, we need a strong, diverse and inclusive AI community. Supporting universities to offer scholarships is one way we seek to broaden participation in science and AI. By removing some of the financial barriers that prevent people applying to postgraduate study, and providing mentoring support, we hope to help build an AI community where everyone can participate and thrive - irrespective of their backgrounds. I’m delighted we’re able to support another cohort of Google DeepMind scholars at Queen Mary, and we look forward to welcoming them later this year.”
26 students have benefited from the Google DeepMind Scholarships since the launch of the programme in 2019. Each scholarship provides students with full financial support, plus mentorship from Google DeepMind employees and opportunities for attending leading AI academic conferences and Google DeepMind events.
Maja Pavlovic, a MSc AI scholar from 22/23, graduated from her programme with a distinction and is now a PhD student at Queen Mary. She said, “Completing the MSc programme would not have been possible without the financial support, as I didn't qualify for a student loan. The mentorship experience was incredibly helpful in many ways. My mentor supported me in understanding research methodologies and navigating the PhD application process, which played an important role in enabling my current PhD journey.”
Queen Mary is working to develop the next generation of AI experts. In addition to its continued support for postgraduate students, the University is set to launch an exciting new AI research initiative for undergraduate students this summer, supported by the Google DeepMind Research Ready funding stream. This programme, designed for under-represented students, will provide invaluable funded research opportunities, encouragement, and guidance for students to pursue advanced studies and a fulfilling career in research. By actively encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to envision a future in AI and related fields, Queen Mary is helping to build an inclusive AI community where all individuals can thrive, regardless of their backgrounds.
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