Pakistani Students: Apply at Google Summer of Code to Learn, Code & Earn

Do you want to spend your summer break coding, make your country proud, work alongside mentors from leading open source organizations from around the world, and earn a good monthly stipend alongside as well? Well then, Google’s Summer of Code is the best way to do that and time’s already running out.

What is Google Summer of Code?

Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is an annual program for university students around the world. Held from late April to August, the competition invites university students to spend their summers coding free and open-source software.

There is no travel requirement for the program and all the work is done through a computer screen. All the students who get accepted into the program will receive a stipends from Google at each successful evaluation.

“Pakistani students who pass the program will receive a $2,400 stipend from Google.”

A total of 201 open-source organizations have been accepted as a part of GSoC 2017.

Why Should I apply?

Google Summer of Code is a brilliant opportunity for students from Pakistan, as well as around the world, to utilize their summer breaks. Not only will you get to work under the mentorship of some of the leading organizations from around the world, but it will also be an amazing learning experience.

The stipend is just another good reason to apply for the program. Moreover, the GSoC, although won’t be acceptable as an internship, will look great on your CV.

Last but not the least, it is worth noting that Pakistan has one of the lowest partaking ratio in Google Summer of Code. That is despite the fact that Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest freelancing community. So here is your chance to prove that Pakistan has some of the best coders around the world.

“Only 4 Pakistani candidates took part in last year’s Summer of Code. On the other hand, India lead the charts with a whopping 454 participants.”

How can I apply?

The applications for Google SoC’17 open on 20th March, 2017. However, Google recommends that you start looking for projects you want to work on and start discussing with accepted mentor organizations way before it. You can also check out past projects for more help.

Eligibility:

1. Must be at least 18 years old at the time of registration.
2. Must be enrolled in or accepted into an accredited institution including (but not necessarily limited to) colleges, universities, masters programs, PhD programs and undergraduate programs as of the GSoC Student Acceptance Date (May 4, 2017).
3. Must be eligible to work in their country of residence during the duration of the program.

You can read the full terms or FAQs for the program for more information.

The deadline for proposal submission is 3rd April, 2017. The accepted students shall be announced a month later, on the 4th of May.

The real coding work starts from the 30th of May and will continue until the end of August. You can see the full timeline for the program over here.

When the applications for GSoC open, you can choose an idea proposed by an organization and send a proposal. Each student can submit up to five proposals but only one will be accepted. All submissions are individually done and you can’t submit in a group.