Congratulations on being accepted! Let's make sure cost isn't what stands between you and your cohort. Here's everything you need to find funding, step by step!
Your spot is being held for you until 10 May 2026. To confirm your place, you'll need to pay your course fee and processing fee through the Portal by midnight UTC on May 10th.
That gives you time to ask for external funding. Many students secure full or partial funding from their university, lab, or fellowship in just a few emails. Start those conversations now, before the deadline creeps up.
Neuromatch is a nonprofit organization, registered as a 501(c)(3) in the U.S. Our course fees are not profit; they directly fund the Teaching Assistants who dedicate an entire month to you and sustain the infrastructure that makes global, accessible computational education possible. Without these fees, Neuromatch cannot operate.
Regional Adjustment
We adjust our tuition and the processing fee based on the cost of living in the country where you are located while taking the course. Use the calculator here.
"Neuromatch’s mission is to make education and research in computational science accessible to everyone, everywhere. They adjust tuition fees based on where each student is located, so anyone with curiosity and motivation can take part"
Sepehr Gourabi, Iran and US, Computational Neuroscience Alumni.
Building your specific case before you ask
The strongest funding requests are specific, not just enthusiastic. Before you email anyone, take 20 minutes to prepare; it will make every ask easier to say yes to!
Identify one specific problem in your current research that this training will help solve
Write down three skills you will gain that match your current research or lab needs, not just your general interest
Write down how the training will strengthen your lab's work; stronger analyses, better models, cleaner code, more reproducible workflows
Prepare a short pitch: course dates, cost, time commitment, and what you will bring back
Not sure where to start? Talk to a Neuromatch Ambassador; they can walk you through the course format, workload, and outcomes in your language.
Who you can ask
Not sure who to approach? Here are the people and offices most likely to have funding available:
Graduate Program Director
Department Chair
Your PI or research supervisor
Graduate school or research office
International office
Student support office
Don't overlook your workplace if you are employed; many employers have professional development budgets that can cover training programs.
And if one person says no, try another. Funding often exists in places you wouldn't think to look!
Asking for funding
Cost shouldn't be what stands between you and your cohort. Most students find success in steps 1–4 and we will assist you asking each one! Even if you can only secure partial funding, don't give up; step 5 and 6 may help you cover the rest. The key is to start the conversation early so you have time to explore every option.
Step 1: Your university department
Try this first. Some University departments have graduate student professional development funds, departmental discretionary budgets, or training stipends. Ask your department administrator or graduate coordinator. This is often the fastest route but one students commonly overlook. If full funding isn't possible, ask about partial support; co-funding between your department and PI may be possible.
"There was a professional development pot I didn't even know existed!"
Not sure what to say to your University Department? Use this:
Dear [Administrator/Coordinator Name],
I am a [year] Undergraduate/Masters/PhD student in [department] and have been accepted to [Neuromatch/Climatematch] Academy's [course name], a highly selective international program running [dates]. The program covers [e.g. deep learning methods, Python training, neural data analysis], which directly relates to my work on [dissertation/thesis/research project].
I am writing to ask whether any departmental professional development funds could support the course fee of [$X], which has already been regionally adjusted based on World Bank GDP data. I need to pay to confirm my place by 10 May, 2026 and would be grateful for a decision as soon as possible.
Afterward, I would be happy to share a summary of what I learned or run a short session for the department.
Thank you for your time,
[Your name]
Step 2: Your PI or research supervisor
They may be able to directly pay these fees from grant or education funds. Start the conversation with your supervisor now; don't wait until the deadline is close. Frame it as professional development and a skill that directly benefits the lab's research. If full funding isn't possible, ask about partial support or reimbursement after the fact.
"I framed it around the computational skills I'd bring back to the lab. She said yes within a day."
Not sure what to say to your PI? Use this:
Dear [PI Name],
I was recently accepted to [Neuromatch/Climatematch] Academy's [course name], a highly selective international program running [dates]. The program covers [e.g. deep learning methods, Python training], which directly relates to [your project or lab's work]. The training will strengthen [analysis/modeling/workflow] that our lab is already using. Afterwards, I will share back [a tutorial, notebook, or mini-workshop] so the value extends beyond me.
The course fee is [$X], regionally adjusted based on World Bank GDP data. I need to pay to confirm my place by 10 May, 2026 and wanted to ask whether this could be covered from the lab's training or conference budget; as full funding, partial support, or reimbursement after payment.
Thank you for considering this,
[Your name]
Step 3: Your graduate school or research office
Many institutions have central funds for interdisciplinary or computational training programs. The graduate school dean's office, the Graduate Program Director or Department Chair, or research office is a good to contact, especially if your department says it can't cover the full amount.
Not sure what to say to the office? Use this:Dear [Dean/Research Office Name],
I am a [year] Masters/PhD student in [department] and have been accepted to [Neuromatch/Climatematch] Academy's [course name], a nonprofit international training program running [dates]. Neuromatch has trained thousands of students from over 137 countries and is recognized globally for computational science education.
The program covers [e.g. deep learning methods, Python training, neural data analysis], which directly strengthens my work on [dissertation/thesis/research project]. Afterward, I would be happy to share what I learned with the department or run a short session for other students.
I am writing to ask whether any central graduate school or research office funds could support the course fee of [$X], already regionally adjusted based on World Bank GDP data. I need to pay to confirm my place by 10 May, 2026 and would be grateful for a decision as soon as possible.
Thank you,
[Your name]
Step 4: Fellowships and grants you already hold
If you hold an NSF, NIH, NSERC, ERC, or similar fellowship, check your award's terms. Many explicitly allow training program fees as allowable costs. This is worth a check before assuming it's not possible!
"I checked the award guidelines, saw it was permitted, and submitted the receipt. It took five minutes."
Not sure what to say to the Administration? Use this:
Dear [Administrator Name],
I am writing to confirm whether my [Name of award] permits the use of funds for external training program fees. I have been accepted to [Neuromatch/Climatematch] Academy's [course name], running [dates], with a course fee of [$X]. The program covers [e.g. deep learning methods, Python training, neural data analysis], which I believe falls under allowable training costs per my award terms.
I need to pay to confirm my place by 10 May, 2026 and would be grateful for a quick confirmation. Please let me know what documentation you need.
Thank you,
[Your name]
Step 5: Self funding hardship fee reduction
If you are unable to secure reimbursement after exploring all available options and cannot afford the cost, we will reduce your course fee. You do this directly through the enrollment process in the portal by following the prompts. The non-refundable processing fee which is regionally adjusted still applies and is not covered by the reduction.
Step 6: Hardship fee waiver
In exceptional circumstances, individuals who cannot afford the reduced fee may receive additional hardship discount through the payment portal. These are reserved for those with genuine financial need. Please exhaust all other options first so support remains available for those who need it most. The non-refundable processing fee still applies.
Helpful links and resources
When reaching out to your department, PI, or grant administrator, including a link or attachment makes your request easier to evaluate and easier to say yes to!
These can be included in your initial email and are also handy when answering follow-up questions.
Available payment options differ by country, but Debit Card, Credit Card and Direct Bank Transfer are available in nearly all countries. Additional options include Link, Google Pay, WeChat, Cash App Pay, Klarna.
We do not accept purchase orders or invoices from universities. All payments must be made via the portal and must be made in one transaction.
Partial Funding
If your institution, PI, or department approves partial funding, the simplest route is to pay your full course fee through the portal yourself and then submit your Stripe receipt to your institution for reimbursement of the amount they approved.
If you're still unable to cover the remaining balance after the reimbursement promised, use a fee waiver through the portal (steps 5 and 6 above). The non-refundable processing fee still applies.
Does your institution need official documentation?
Most administrators accept your course acceptance email, a screenshot from the portal, or your Stripe receipt received via email for payment. If you need a formal letter of acceptance, we can provide one on request. If your institution requires a formal invoice, we can provide this after payment is received. For either, email nma@neuromatch.io with the subject line "Documentation Request" and include any specific requirements or format your institution needs as well as your Stripe receipt.
Talk to a Neuromatch Ambassador
We know navigating funding can feel overwhelming; especially when you're just excited to get started! You don't have to figure this out alone.
Our Ambassadors are students and researchers from around the world who have been through this process themselves. They speak your language, know your region, and can help you figure out the best funding route for your situation.