If you haven't even tried using 3.5 for the task you're going to have a hard time convincing them you need GPT-4 for it. I've not applied for research access but back when GPT-4 API access was limited they showed a clear preference for folks that already had workflows running in 3.5. When I first applied I "knew" I needed GPT-4 for what I wanted to accomplish. But I started working on the problem using 3.5. It turns out I only needed GPT-4 for some aspects. I filled out the form again and was able to explain what I was doing and where I felt 3.5 was failing / where I thought GPT-4 would be a big improvement. I was approved very quickly after that. Answer from Jdonavan on reddit.com
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OpenAI
openai.com › form › researcher-access-program
Researcher Access Program application | OpenAI
If you are interested in an opportunity for subsidized access to enable a research project, please · apply for API credits through this program⁠(opens in a new window). Note that this will take you to a third-party provider, SurveyMonkey Apply, where you’ll need to create an account to apply. The application will ask for information about your research question and planned use of OpenAI...
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Smapply
openai.smapply.org › prog › openai_researcher_access_program
OpenAI Researcher Access Program - OpenAI
If you are interested in an opportunity ... in subsidizing work by researchers with limited financial and institutional resources. Researchers can apply for up to $1,000 of OpenAI ......
Discussions

Researcher Access Program application
On August 27, I received an email saying that my application to the Researcher Access Program was accepted and that I had been awarded 5000 USD in API credits. The email said I should contact [email protected] if I did not receive the credits in 3 weeks. More on community.openai.com
🌐 community.openai.com
2
September 28, 2024
Researcher Access Program Application: Exact Review Date
Hi, I read on Researcher Access Program application | OpenAI that applications are evaluated every 3 months. I would like to ask if its known what day of the month exactly the review of the application will take place? Thanks! More on community.openai.com
🌐 community.openai.com
1
December 15, 2024
I want to submit an application to OpenAI Researcher Access Program for the GPT4 API but I haven't done any projects with GPT3.5 yet. Would I still have a chance at OpenAI approving my application?
If you haven't even tried using 3.5 for the task you're going to have a hard time convincing them you need GPT-4 for it. I've not applied for research access but back when GPT-4 API access was limited they showed a clear preference for folks that already had workflows running in 3.5. When I first applied I "knew" I needed GPT-4 for what I wanted to accomplish. But I started working on the problem using 3.5. It turns out I only needed GPT-4 for some aspects. I filled out the form again and was able to explain what I was doing and where I felt 3.5 was failing / where I thought GPT-4 would be a big improvement. I was approved very quickly after that. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/OpenAI
6
4
October 30, 2023
Is there a free trial or developer credits for entrepreneurs?
I am developing a web app that allows users to upload their resume and with a prompt using OpenAI’s API and ‘role-play’ feature asking ChatGPT to act as a professioanl web developer and create a full HTML and CSS code to output a website just using the content on their resume/cover letter. More on community.openai.com
🌐 community.openai.com
0
July 9, 2025
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OpenAI Help Center
help.openai.com › en › articles › 10139500-researcher-access-program-faq
Researcher Access Program FAQ | OpenAI Help Center
The OpenAI Researcher Access Program offers subsidized API access for the study of responsible AI deployment, risk mitigation, and societal impacts. Researchers can apply for up to $1,000 of OpenAI API credits to support their work.
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Smapply
openai.smapply.org
OpenAI
OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. In service of that mission, we sometimes provide grants (in the form of monetary compensation or API credits, depending on the program) to support strategic initiatives and research.
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OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › t › researcher-access-program-application › 960324
Researcher Access Program application - Community - OpenAI Developer Community
September 28, 2024 - On August 27, I received an email saying that my application to the Researcher Access Program was accepted and that I had been awarded 5000 USD in API credits. The email said I should contact [email protected] if I did not receive the credits in 3 weeks.
🌐
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › t › researcher-access-program-application-exact-review-date › 1119670
Researcher Access Program Application: Exact Review Date - Community - OpenAI Developer Community
December 15, 2024 - Hi, I read on Researcher Access Program application | OpenAI that applications are evaluated every 3 months. I would like to ask if its known what day of the month exactly the review of the application will take place? T…
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/openai › i want to submit an application to openai researcher access program for the gpt4 api but i haven't done any projects with gpt3.5 yet. would i still have a chance at openai approving my application?
r/OpenAI on Reddit: I want to submit an application to OpenAI Researcher Access Program for the GPT4 API but I haven't done any projects with GPT3.5 yet. Would I still have a chance at OpenAI approving my application?
October 30, 2023 -

I have an idea for a research project that I would like to use GPT4 for and I want to submit an application to OpenAI's Researcher Access Program so I can use the GPT4 API at a discounted rate. But while I have made extensive use of chatGPT Plus, I have not used the GPT3.5 API for a research project yet. I completed my MS in AI/ML 6 months ago and I used smaller masked language models like BERT for the capstone project I was required to complete for that degree. I wrote a research paper for that project but I haven't done any research since then. Would I still have a chance at OpenAI approving my application for the Researcher Access Program or should I use the GPT3.5 API to complete my project before applying for the Researcher Access Program at a later time once I have more research experience?

Find elsewhere
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-OpenAI-Researcher-Access-Program
What is the OpenAI Researcher Access Program? - Quora
Answer: The OpenAI Researcher Access Program is a program designed to provide researchers with access to OpenAI's language models, such as GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), for research purposes.
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OpenAI Help Center
help.openai.com › en › articles › 11826767-life-science-research-special-access-program
Life Science Research Special Access Program | OpenAI Help Center
We are taking a conservative approach ... beneficial applications. Our special access program is for select institutions that have service agreements with OpenAI....
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The Arts Incubator
artsincubator.ca › home › artificial intelligence › apply for the openai researcher access program
Apply for the OpenAI Researcher Access Program - The Arts Incubator
September 13, 2025 - Apply for up to $1,000 in OpenAI API credits through the Researcher Access Program! Advance AI research, automate tasks, and explore societal impacts. Apply before the next deadline!
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Medium
medium.com › @Stan_DS › what-i-learned-to-successfully-apply-for-openai-research-program-78edd2f93655
What I Learned to Successfully Apply for OpenAI Research Program | by Stan | Medium
April 28, 2024 - Applying to this research program will not only grant you access to API credits for your side projects or research but also provide an opportunity to receive feedback from OpenAI and their research team.
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OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Is there a free trial or developer credits for entrepreneurs? - API - OpenAI Developer Community
July 9, 2025 - I am developing a web app that allows users to upload their resume and with a prompt using OpenAI’s API and ‘role-play’ feature asking ChatGPT to act as a professioanl web developer and create a full HTML and CSS code to…
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OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › t › account-for-openai-researcher-access-program › 975164
Account for OpenAI Researcher Access Program - Community - OpenAI Developer Community
August 12, 2024 - Hello, I have problems with register to the OpenAI Researcher Access Program. To my knowledge, one has to create a new account to register. But I get this error message: “CSRF verification failed. Request aborted.”. I h…
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AIwire
aiwire.net › home › openai expands access to deep research
OpenAI Expands Access to Deep Research
February 27, 2025 - “Give it a prompt and ChatGPT will find, analyze and synthesize hundreds of online sources to create a comprehensive report in tens of minutes vs what would take a human many hours,” the company said of the new Deep Research capability, ...
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OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › t › openai-researcher-access-program › 962403
OpenAI Researcher Access Program - Community - OpenAI Developer Community
June 22, 2024 - How long do users typically wait to receive a response from OpenAI for an application to the OpenAI Researcher Access Program?
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OpenAI
openai.com › residency
OpenAI Residency | OpenAI
November 20, 2025 - Our 6-month program is a bridge for brilliant technical researchers from diverse fields to transition into AI.
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OpenAI
openai.com › index › introducing-nextgenai
Introducing NextGenAI: A consortium to advance research and education with AI
AI has the power to drive progress ... OpenAI is committing $50M in research grants, compute funding, and API access to support students, educators, and researchers advancing the frontiers of knowledge....