Beijing AI Safety Residency: Spring 2027 cohort
The Beijing AI Safety Residency pays $5,000 a month plus flights and housing for about three months of AI safety research from April 2027. Apply by 6 November 2026.
The Beijing AI Safety Residency is opening applications for its second cohort, in spring 2027. It is a residency of about three months for AI safety researchers who want to live and work alongside Chinese researchers at a new AI safety hub in Beijing. The hub is affiliated with Tsinghua University. Xu Wei and Sören Mindermann direct the hub together, with Andrew Yao as Chief Scientist.
Residents receive $5,000 a month. Flights, housing, travel insurance, visa support and devices are also covered. The stipend is paid in USD to a bank account outside China by a US or UK nonprofit. Residents enter on an F visa for academic exchange, and the hub provides guidance on US export control rules.
The residency is self directed. You bring your own research agenda and collaborators, and the hub gives community and access to safety researchers at Chinese universities and labs. Mentoring junior researchers is optional. Residents are expected to produce at least one public output and to give a talk on their research at the end.
The residency is aimed at technical AI safety researchers working on alignment, evaluations, oversight or control, with 1 to 3 publications or similar. A PhD is not required, and Mandarin is not needed. Researchers with a governance background can apply, but there are fewer places for them. The FAQ says there are no particular citizenship restrictions for people who are generally able to visit China.
The spring residency starts in April 2027. Applications close on 6 November 2026 and are reviewed on a rolling basis, so the organizers ask people to apply early. The form asks for a CV or Google Scholar link, your AI safety areas, recent work and a short research plan. After interviews there are standard checks, and Tsinghua then confirms it can host you.
Quick answers
Is the stipend paid through a Chinese institution?
No. Offers come from Tsinghua, but the stipend is administered by a US or UK nonprofit and paid in USD to a bank account outside China.
Do I need a PhD?
No. The hub looks for a body of AI safety work it can evaluate, such as publications, technical reports or open source projects.
Can I take part remotely or part time?
No. The residency is in person. People who can only come for a short time can apply for a short term visit with a separate form.