Where to Find Scholarships for AI Safety Research 

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized industries, reshaped daily life, and opened new frontiers in research—but with great power comes great responsibility. As AI systems grow more autonomous and powerful, the need to study AI safety becomes more critical. Governments, private companies, and academic institutions alike are scrambling to mitigate the risks posed by unchecked algorithms and machine learning systems. If you’re passionate about building safer, more ethical AI, there’s never been a better time to pursue this field.

Finding the right support for your education can be challenging, but that’s where scholarships for AI safety research come in. These opportunities don’t just lighten the financial burden; they often connect you with mentorship, cutting-edge labs, and real-world impact. In this guide, we’ll explore where you can find these scholarships, how to qualify, and what makes each one unique. Whether you’re an undergraduate, grad student, or mid-career professional looking to pivot, you’ll find practical insights to fuel your journey.

Why AI Safety Needs the Next Generation of Thinkers

AI safety is no longer a fringe concern—it’s a mainstream necessity. From autonomous weapons to algorithmic bias in hiring, the implications of flawed AI systems are already being felt. Yet the pipeline of qualified experts in AI safety remains limited, especially when compared to the explosion of talent in general AI development.

Scholarships for AI safety research aim to bridge this gap by attracting more students into this vital domain. Institutions and philanthropists alike are funding initiatives to ensure that the future of AI is both powerful and principled. By pursuing one of these scholarships, you’re not just investing in your education—you’re contributing to a field that could determine the trajectory of civilization.

Many of these scholarship programs are backed by organizations like OpenAI, the Future of Life Institute, and the Center for AI Safety. They’re looking for thinkers who can navigate ethical complexity, technical precision, and long-term societal impact. Whether your focus is technical robustness, interpretability, or policy frameworks, there’s a place for you in this movement.

Top Organizations Offering AI Safety Scholarships

When it comes to funding AI safety research, a handful of organizations lead the way with robust scholarship programs. The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is one such example. Their grants and fellowship programs are specifically tailored to researchers aiming to prevent existential risks from advanced AI. FLI offers both individual fellowships and institutional support, helping students and labs tackle some of the hardest problems in the field.

Another notable institution is the Center for AI Safety (CAIS), which runs a competitive research scholars program that supports early-career researchers. CAIS also collaborates with universities and provides summer programs that include mentorship, funding, and exposure to top-tier researchers.

Open Philanthropy is also a major player in this space. Though not a traditional scholarship provider, Open Phil often funds individuals and research groups through university partnerships. Their focus lies in high-impact AI alignment research, and they actively support PhD students and postdocs via university endowments and independent grants.

For those in academia, institutions like the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute offer fellowships and financial support tied to ongoing research in AI safety and alignment.

Scholarship Opportunities by Educational Level

The path to studying AI safety can begin as early as undergraduate education, but most funding is concentrated at the graduate and postdoctoral levels. For undergraduates, programs like the Effective Altruism Global Fellowship and AI Safety Camps offer exposure and stipends, often tied to summer research or workshops. These experiences can set the stage for a deeper commitment to the field and often lead to more advanced funding options later.

At the master’s and doctoral levels, the options expand considerably. The OpenAI Scholars Program is one high-profile example, supporting individuals from underrepresented backgrounds as they transition into AI safety roles. Meanwhile, the Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative (BERI) often provides grant funding and research support for graduate students involved in aligned university programs.

Postdoctoral researchers are not left out either. Grants from the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI) and partnerships with institutions like the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence allow for advanced, high-impact work. These scholarships often include travel budgets, equipment funding, and access to international conferences—crucial for building your research reputation.

How to Strengthen Your Scholarship Application

Securing a scholarship in AI safety research isn’t just about GPA or test scores. These programs look for alignment with the mission, clarity of thought, and a demonstrable passion for making AI safer. Your application materials—especially your statement of purpose—should reflect an understanding of the field’s core challenges and how you plan to contribute.

It helps to have some hands-on experience, whether through open-source contributions, research assistantships, or participation in AI safety reading groups. Many successful applicants cite involvement in organizations like EA (Effective Altruism), research published on arXiv, or even blog posts articulating novel insights on AI alignment. These show you’re not just interested in theory—you’re actively engaging with the work.

Letters of recommendation also carry weight. Seek out professors or professionals who can speak directly to your critical thinking, initiative, and technical skills. And don’t underestimate the value of tailoring your application. Generic pitches won’t cut it in a field that demands nuance and long-term vision.

Global Opportunities for AI Safety Research Funding

While much of the attention around AI safety is concentrated in North America and Europe, opportunities are expanding worldwide. In Asia, programs in Japan and Singapore are investing heavily in ethical AI research, with universities like the National University of Singapore offering targeted scholarships for tech and ethics fusion.

In the European Union, funding through Horizon Europe includes calls for responsible AI development, including risk mitigation. Independent institutions like the Alan Turing Institute in the UK provide fellowships and research grants that often intersect with safety concerns.

Australia’s Centre for Human-Compatible AI and Canada’s CIFAR AI Chairs Program also play a role in global scholarship opportunities. These programs are increasingly open to international students, often with partnerships that span continents.

If you’re looking to study abroad, it’s worth checking whether AI safety is part of a broader ethics or computer science grant. Multidisciplinary research is common in this space, and casting a wide net can uncover opportunities hidden in policy, engineering, or philosophy departments.

Resources and Platforms to Find the Latest Scholarships

Staying current is essential when it comes to scholarship hunting. Websites like 80000hours.org regularly update listings of funding opportunities in high-impact areas like AI safety. They also provide career guides that help you map out your academic and professional trajectory within this niche.

The Effective Altruism Forum is another goldmine. Users often post new funding opportunities, application tips, and even mentorship offers for people entering the field. Subreddits like r/ControlProblem and r/MachineLearning also occasionally highlight lesser-known scholarships and grants.

Additionally, many leading institutions maintain newsletters or mailing lists where you can get direct updates. Signing up for CAIS, FLI, and MIRI newsletters ensures you won’t miss deadlines or newly launched initiatives. If you’re in school, speak with your department head or career center—they may be aware of faculty-led projects that come with built-in funding.

Conclusion

AI safety research is rapidly emerging as one of the most critical disciplines of the 21st century, and scholarships provide a vital entry point for those eager to contribute to this field. Whether you’re beginning your academic journey or advancing through doctoral studies, numerous funding opportunities exist across global institutions, independent organizations, and specialized research initiatives.

Institutions such as the Future of Life Institute and OpenAI are not only investing in education but also cultivating a worldwide network of researchers dedicated to ensuring AI development remains safe and ethical. As you explore these scholarship options, keep in mind that your distinctive perspective, expertise, and dedication are precisely what the future of AI safety needs.