Google Europe Students with Disabilities Scholarship

Google's education and scholarship programs aim to inspire and help students become future leaders in computing and technology by breaking down the barriers that prevent them from entering these fields. As part of our commitment, we’ve partnered with EmployAbility, a nonprofit organization that supports students with disabilities while they pursue education and promising careers, to help university students with disabilities work toward their academic goals in the field of computer science. Selected students will receive a 7,000 EUR award (or local equivalent) for the 2023-2024 academic year.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Have, or consider themselves to have, a visible or invisible disability (see EmployAbility’s approach to disability here)
• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a university for the 2022-2023 academic year
• Intend to be enrolled in or accepted as a student in a Bachelors, Masters, or PhD program at an accredited university in Europe or Israel for the 2023-2024 academic year
• Be studying computer science, computer engineering, informatics, or a closely related technical field
• Demonstrate a strong academic record
• Exemplify leadership and demonstrate a passion for computer science and technology

You will be asked to complete an online application 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
• Responses to three short essay questions
• Recipients will be selected based on the overall strength of their essays and application materials compared to the entire applicant pool or respective peers (e.g. Bachelors students compared to other Bachelors students).

Recipients will be selected based on the overall strength of their essays and application materials compared to the entire applicant pool.

Essay Questions

1. Why did you first become interested in computer science? How did this lead you to further study/pursue computer science and what do you hope to accomplish with your degree/knowledge?

   • Please be as specific as possible, making sure to answer both parts of the question. You should use examples that demonstrate your passion for computer science. For the last part of the second question, 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 qualification.
   • You can make reference to work and academic experiences, achievements and aims in relation to computer science.
   • The recommended word count is between 400-600 words.

2. We would like to ask you questions about a technical project you have been involved in or a piece of research that you undertook, where your contribution and involvement was key to its success.

   • When answering the questions, please remember that the Computer Science professional reviewing your application may not share the same technical expertise or knowledge of your particular research field. Therefore, 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].
   • Part 1 – What was the problem your project or research was trying to solve? (100-150 words)
   • Part 2 – Was this done as part of your university studies, an internship/work experience or was it a personal project?
   • Part 3 – What was your solution to the project or research? (100-150 words)
   • Part 4 – What were the technical problems that you faced? (100-150 words)
   • Part 5 – 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 6 – Do you consider this project technically challenging, innovative or both? Briefly explain why. (100-150 words)

3. The following questions relate to an example of a time when you exhibited leadership.

   • To answer these questions, you can draw from your academic, work or extracurricular experiences, responsibilities and/or achievements.
   • Please be sure to be clear about your role in any activities or achievements described, and the outcome of your involvement. Please quantify your achievements where it is appropriate to do so.
   • The term ‘technical community’ refers to any communities that you are connected to that are technology based communities, such as any IT/Computer Science related societies/ on-line forums, any other users/groups of specific technologies and social media platforms etc.
   • Part 1 – Provide an example of a situation in which you demonstrated leadership. If possible, please choose an example which shows how you helped, influenced or had an impact on members of the broader community, such as your technical community, or your university. (150 words)
   • Part 2 – What were your goals or what were you trying to achieve? (100 words)
   • Part 3 – How were you able to influence others to achieve your goal or persuade them to your way of thinking? (250 words)
   • Part 4 – Were you successful in achieving your goals, or if not, what did you learn from this experience? (100 words)
   • Part 5 – In what ways were you able to have an impact on or influence members of the broader community, such as your technical community, or your university? (150 words)

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 2023-2024 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.

• Applicants agree that any Personal Information collected in connection with the online application form may be used by Google for purposes of processing applications for the Students with Disabilities Scholarship and analysis of program productivity. Additionally, applicants agree that this Personal Information may be shared with Google’s partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, licensees and assigns for the purposes of organising and administering the Scholarship. The term “Personal Information” as used herein means first name, surname, address, telephone number, email address and any other information applicants provide to Google in connection with the application. All Personal Information that is collected from the applicant is subject to Google’s Privacy Policy. Applicants acknowledge that Google may transfer any of the applicants Personal Information outside of the European Economic Area. Applicants further understand that they may be contacted by Google in relation to internships, full-time job opportunities, and other university programs communication should they opt-in to receive them.
• Successful applicants agree that Google may, from time to time, use their name and/or refer to their university in Google’s promotional materials relating to future scholarship programs.

For further information, questions, or to submit an application, please see EmployAbility's website.