Google Student Researcher 2026: Eligibility and How to Apply (Bengaluru)
The Google Student Researcher 2026 program is open on Google's official careers site, with a placement listed in Bengaluru, India. This is a research placement for people who are still in college, so you must currently be enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD program to be eligible. The posting says to complete your application before July 31, 2026, and you need to be located in India for the full duration of the engagement.
Research at Google while you are still studying
Researchers across Google work on advancing computing and building the next generation of intelligent systems used in Google products. The company invests in foundational research and in projects that apply current computer science techniques, with work spanning areas like sustainability, algorithm optimisation and artificial intelligence systems.
The Student Researcher role places students onto these research projects. When you apply, the posting says you are considered for positions across all of Google's research teams, including Google DeepMind, Google Research and Google Cloud, so a single application can match you to a project that fits your skills and interests. Projects are described as exploratory and vary in both duration and location depending on the team and the student.
Who the Student Researcher Program is for
The Google Student Researcher 2026 opening is aimed squarely at people who are currently enrolled in a degree, not at graduates looking for a full-time job. The official posting is clear that the program is open to students in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD program. A key condition is location: you must be based in India for the entire engagement.
- You are currently enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree program.
- You are studying Computer Science, Linguistics, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Economics, or Natural Sciences.
- You can be located in India for the full duration of the placement.
- You meet the English proficiency requirement that Google applies to its roles.
The posting also lists a preference for students who are enrolled full-time and will return to their program after the placement, which signals that this is meant to sit alongside your studies rather than replace them.
Degrees, fields and experience the posting names
Google splits the requirements into minimum and preferred qualifications. The minimum qualifications are the ones you should match before applying.
Minimum qualifications listed:
- Current enrolment in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD program in Computer Science, Linguistics, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Economics, or Natural Sciences.
- Experience in one area of computer science, for example Natural Language Understanding, Human Computer Interaction, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Algorithmic Foundations of Optimisation, Quantum Information Science, Data Science or Software Engineering.
Preferred qualifications listed:
- Current enrolment in a full-time degree program with a return to the program after the placement.
- Experience contributing to research communities, including publishing papers in major conferences or journals.
- Experience with one or more general purpose programming languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript or C/C++.
What you would actually work on
The responsibility named in the Google Student Researcher 2026 posting is short and direct: take part in research to develop solutions for real-world, large-scale problems. The Student Researcher Program describes these as academic collaborations, where students work on research projects that are aligned to Google's priorities in scientific advancement.
In practice that means joining a team, working collaboratively on a research challenge, and supporting the creation of new technologies rather than maintaining an existing product. Because placements run across research, engineering and science teams, the exact day-to-day work depends on the project you are matched to.
Documents to prepare and the application window
You can apply for the Google Student Researcher 2026 placement directly on Google Careers. Before you start, get two documents ready, both of which the posting asks for in English and prefers as PDFs.
- An updated CV or resume.
- A current unofficial or official academic transcript, in English.
The posting asks you to complete your application before July 31, 2026. Since research projects are matched to students individually, applying early gives your profile more time to be considered across teams.
Applying safely and spotting fake offers
Apply only through the official Google Careers listing for this role. Google states that it does not accept agency resumes and is not responsible for fees tied to unsolicited resumes, so any message asking you to pay a fee, route your CV through an agent, or share bank details for a Google Student Researcher 2026 placement should be treated as a scam.
- Open the official Google Careers application page for the Student Researcher, 2026 role.
- Sign in or create a Google Careers profile.
- Upload your CV or resume and your transcript as English PDFs.
- Submit your application before the July 31, 2026 date in the posting.
If you are still mapping your degree to the right openings, browse our engineering job listings and postgraduate science and computing roles for more student and fresher options, and check openings for BCA and BSc students if you are on a science track.
Quick answers
Is the Google Student Researcher 2026 role a full-time job?
No. It is a research placement for students who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD program. You apply while you are still studying, and the preferred profile returns to the degree after the placement.
Where is this role based?
The listing shows Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The posting also requires that you are located in India for the full duration of the engagement.
What is the last date to apply?
The posting asks you to complete your application before July 31, 2026.
Which subjects are eligible?
The minimum qualifications name Computer Science, Linguistics, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Economics, or Natural Sciences, plus experience in one area of computer science.
What documents do I need?
An updated CV or resume and a current transcript, both in English and preferably as PDFs.
Source: details verified against the official Google Careers posting for Student Researcher, 2026. View the official Google posting.