Page Summary

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• Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a global, online program focused on introducing new contributors to open source software development by connecting them with experienced mentors within established organizations.

• To be eligible, contributors must be at least 18 years old, reside in a non-embargoed country, and have limited prior open source experience, while organizations must have an active open source project and at least two mentors.

• Accepted contributors receive a stipend for completing a coding project over a flexible timeframe of 8-22 weeks, with the possibility of adjusting project scope and timelines in collaboration with their mentor.

• Though Google facilitates the program, GSoC is not a recruitment program and participation does not guarantee employment with Google; the primary goal is to foster growth and sustainability within the open source community.

• Further details about eligibility, timelines, program rules, and frequently asked questions can be found within the Contributor Guide, program website, or through direct contact with the GSoC team.

General

What is the goal of Google Summer of Code?

Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a program designed to bring new, excitedcontributors into open source communities, with the hope that they will continueto contribute to open source communities long after their GSoC program ends.

When does Google Summer of Code happen?

Please see theprogram timeline.

What happens in Google Summer of Code?

New contributors to open source will spend their summer writing code for an opensource organization under the guidance of mentors from their new open sourcecommunity.

Why does Google run the Google Summer of Code program?

Google is committed to growing the open source ecosystem. The more open sourcedevelopers there are in the world, the healthier and more sustainable the entirecommunity will be.

Since 2005, the Google Summer of Code program has brought together over 23,000new contributors/students with over 1,000 open source organizations under theguidance of 21,000+ mentors.

Is Google Summer of Code (GSoC) a recruiting program?

No. If you are interested in working for Google, please visit theGoogle jobs website.

Is GSoC considered an internship, a job, or any form of employment?

No. GSoC is an activity that a participant performs as an independent developerfor which they are paid a stipend. Participants are not employed by, working at,or for, Google.

Are mentoring organizations required to use the code produced by students?

No. While we hope that all the code that comes out of this program will find ahappy home, we don’t require organizations to use the contributor's code.

Where does GSoC occur?

Google Summer of Code occurs entirely online; there is no requirement to travelas part of the program.

What can I do to help spread the word about GSoC?

You can downloadflyers topost at university campuses, local developer meetups, etc. You can also use yourvarious social media platforms to spread word about the program,or host a meetupor information session in your area. We also have atemplate emailyou can use to distribute to your community (school, developer, etc.) and othercontacts.

How do I organize or host a GSoC information session or meetup?

You are welcome to schedule an online session or meetup at whatever time andplace is convenient for you! Please review theProgram Rules first andutilize ourpresentation templateand flyers.

Can I participate in GSoC as both a mentor and a GSoC Contributor?

No. Mentors are people who have been involved in an open source organization andwish to help guide new contributors to their community in the GSoC program. GSoCcontributors are people who are new to an open source organization.

Are participants from Ukraine, Russia, or Belarus allowed to participate in GSoC 2026?

Due to current circumstances, GSoC 2026 is not accepting participants(Contributors, Mentors or Organization Administrators) from Russia, Belarus, orthe so-called Donetsk People's Republic ("DNR") and Luhansk People's Republic("LNR"). There are no restrictions on participants located within Ukraine butoutside of the DNR and LNR.

What if I have more questions?

Check out theContributor Guide and otherpages onthis site.

If after reading through all the documentation you still don't have an answerplease consider reaching out to the GSoC community via the discussion list orIRC channel. Visit theContact Us page tofind out how.

GSoC Contributors

When can GSoC Contributors apply for GSoC?

Contributors can apply during the Contributor application period for aparticular instance of the program.

Please see theprogram timeline formore detailed information.

What programming language(s) should I know to participate in GSoC?

The programming language you need to know depends on which organization you areinterested in working with. You should be familiar with the programminglanguage(s) used by that organization.

What are the eligibility requirements for participation?

• You must be at least 18 years of age when you register
• You must be eligible to work in the country you will reside in during theprogram.
• You must be an open source beginner or a student.
• You have not been accepted as a GSoC Contributor/Student in GSoC more thanonce.
• You must reside in a country that is not currently embargoed by the UnitedStates. SeeProgram Rules for more information.

How do I know if I am considered a beginner in open source development?

A beginner in open source software includes people with minimal open sourceexperience. You would still be considered a beginner if your experience onlyincludes:

• Personal or class projects, including boot camp projects.
• Open source projects that are only used at a single institution. (example: aclub website or research that happened to be published as open source atyour old university)
• Opening a small number (<10) of issues or pull requests againstvarious open source packages.
• Continued involvement in an open source project that you joined as part ofGSoC.

If you are otherwise a regular contributor to an open source project,you're not a beginner.

I am a professional software engineer but I have not participated in open source communities before, am I eligible?

Google Summer of Code is designed to encourage students and newcomers to open source. While we welcome applicants from various backgrounds, the time commitment, including significant involvementwith the open source community, is substantial. Individuals with existing full-time software engineering careersmay find it difficult to meet the program's required time commitment.

Will you make an exception for me?

No. We cannot make an exception if you do not meet the eligibility requirements,no matter how talented or interested you are. Thousands of GSoC Contributorsapply, and making an exception for you wouldn't be fair.

Can someone already participating in open source be a GSoC Contributor?

The goal of GSoC is to bring new contributors into open source organizations.GSoC can also help beginner contributors learn the ins and outs of open sourcewhile being mentored by experienced community members.

GSoC is for students and beginner contributors to open source development, it isnot for experienced contributors to open source.

Can a group submit a proposal together to work on a single project?

No, only an individual may work on a given project.

What should I do to improve my chances of being selected as a GSoC contributor?

1. After organizations are announced, look through them on the program site andfind a few that appeal to you.
2. Read through the Project Ideas lists of these orgs.
3. When you see an idea that piques your interest, reach out to theorganization via their preferred communication methods (listed on their orgpage on the GSoC site).
4. Talk with the mentors and community and to determine if this is a projectidea that is something you would enjoy working on during the program. If youare not working on something that motivates you it will not be a fun summerfor you or for your mentor.
5. Use the information you received during your communications with the mentorsand other org community members to write up your proposal.
6. Submit your Proposal early so the mentors have time to give feedback. Youwant to have time to incorporate their feedback and resubmit before thedeadline. Don't wait until the last minute to submit your proposal!
7. Carefully read all material from the open source organization includingany specific guidelines or restrictions on the use of any AI-generated text or code.Some orgs will not accept any AI-generated proposals.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

Yes, each GSoC Contributor may submit up to three proposals. However, only oneper GSoC Contributor may be accepted. No more than one proposal per GSoCContributor will be accepted, no matter how many proposals you submit.

Should I send proposals directly to the mentoring organizations?

No, all proposals must be submitted through the program site. Proposalssubmitted outside of the Google Summer of Code program sitewill not beconsidered for Google Summer of Code.

You arestrongly encouraged to reach out to the mentoring organization earlyto discuss your ideas and get feedback and a better understanding of the workthey do before submitting your final proposal.

What does a good proposal look like?

TheContributor/Student Guidehas a section on "Writing a Proposal".

The best proposals are from participants who took the time to interact anddiscuss their ideas with the organizationbefore submission. Be sure toinclude the following: detail on exactly what you're proposing, why you'reproposing it, the reason you're qualified to do it, your developmentmethodology, your expected timeline, etc. It should also include details of youracademic, industry, and/or open source development experience.

Do not just read a Project Idea from the org's list and then write yourproposal - you need to talk to them. Contributors who don't discuss theirproposals with the target organization are very unlikely to be selected forGSoC.

Can I use AI generated text or code in GSoC?

The acceptability of using AI-generated code or text in GSoC depends entirelyon the mentoring organization's policies. We have created a shortAI Guidancedocument for GSoC contributors to help you understand the concerns over use ofAI tooling in open source communities as well as a few tips for using AI.

Due to complex licensing and legal concerns (specifically regarding codeownership and intellectual property), many GSoC organizations strictly prohibitthe use of any AI tools for generating project deliverables (code, documentation, etc.).

Read Organization Instructions Closely: You must thoroughly review thedocumentation and instructions provided by the specific organization you areapplying to. This is the only source for what is permitted or prohibited.

Seek Specific Guidance: Most organizations will provide explicit advice onwhen, and if, it is acceptable to use certain AI tooling.

Ask Questions: If you are unclear about any of the organization's rules, it isyour responsibility to ask your potential mentors for clarification beforesubmitting work or proposals.

Please be aware that using AI to write your GSoC proposal could result in anautomatic rejection by the organization, depending on their individual guidance. Always ensure your proposal is your original work and adheres to the organization'sstandards for authorship.

I turn 18 after the GSoC Contributor registration period ends, can I still participate?

No, you must be 18 when you register for GSoC. If you turn 18 even a few dayslater you are not eligible to participate in this year's program, please checkback for a future program.

What forms will I need to provide?

Accepted participants will need to provide appropriatetax forms. This includes providing proof of residency in thecountry you will be participating from and thus receiving the payments in.

Do I get paid for participating in GSoC?

Yes! Google will provide astipendto GSoC Contributors who pass their evaluations and are able to receivestipends.

Will I get paid even if the organization does not use my code?

Yes, so long as the GSoC Contributor passes their evaluation(s). Whether or notthe project uses the produced code does not impact the GSoC Contributor stipend.

How much time does GSoC participation take?

Organizations have scoped projects based on total expected time to complete aproject. Small size projects should take about 90 hours, medium sizeprojects about 175 hours to complete, and large projects about 350 hours tocomplete. Depending on your skillsand the difficulty of your project it may take you more or less time to meet thegoals of your project. If it becomes apparent that your project was underscoped oroverscoped you and your mentor will work together to adjust accordingly.

Remember that consistent community involvement and interaction is an essentialand required component for successful participation in Google Summer of Code.This engagement takes time and should be maintained throughout the entire program period,in addition to the project coding effort.

I am a student in the United States on an F1 visa. How do I get authorization to participate?

Talk to your school's international student affairs office immediately for moredetails before applying to GSoC. It is best to talk to them as soon as you thinkyou may want to participate in GSoC. Google can not provide you with any kind ofCPT or OPT authorization. It is your responsibility to determine if your visaallows you to participate in a program like GSoC, please check before applying.You should also be sure that you can accept the stipend so you are not surprisedlater if you cannot (often due to visa concerns). Unfortunately every year somestudents cannot accept their stipends because their visas don't allow them todo a program like GSoC or in some cases they don't allow the person to spendmore than 20 hours a week on GSoC.

All accepted participants will receive an email confirmation of acceptance. Wedo not offer customized letters. We will not issue CPT letters of any sort.

I attend a community college (or a junior college) can I still participate?

Yes, we hope you do!

I graduate in the middle of the program. Can I still participate?

Yes.

Can I earn course credit for participating in GSoC?

Possibly, that depends on your school's requirements. Google cannot provide youwith any additional paperwork or sign paperwork for you.

Can the schedule be adjusted if my school ends late/starts early?

The GSoC program has some flexibility in the schedule for projects. Thelength of time allowed to complete a project can range from 10 weeks to 22weeks for medium and large projects with the standard length of 12 weeks. Smallprojects can range from 8 to 12 weeks. GSoC Contributors and their mentors candecide together if a project should be extended to end a couple of weeks or solater.

The program start date cannot be changed, everyone will begin the program at thesame time.

You and your mentor may jointly agree to adjust the scheduling of milestones orweekly work schedule to allow for some flexibility within the overall programframework.

The first evaluation date is based at the halfway point of your expected projecttimeline. For medium and large projects it will be after 6 weeks for projects inthe standard 12 week schedule. For small projects it will be after 4 weeksbased on the standard 8 week project.

Mentors/Organization Administrators

I want to learn more about participating as a mentor in GSoC. Where can I find more information?

Read theMentor Guide, theProgram Rules, andRoles and Responsibilitiesfor more information on becoming a GSoC mentor. You must already be an activecommunity member of the organization that you wish to mentor for.

What are the eligibility requirements for a mentoring organization?

To be eligible to participate as a mentoring organization, you must be a grouprunning an active free/open source software project, e.g.BRL-CAD. The project does not need to be a legallyincorporated entity. Mentoring organizations must havealready produced andreleased software under anOpen Source Initiative approved licenseand have at least two contributors to serve as organization administratorsand/or mentors for the entire program in order to participate in the program.

Do organizations receive any money for participating in GSoC?

Organizations in good standing will receive a small stipend per accepted GSoCcontributor at the end of the program. This is regardless of whether the GSoCcontributor passes or fails.

Organizations are free to use these funds as they wish.

Google led organizations and organizations that are part of any federalgovernment (including public universities) will not be issued stipends.

Archive

How do I remove my information from the Google Summer of Code Archive?

Contact us to haveinformation removed.

I was a previous student/contributor in GSoC and now the URL I provided to my project has changed, will you update it for me in the archive?

We can not update your URL if it changes years later. You can request that weremove the URL for your project by contacting us directly.

Where are the files I uploaded?

Uploaded files are no longer available for download.