Hosted by Google
Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
A world-renowned online mentorship program that pairs student developers and open source beginners with mentors from global open source foundations.
Academic Year Eligibility
Key Benefit
Competitive USD Stipend (Adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity) + 1-on-1 Foundation Mentorship
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible Degrees
All Degrees (B.Tech, B.E., BCA, MCA, B.Sc., M.Tech, Self-Taught)
Eligible Branches / Streams
All Branches
Gender Eligibility
All Genders
Geographic Scope
Worldwide (subject to standard international trade laws)
Participation Format
Individual / Mentorship
Minimum Qualifications
18+ years of age at registration. Must be an open source beginner or enrolled in an educational program.
Benefits & Rewards
• Financial stipend based on country purchasing power parity (typically $1,500 to $3,000+ USD). • Weekly direct mentorship from senior developers at Apache, Linux, Blender, Python, CNCF, and Mozilla. • Permanent contributor recognition on the official Google Summer of Code archive. • Major resume asset that fast-tracks software engineering interviews worldwide.
How It Works
1. Mentoring organizations apply and are announced by Google. 2. Contributors review project lists, join organization communication channels, and submit introductory pull requests. 3. Contributors draft detailed technical proposals outlining milestones, architecture, and weekly delivery schedules. 4. Accepted contributors write code across standard (12 weeks) or extended project timelines with mid-term and final evaluations.
How to Apply
1. Browse accepted organizations on summerofcode.withgoogle.com. 2. Pick 1 or 2 organizations matching your technical skill stack. 3. Make meaningful contributions to the repository. 4. Submit your proposal document via the official portal before the annual closing deadline.
Visit Official PortalPreparation Guide
### Practical Preparation Guide - **Start Early:** The single biggest mistake students make is waiting for the proposal window to open. Start contributing to organizations 2–3 months beforehand. - **Public Communication:** Never direct-message mentors asking for project ideas. Introduce yourself on public mailing lists, Zulip, Discord, or Slack channels and ask thoughtful questions about existing open issues labeled *good first issue*. - **Write Modular Code:** Submit small, clean, test-covered pull requests rather than giant code dumps.
Pro Tips
• Merged pull requests before proposal submission are the single most influential factor in mentor selection. Show that you can already work with the codebase.
Video Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is GSoC an internship at Google?
A: No. GSoC is an open source mentorship program administered by Google. You write code for an independent open source organization, not Google proprietary products.
Q: Can 1st year students be selected?
A: Absolutely. Many first and second-year college students participate successfully every year as long as they demonstrate solid Git skills and dedication.
Q: Can I submit proposals to multiple organizations?
A: Yes, you can submit up to 3 proposals across different organizations, but you can only be accepted for one project.