OpenAI recruits paid Campus Leads to run ChatGPT and Codex workshops across eight countries

The Student Collective will fund undergraduate pairs to run AI workshops, weekly project sessions and campus showcases from September 2026

OpenAI is recruiting undergraduate Campus Leads to organize ChatGPT and Codex workshops, project sessions and showcases

OpenAI is recruiting undergraduate students in eight countries to lead campus communities focused on building skills and projects with ChatGPT and Codex.

Applications for the OpenAI Student Collective close on August 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Selected Campus Leads will receive a cash stipend each semester, a ChatGPT subscription, Codex credits, training and funding to organize events.

The program is open to eligible students in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, Japan and South Korea. Students elsewhere can submit an application to register their interest, but OpenAI says it will contact them when the Collective becomes available in their country.

Campus Leads will work in pairs, with each team expected to spend an average of four to six hours per week on the program from August 2026 through June 2027.

Workshops, Studio Hours and showcases

The role centers on creating a campus space where students from different disciplines and experience levels can learn how to use AI tools, develop projects and share their work.

Each Campus Lead pair will run four workshops per semester. The sessions are intended to introduce AI skills and help students select a project to continue developing during weekly Studio Hours.

The program also requires a campus-wide showcase once each semester, alongside an ongoing community where participating students can connect, ask questions and find other opportunities.

OpenAI will provide workshop guides, templates, training and resources rather than expecting leads to develop every session independently. Campus Leads will be able to adapt those materials to the interests of their student communities.

The company says events should be accessible to students across majors and should not be limited to technical students or those who already have experience using AI.

“Watching students bring their ideas to life through AI was the highlight of the program,” says Arlina Yang of the University of California, Davis.

Who can apply

Applicants must be at least 18 and enrolled in an undergraduate college or university program as of August 2026. They must expect to graduate after December 2027 and have work authorization in their country of study.

Students must also be available for the full program period and commit four to six hours each week to events, training, check-ins and community support. OpenAI notes that the workload will vary, with workshops and showcases requiring more time than some other weeks.

One exclusion narrows the eligible pool. Applicants cannot currently be ambassadors or interns for another AI program or company.

Previous experience with Codex or building AI projects is not required. OpenAI says it will prioritize curiosity, willingness to learn and an ability to bring people together, with training provided before leads introduce the tools on campus.

What Campus Leads receive

Alongside a stipend, selected students will receive a ChatGPT subscription and Codex credits for the duration of the program. OpenAI will also provide funding, credits and merchandise for campus activities.

Campus Leads will have access to training and guidance on OpenAI tools, contact with the company’s team and membership in a global network of student leads. The package includes possible opportunities to visit OpenAI’s headquarters in June 2027, although the company does not state that every participant will receive a visit.

After applications close, selected candidates will be invited to interview during August. Accepted Campus Leads will complete onboarding in late August before campus programming begins in September.