DeepMind scholarships
Beginning in 2019, the Department of Computing has received generous scholarships from DeepMind to fund MSc and PhD degrees for students from groups under-represented in computer science and AI. The scholarships are aimed at encouraging and supporting wider participation, particularly from women and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO at DeepMind, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Imperial to help broaden participation in computer science. I’d like to congratulate all of the recipients on this achievement and wish them the best in their future studies.”
DeepMind MSc scholarships
For October 2024 entry, there are two DeepMind MSc scholarships available, to students with a confirmed place on the MSc in Artificial Intelligence, the MSc in Computing (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning), or the MRes AI and Machine Learning. One of the scholarships is for a student whose fee status is classified as home; one scholarship is for a student whose fee status is overseas.
The scholarships cover:
– full payment of tuition fees,
– a stipend for living expenses of £21,420,
– an equipment grant of £1,700,
– a travel grant of £2,200 for attendance at conferences.
In addition, the recipient of the overseas scholarships may qualify for a relocation allowance to help offset the costs of moving to the UK for their studies.
DeepMind scholars also receive invaluable guidance from personal mentors within DeepMind, and attend educational and career events organised by DeepMind. Within the Department of Computing, we also put current DeepMind scholars in touch with the network of previous recipients.
Applying for the scholarship
To be eligible, candidates must either, or both: (i) identify as a woman; (ii) be of an underrepresented, minority ethnicity.
Applying for a DeepMind scholarship for October 2024 entry required having an offer for one of the degrees to which the scholarship applies by Friday 17th May, 2024.
Details on the DeepMind scholarships for October 2025 entry will appear on this page in due course.
For further enquiries related to the DeepMind MSc scholarships in the Department of Computing, please write to Dr Robert Craven, at robert.craven@imperial.ac.uk.
DeepMind scholars
We asked the recipients of the DeepMind scholarships to tell us a little about themselves, and what the DeepMind scholarships have meant for their studies.
2023–2024
Fatima Al-ani
MSc Artificial Intelligence
After completing my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, I decided to work on academic research in neural signal processing. During my research, I found a major overlap between neurological systems and AI. Both represent the pinnacle of complex systems, utilizing patterns to reason, learn, and interact. What fascinated me the most was seeing that AI advancements are transforming neurotech concepts into reality. Driven by that passion, I decided to pursue my master's in AI.
During my degree, I have enjoyed the diverse array of modules offered, ranging from foundational machine learning algorithms to cutting-edge techniques in deep learning and natural language processing. I especially enjoyed the fact that we not only delve into understanding the core principles of these methods but also practise them on real-world projects, and have the opportunity to do this working with industry. Among the modules, Computational Neurodynamics stood out as it provided a rigorous examination of the intersection between artificial and human intelligence, offering insights into how AI can be leveraged to enhance our understanding, modelling, and creation of intelligence.
Upon the completion of my master’s degree, I want to pursue a career in engineering AI-based neurotechnology, contributing to the development of innovative solutions that use AI to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes.
Without the support of DeepMind, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this life-changing opportunity. The DeepMind scholarship helped me focus on my degree without any financial concerns. Additionally, the mentorship provided invaluable guidance, helping me refine my skills and offering insights into potential career pathways post-graduation. Thanks to this opportunity, I am equipped with the knowledge, resources, and confidence to pursue my passion for AI-driven neurotech and make meaningful contributions to the field.
Jevon Charles
MSc Artificial Intelligence
After completing my degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the West Indies, I spent some time contemplating what the next step in my academic journey would be. At the time , I would've probably laughed at any suggestion of transitioning to Artificial Intelligence. In the conventional attempt to continue down the engineering road, I found that the sheer diversity of the mechanical field presented a challenge when trying to determine a specialism. Having reviewed the degrees offered by universities across the spectrum it was difficult to find a programme where all the modules completely piqued my interest. I initially did some research into Artificial Intelligence on whim, but surprisingly found that the field—and the MSc Artificial Intelligence at Imperial in particular—presented a unifying framework for developing a skillset equipped for engineering the solutions of the future. From that point forward, the decision to move into the AI field was a no-brainer and I have not looked back since.
My experience at Imperial thus far has been both rewarding and challenging! I've really appreciated the variety of the module offerings, as we have been exposed to a range of general and speciality AI and machine learning modules that aim to shape us into well-rounded practitioners. Given my interest in Embodied AI, the Robot Learning, Robotics, and Reinforcement Learning modules have proven to be the most useful for my career development.
DeepMind’s generosity has made the entire MSc experience possible, and I will be eternally grateful to the organization for making this step of my journey a reality. Beyond the financial aspect, the assistance from my assigned mentor has really helped me in navigating the field of AI. Having also transitioned from a non-computing background, his guidance has been invaluable and for that I am also extremely thankful.
Victrix Gyasi
MSc Artificial Intelligence
After completing an undergraduate degree in physics at University College London, I was inspired to pursue a career in teaching. I specialised in teaching physics and maths at a secondary and sixth-form level to a variety of students across the city. Unfortunately, I quickly noticed how the large workload was detrimental to teacher well-being and began thinking of ways to improve efficiency through technology. This prompted me to research about the field of artificial intelligence for automating tasks and soon I was applying for postgraduate degrees to further my learning.
I’ve enjoyed strengthening my coding abilities while delving into important trending topics such as AGI and ethics in AI. It’s been exciting to watch breaking developments in the field in real time as we are studying, as it reminds me that there is so much opportunity for exploration. I am particularly interested in natural language processing and have been really pleased to be able to work on NLP and explainable AI for my final, individual project. In the future I hope to work in education technology and specialise in NLP.
I am incredibly grateful for the support shown by DeepMind—both through financial means, and with personal development. Connecting with my mentor at DeepMind has been insightful and very encouraging! Additionally, the financial aid has opened a path for me to study this degree which would otherwise have been unreachable for me.
Megan Howard
MSc Artificial Intelligence
With a foundation of previous degrees in chemistry, and in bioscience/pharmaceutical enterprise, I have a deep interest in the integration of AI in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, focusing particularly on the ethics of ensuring accurate representation for women and marginalised groups.
During my AI studies at Imperial, I have loved the more software engineering-heavy modules. I really enjoy the creativity involved in building software and the infinitely wide array of applications it's useful for. The Natural Language Processing module was another highlight for me, as I really liked the lecturers, and the theory was really challenging and interesting. It also felt especially relevant to learn about given the recent prevalence of ChatGPT. Although the degree coursework was intense, it felt rewarding to dive deep into so many projects, and to have tangible outputs to show by the end of each module. This process really helps boost your self-belief and confidence as well as competence (naturally), and I think it’s a really cool and empowering component of the MSc Artificial Intelligence specifically.
Looking ahead, I am interested in pursuing roles in software engineering or data analysis, with a preference for positions in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, policy, ethics, or audio processing. Although, I do feel that the skills you develop as a software engineer are relatively transferable, so I'm pretty open on this!
The DeepMind Scholarship has been completely instrumental to my completing the degree. I honestly don't think I would've been able to even consider it without the support. Reflecting on how much I've enjoyed this type of work and the skills I've acquired (which I plan to use heavily going forward in my career), I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunities it has given me. My DeepMind mentor also shares a really similar background to me and has always been available to offer advice and guidance as I navigate my future career prospects, which is brilliant.
Maria Lovin
MSc Artificial Intelligence
After completing my degree in economics at UCL and the University of Chicago in 2021, I worked as an economic consultant for two years, where much of my work revolved around uncovering patterns in data to piece together stories. Naturally, I was curious to learn about state-of-the-art methods that were emerging in AI, which is what inspired me to apply to the MSc Artificial Intelligence at Imperial College London.
The modules on the degree have been exceptional. From first principles modules like Introduction to Machine Learning to advanced ones like Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning, I have learned to implement state-of-the-art AI and machine learning algorithms from scratch whilst understanding the foundations underpinning all methods. A particular highlight for me was the coursework in Deep Graph-Based Learning, where we created our own AI model to predict high-resolution brain connectivity graphs from low-resolution counterparts—something I would have never dreamed about being able to do before this degree!
I wish to use what I learned on the MSc to do further AI research and advance the adoption of this technology to enhance our professional lives. I am particularly interested in Retrieval-Augmented Generation to make large language models “smarter” in specific domains, as well as methods to implement multi-modality in models.
Needless to say, I am beyond thankful for the DeepMind scholarship for giving me the opportunity to study what's currently the most exciting subject in the world. Beyond the financial support, DeepMind has provided incredibly generous guidance through the mentorship program that has helped me navigate a challenging degree to make the most out of this experience. It is undoubtedly a life-changing opportunity.
2022–2023
Hana Ali
MSc Computing (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)
I completed my undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering at the American University in Dubai in 2022.
My first contact with AI was through a computer vision project, in which I worked in a team of 4 to develop a neural network for parking slot detection, to alleviate the (incredibly pleasant!) problem of parking and trip planning in Dubai. Like many others, I started this journey thinking that changing a few neural network parameters meant that I could add “AI developer” to my profile. However, as I went further into the project, I realized that there was a lot about AI that I didn’t understand (which meant that there was a lot for me to learn), and I realized that I really wanted to study this further and understand the maths behind why things worked the way they did.
With this interest, I applied to Imperial College London, and was lucky enough to be awarded the DeepMind scholarship to help me with my studies. I don’t think I can emphasize how thankful I am for this scholarship—not only did it allow me to study abroad (something I would not have been able to do without financial support), but I was also given immense support from my DeepMind mentors, who have provided me with invaluable insight and guidance towards how to approach a career in AI and further research.
My goal is to use this programme as a basis for further research in AI, and eventually use my knowledge to go back to my home country and find ways to help people using AI, as I truly believe that it is one of the most significant tools to improve people’s access to a better quality of living. Thanks to the scholarship (and the immense network that comes with it), I feel extremely supported in this.
Kianoosh Ashouritaklimi
MSc Artificial Intelligence
After completing my degree in mathematics and statistics at the University of Glasgow, I decided to work as a data scientist. My passion for finding meaning from patterns and data then inspired me to pursue the MSc in Artificial Intelligence at Imperial College London.
During my master's, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about how modern machine learning algorithms work—not just at a practical level, but also fundamentally. I have particularly enjoyed the Probabilistic Inference and Deep Learning modules, which have enabled me to not only understand how modern architectures are engineered, but how they work theoretically. The seminars within the department have also been greatly beneficial in allowing me to expand my research interests.
My aspiration is to pursue research in the field of probabilistic modelling. More specifically, I am interested in building powerful probabilistic models with great generalisation abilities (e.g., neural networks) and accurate uncertainty estimates (e.g., Gaussian processes). After my degree, I hope to pursue a PhD in this field.
The DeepMind scholarship has helped me in so many different ways that it's hard to know where to begin. First of all, financially it has allowed me to fully focus on my degree and reduce the financial stresses associated with funding. Besides this, I have benefited immensely from the mentoring scheme which has allowed me to learn a great deal about how to be an effective researcher. The network of support at DeepMind has also informed me a lot about the various career options that I have after completing my studies.
Acer Blake
MSc Computing (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)
My background is in computer science, AI, and software engineering. I first worked for four years in FinTech after sixth-form, before going on to study an undergraduate degree in Computer Science with Intelligent Systems at King's College London.
Teresa Delgado de las Heras
MSc Artificial Intelligence
Having done more than half of my undergraduate degree—Theoretical Physics, at UCL—during the pandemic, I had a lot of time to reflect on what I wanted my future to look like. It was during this period that I started reading and exploring the world of neuroscience and thinking whether it would be possible to fit this newly found interest into my career. Artificial Intelligence offered me the best of both worlds. A field that allowed me to both exploit my coding skills and research the dynamics of the brain.
Currently, doing the MSc in Artificial Intelligence at Imperial, I know I was right to think that AI was the place for me. I am constantly amazed by the extent to which humanity has pushed technology forward, and find myself wondering about ways in which I can have an impact in the field. I'm very excited to see where my next few years take me. There are so many areas within AI I feel strongly passionate about that it has become a really hard task to decide what my next steps should be!
I have been able to pour all this enthusiasm and motivation into my career, thanks to the DeepMind scholarship. I did all my undergraduate degree whilst working part-time so I am extra grateful to be able to just focus solely on my education for the first time, without worrying about finances. Such opportunities are once-in-a-lifetime, so I am making sure I make my time at Imperial worthwhile.
2021–2022
Shay Divald
MSc Artificial Intelligence
I completed my undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering, and Masters in Electrical Engineering, at Tel Aviv university.
During my studies, I participated in several modules involving the area of Artificial Intelligence. I was astounded by the power these algorithms had to tackle challenges and by their real-world applications in healthcare.
My desire to explore the AI field and get new computational skills led me to pursue a Masters in Artificial Intelligence at Imperial College London.
In my future career, I aspire to improve human health by leading AI-based medical technological development.
I was immensely grateful to have received the DeepMind scholarship. Its financial support, the mentorship from an expert in the industry, along with the opportunity to be part of a global DeepMind scholars community, with shared aspirations, is invaluable experience for me to achieve my career goals.
Alba Espinosa Rastoll
MSc Artificial Intelligence
After studying a BEng in Aerospace Engineering at Queen Mary University, followed by an MSc in Advanced Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial, College, I worked for 2 years within the aerospace sector.
As a result of the 2020 lockdown, I started to spend some time learning about the rapidly growing field of AI, and its applications not only within the aerospace sector, but also across other industries such as healthcare. I therefore decided to apply to the MSc in Artificial Intelligence and return to university. This degree is allowing me to expand my AI knowledge across different domains such as Computer Vision or Reinforcement Learning, to find what I enjoy most, while meeting great people in my cohort from many different backgrounds.
When I am not doing AI, I enjoy swimming, cooking and going to the cinema.
The DeepMind scholarship has financially allowed me to return to university comfortably, has given me the opportunity to meet other DeepMind scholars around the globe and thanks to the mentorship, I am receiving invaluable guidance about my career and how AI is applied in industry.
Miriam Fischer
PhD
My background is in Economics and Computer Science. I hold two bachelor's degrees—in Economics and Computer Science—and a master's degree in Operational Research with Data Science. My interests lie at the interface of computer science and economics, which led me to the field of Algorithmic Game Theory, and which motivated further studies in optimisation and data science.
My PhD combines ideas from Algorithmic Game Theory, Optimisation, and data-driven decision making. Specifically, I am interested in developing more realistic models that reflect agents' behaviour in reality and the world they act in. This includes using data to infer the behaviour of agents, and to establish appropriate equilibrium notions for this setting. I also want to develop incentives that lead to socially enhanced behaviour of self-interested agents. I am also a first year student representative, voicing the opinions of fellow PhD students and working with staff to improve the graduate student experience.
The DeepMind scholarships funding my PhD is a great opportunity to interact with other DeepMind scholars and researchers. This is particularly exciting as it gives me insights into research in industry and allows me to develop a network in both academia and industry.
Suniyah Minhas
MSc Artificial Intelligence
In 2019 I graduated from an integrated Masters in Mathematics and Physics from Durham University. I then went on to work as a Data Consultant, specialising in Data Engineering and the cloud. During my career, I heard a lot about the growing field of Machine Learning and Deep Learning and was eager to pursue this in more depth.
I feel incredibly lucky to be on such an amazing programme at Imperial. The course covers topics such as Reinforcement Learning, Computer Vision and Deep Learning in a lot of depth. The learning curve is steep, but extremely rewarding. I feel very supported by both the department and cohort of exceptionally talented students.
DeepMind’s support has been fundamental in helping me to pursue this course. From the generous financial aid to the incredible mentorship, I am so grateful to DeepMind for this opportunity. The Mentorship has allowed me access to people who have a wealth of understanding about the field. The Scholarship Programme has created a global network of scholars, so it is great to meet people in a similar position and with similar interests across the globe!
2020–2021
Lisa Alazraki
MSc Computing (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)
After studying Fine Art at Central Saint Martins I worked as a multimedia artist, drawing inspiration for my practice from developments in science and technology. As I began to read more about artificial intelligence, I became increasingly drawn to it and decided to return to academia to pursue a second undergraduate degree in computing and mathematics, with the aim to work and carry out research in this deeply fascinating field.
After graduating I was admitted to the MSc in Computing (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) at Imperial College. The degree is a perfect fit for my diverse interests since it offers modules in both statistical machine learning and logic-based artificial intelligence.
I was also lucky enough to receive a DeepMind scholarship, which has allowed me to continue my studies at postgraduate level through financial support and mentorship.
I am particularly grateful to my mentor at DeepMind, who has been helpful and supportive and has offered precious insight into building a career in A.I. and machine learning.
Victoria Derks
MSc Artificial Intelligence
My interest in tech and cognition lead to combining them both through the MSc AI degree. I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology at University College London, which taught me psychological theory and neuroscience, but also research and basic coding. I realised that I enjoyed programming and tech as well as academic research and learning about behaviour. Artificial Intelligence, for me, follows from both interests: it’s the research and programming of systems that behave in complicated ways by learning from data.
I’m very lucky to have obtained a place on the competitive MSc AI degree. I wasn’t sure whether my non-traditional background would be enough to be admitted! Whereas psychology was pretty familiar, almost all material in the AI course is new to me and I’m learning a lot in a very short time. It’s exciting to learn about cutting edge technologies and implement methods that were detailed in papers published just months prior. That was definitely not the case in psychology, where papers from the 2000s were considered recent!
Through the DeepMind scholarship, I have been assigned a lovely DeepMind mentor with a similar background to mine. He’s been crucial in helping me decide how to achieve my career goals and has given me insight into what it’s like to apply AI in industry. It also allowed me to meet the other three scholars on this webpage and even some DeepMind scholars in the USA. I’ve heard from experts in the industry, like DeepMind’s founders. Without DeepMind I wouldn’t have had these experiences which weren’t as academic but helped immensely in exploring life after graduation.
A further Q&A with Victoria, on DeepMind's website.
Anna Hledikova
MSc Artificial Intelligence
I completed my undergraduate degree in Mathematics with Statistics at King’s College London in 2020.
Over the course of the degree, I developed an interest in coding and artificial intelligence and so the MSc in AI at Imperial seemed like the perfect next step. I find it fascinating to be able to connect the theory I have learned during my undergraduate studies with its real-life uses. This degree has allowed me to do this through exploring the exciting field of AI. In a relatively short time, I have learned a range of new skills and deepened understanding of my areas of interest such as deep learning or computer vision.
I have received incredible support through the DeepMind Scholarship, both financially and in terms of the mentorship and guidance. I was able to discuss my aspirations and career goals and got invaluable advice from some of the best experts in the industry, which has made my path into AI even more exciting.
Sneha Naik
MSc Artificial Intelligence
I completed my undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences (Physics) at the University of Cambridge in 2017.
After graduating, I worked in Investment Banking (Debt Capital Markets and Derivatives). While I was working I was exposed to the rapidly growing FinTech sector and through this, became increasingly fascinated by the real-world applications of Machine Learning and Data Science. I therefore decided to pursue a Masters in Artificial Intelligence at Imperial.
The MSc in Artificial Intelligence is making it possible for me to deepen my core computing skills through practical software engineering projects, while diving into specialised topics such as Reinforcement Learning and Natural Language processing and I am thoroughly enjoying every second of it!
I am extremely grateful to have received a DeepMind Scholarship. Not only has the scholarship provided me with financial support, but also, through the invaluable mentorship scheme, the confidence to achieve my future career goals.
2019–2020
Hannah Kay
MSc Computing
I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Birmingham in 2016.
After graduating, I worked at a digital marketing agency where I developed basic coding skills and decided to pursue computer science formally.
The MSc in Computing at Imperial was attractive to me as I could intensively improve my core computing skills, as well as study specialised topics at the forefront of research. In particular, I'm interested in AI safety and would like to use this great opportunity to advance my career in this important research area.
The DeepMind scholarship has been invaluable during my studies, offering support both financially and through the many contacts I have made. I now feel much more confident in pursuing a career in AI research, and I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity it has provided me.
Hongshu Liu
MSc Computing
I completed my undergraduate and master degrees in Actuarial Science and Finance at London and Cambridge. I’m currently studying the MSc in Computing at Imperial.
After graduating, I worked in actuarial consulting. Towards the later stage of my last job, I was more involved in projects related to data analysis and modelling, and this experience showed me the path into the computer science. I therefore decided to pursue a computer science degree and possibly a related research opportunity afterwards.
The DeepMind Scholarship gives me the support I need. It has also brought me into contact with some of the best experts in the industry and inspires me to explore this new path. This invaluable experience will help me to grow and achieve my goals and I feel really lucky to be given this opportunity.
Eloise Withnell
MSc Computing
After studying biochemistry and bioengineering at Imperial, I worked as a healthcare strategy consultant. During my time as a consultant, I worked on projects ranging from assessing a company using deep learning for diagnostics, to working on consent models for Electronic Health Records, and I became increasingly interested in the intersection of healthcare and computing.
The DeepMind scholarship for my MSc in Computing is making it possible for me to acquire the core computing skills necessary for pursuing a career in computational healthcare research. The well-designed structure of the course has made it possible to cover a broad range of programming languages and material, from computer architecture to machine learning, in such a short time span. I am particularly looking forward to the individual project where I will be able to use the vast range of skills I have learnt so far in a research environment.
Additionally, the workshops and mentorship scheme at DeepMind have been invaluable for me to gain further support and guidance in transitioning over to a research career.