The Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) in Sofia, Bulgaria, is offering the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) 2026. This prestigious program is designed for highly motivated undergraduate students from around the world who are interested in research in computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, physics, and engineering. The fellowship provides an immersive research experience under the mentorship of INSAIT faculty, modeled after top programs at MIT, Caltech, and ETH Zurich.

The SURF program runs for 8-12 weeks during June to August 2026. Participants will engage in cutting-edge research projects, contribute to ongoing group work, and have opportunities to co-author papers for leading conferences in computer science and AI. The program is fully funded: each fellow receives a monthly stipend of 1500 EUR, with accommodation, travel, and visa support provided by INSAIT. All research activities are conducted in-person at the institute in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Eligibility is open to undergraduate students enrolled in a Bachelor’s program at any accredited university, majoring in computer science, mathematics, physics, or engineering. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 (or equivalent). The program encourages applications from students in underrepresented communities in STEM. First-year undergraduates are also eligible to apply. Application materials include a CV, unofficial transcript, and a one-page motivation letter outlining interest in the program, research areas, and prior experience.

The application window is open from February 4 to March 8, 2026. After submission, shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview. Selected fellows will work closely with mentors to define their research project scope and are expected to deliver a project plan, a final report (structured as a conference paper), and a presentation as part of the INSAIT seminar series. The program offers a vibrant academic environment, exposure to diverse research topics such as federated learning, computer vision, large language models, and quantum computing, and the chance to collaborate with top researchers and peers from around the world.

For more information and to apply, visit https://insait.ai/surf/.