Swansea University to deliver prestigious Google DeepMind-supported AI research programme

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Swansea University has been selected to deliver a prestigious artificial intelligence research programme backed by Google DeepMind, offering undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds fully funded access to advanced AI research experience.

The university will host the Google DeepMind Research Ready Programme, an eight-week initiative designed to widen participation in AI research careers.

Swansea is among a small number of UK institutions chosen to run the scheme, which is supported by founding partners Google DeepMind and The Hg Foundation, alongside the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Delivered by Swansea’s Computer Science Department, the programme will run from 8 June to 31 July 2026 and aims to provide students with hands-on experience at the forefront of AI research while addressing barriers to entry into the sector.

Participants will be based at the university’s £32.5 million Computational Foundry, a specialist research facility focused on computational and mathematical sciences, where they will undertake supervised research projects across areas including machine learning, robotics, natural language processing, explainable AI, bioinformatics and deep learning.

Students will also receive weekly data science training delivered by a Turing Fellow, take part in a datathon challenge involving Welsh industry partners and present their findings at a final research conference.

To ensure accessibility, participants will receive a £441 weekly stipend, free on-campus accommodation and covered travel costs, enabling students to take part without financial barriers.

Dr Megan Venn-Wycherley, Programme Co-Lead, said: “Artificial Intelligence is transforming society, but access to research careers in AI remains uneven.

“The Research Ready Programme is about opening doors — giving talented students who may not have seen themselves as ‘researchers’ the opportunity to work alongside leading academics, build confidence, and see what a future in AI could look like.”

Applicants must be UK residents in the penultimate year of, or recent graduates from, an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related technical discipline, and meet at least one widening participation criterion, such as eligibility for free school meals, living in areas within the lowest IMD or POLAR deciles, experience of local authority care or receipt of full state maintenance support.

An online information webinar will take place on 25 February 2026, with applications closing on 15 March 2026.