AI4CI - Fee waivers for Ulm University

Cascade funding provides up to 80 tuition fee waivers for individual modules of the AI4CI continuing education master’s programme at Ulm University for the winter semester 2026/2027, each waiver covering 80% of the module fee (module fees €585–€1,800) with a total call budget of €80,000. Eligible applicants are individuals admitted and enrolled in the AI4CI master’s programme who are citizens of an EU Member State, an EEA country, or a country associated with the Digital Europe Programme and registered for the winter 2026/2027 term. The call opens 1 October 2026 and the application deadline is 1 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time; applications are evaluated at module level by the programme Study Committee using predefined module-area scores and diversity tie-breakers. Programme contact: Melina Klepsch, melina.klepsch@uni-ulm.de.

What it funds

Summary

Up to 80 module fee waivers for the continuing education master programme Artificial Intelligence for Connected Industries at Ulm University. Each waiver covers 80% of a single module fee for the winter term 2026/2027 (Oct 2026–Mar 2027). Total budget available: €80,000.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants must be citizens of an EU Member State, an EEA country, or a country associated with the Digital Europe Programme and must be admitted, enrolled and registered as students in the AI4CI master programme at Ulm University for winter semester 2026/2027. Waivers apply only to modules that are part of the AI4CI curriculum and can be credited toward the degree. One waiver per module per student; multiple waivers possible for different modules.

Key deadlines and process

Contact

Melina Klepsch — melina.klepsch@uni-ulm.de

This cascading call is implemented by the AI4CI project (Grant Agreement No. 101123524). Publication on the EU portal is for information only; beneficiaries remain responsible for implementation.

Applicants from countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme should check the official participation list Digital Europe participating countries 1.

Footnotes

1. 1List of countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme (official guidance) available at the provided link.

Key Facts

Aim, Background and Objective

The AI4CI project provides financial support to increase accessibility to advanced digital skills education, to support up- and reskilling of professionals, and to promote diversity and inclusion in computer science education. This specific cascading call awards module-level fee waivers for individual modules of the AI4CI master’s curriculum at Ulm University for the winter term 2026-2027 (October 2026–March 2027). Up to 80 fee waivers will be awarded with a total ceiling of €80,000.

Eligible Applicant Types

Funding Type and Nature of Support

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility) and Nationality Requirements

Applicants must be citizens of an EU Member State, an EEA country, or a country associated with the Digital Europe Programme. The list of countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme is maintained by the Commission; participating countries include EEA states and certain candidate and associated countries. Entities and individuals subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible. Applicants should consult the Digital Europe participating countries list for details List of Participating Countries in the Digital Europe Programme 1.

Mentioned Countries

Consortium Requirement and Project Stage

Target Sector and Thematic Scope

Eligibility Detailed Requirements

Scope of Support and Limitations

Maximum of 80 module fee waivers in this call; each reduces the respective module fee by 80%. Fee waivers are valid only for the semester in which the module is taken (winter semester 2026/2027). Students can receive multiple waivers only for different modules. Double funding prohibition applies: beneficiaries must declare absence of EU double funding for the same purpose; if double funding occurs the fee waiver may be reduced or withdrawn.

Application Procedure and Required Documents

Evaluation Procedure, Criteria and Ranking

Evaluation will be performed by the AI4CI Study Programme Committee at Ulm University together with the programme’s talent scouting team. Evaluation occurs within 10 working days after the application deadline. Each module application is evaluated independently and ranked according to predefined criteria. Highest-ranked module applications receive fee waivers until the budget or number of waivers is exhausted. Remaining eligible applications are placed on a reserve list. Applicants will be notified of outcomes within five working days after evaluation.

Evaluation Scoring and Module Weighting

The fee waiver scheme supports up- and reskilling in advanced AI competencies. Applications are evaluated based on the curriculum category of the module. Points per module area: A2 Mandatory Area – Artificial Intelligence: 3 points. B1 Systems and Networks: 2 points. B2 Automatics and Robotics: 2 points. B3 Processes and Data Management: 2 points. B4 Free Elective Module: 1 point. The maximum score per module application is 3 points. Module areas are defined in the Subject-Specific Study and Examination Regulations of the AI4CI programme (10 June 2025) and its additional documents.

Tie-Breaking and Diversity Considerations

If multiple applications receive the same score, priority is determined sequentially using the following criteria: 1) women and gender minorities; 2) applicants with disabilities; 3) applicants with family responsibilities or caregiving duties. Applicants may submit supporting documentation for these criteria during application. If applications remain tied after applying these criteria, a random draw conducted by the study programme committee and the talent scouting team will determine final ranking.

Award Implementation, Reporting and Conditions

Successful applicants will receive an updated tuition fee notice reflecting the 80% reduction for the awarded module(s). Receiving a fee waiver does not per se prevent applicants from applying for other scholarships unless prohibited by those other scholarship conditions. However, EU double funding for the same purpose is prohibited; beneficiaries must submit a written declaration if they receive additional funding and the programme may reduce or withdraw waivers if double funding is identified. The fee waiver may be withdrawn if the student withdraws from the programme, takes academic leave, transfers to another study programme, or violates academic integrity or ethical standards. Students may voluntarily withdraw from the fee waiver via written request. Unused funding may be reallocated in subsequent fee waiver calls under the AI4CI project.

Appeals and Termination

Appeals are permitted only for alleged procedural errors or factual inaccuracies in the evaluation. Appeals must be submitted in writing within five working days after notification of results and must clearly indicate the alleged procedural error or incorrect data. The study programme committee will review appeals and provide a decision within 10 working days. Fee waivers may be terminated for reasons listed in the Award Implementation section.

Publication of Results and Data Protection

The final list of fee waiver recipients will be published no later than 15 December 2026. Personal data will be processed and published in accordance with applicable data protection regulations. Recipients of the financial support are not parties to the Grant Agreement; AI4CI project beneficiaries provide financial support to third parties under their own responsibility. Publication of the call on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is for information purposes and does not imply Commission approval of content.

Application Stages and Timing

Success Rates and Selection Probabilities

Co-funding Requirement

No applicant co-funding is required to receive the fee waiver itself. However, applicants must declare any other EU funding for the same purpose; double funding from EU sources is prohibited and may reduce or withdraw the waiver. There is no cash contribution or cost-sharing required from students to qualify for the waiver beyond standard programme enrollment and module tuition fees (the waiver reduces, not covers entirely, the module fee: 20% of module fee remains payable by the student).

Application Form Structure and Templates

Contact Point

Additional Legal and Administrative Notes

Financial support to third parties under this call is provided by AI4CI project beneficiaries under their own responsibility. Publication on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is informational only and does not signify Commission approval. Beneficiaries of fee waivers are not parties to the AI4CI Grant Agreement. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or falling under Commission Guidelines restricting eligibility (for certain territories) are not eligible to participate.

Summary and Final Explanation

This call offers module-level fee waivers for students admitted to the AI4CI continuing education master’s programme at Ulm University for the winter semester 2026/2027. The call awards up to 80 waivers, each covering 80% of an individual module fee (module fees range €585–€1,800 so waivers range €468–€1,440). Applicants must be citizens of EU Member States, EEA countries or Digital Europe associated countries, enrolled and registered in the programme for winter 2026/2027, and must apply only for modules that can still be credited toward their final grade. Applications are submitted via a single-stage call using a standard application form and supporting documents; evaluation is based on module curricular priority (highest points for mandatory AI modules) and diversity tie-breakers. Selected students receive an updated tuition notice and must avoid EU double funding for the same purpose. The call is funded under AI4CI (Grant Agreement 101123524) with a total budget of €80,000 and administered by Ulm University. This opportunity is intended to lower financial barriers to AI upskilling, broaden participation, and prioritise applicants studying core AI modules and those from underrepresented groups.

Footnotes

1. 1List of Participating Countries in the Digital Europe Programme (Commission guidance): ec.europa.eu

Executive summary

This cascade funding opportunity provides up to 80 tuition fee waivers for individual modules in the continuing education master’s programme Artificial Intelligence for Connected Industries at Ulm University, Germany. The call supports advanced digital skills development, professional upskilling and reskilling, and greater diversity and inclusion in computer science education. The waivers apply to modules taken during the winter semester 2026 to 2027, from October 2026 to March 2027.1

Each selected waiver covers 80 percent of the tuition fee for one eligible module. Module fees range from €585 to €1,800, resulting in indicative waiver values from €468 to €1,440. The maximum total call budget is €80,000.

The opportunity is intended for individuals already admitted and enrolled in the AI4CI master’s programme at Ulm University. It is not an open grant scheme for companies, universities, research organisations, or members of the general public.

Key opportunity details

Purpose and policy rationale

The AI4CI project is designed to strengthen advanced digital skills through specialised education in artificial intelligence and connected industries. This call converts part of the project budget into direct tuition reductions for eligible students rather than grants paid as unrestricted cash.

The support is intended to make individual AI4CI modules more accessible, encourage continuing education among professionals, and contribute to upskilling and reskilling in artificial intelligence and related technical fields.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants must satisfy every mandatory condition below.

1. Be a citizen of an EU Member State, an EEA country, or a country associated with the Digital Europe Programme.

2. Be admitted and enrolled in the Artificial Intelligence for Connected Industries master’s programme at Ulm University.

3. Be registered as a student of the programme during the winter semester 2026 to 2027.

4. Request support only for modules that form part of the AI4CI curriculum and can still be credited towards the applicant’s final grade and degree.

5. Have not previously received a fee waiver for the same module. The scheme allows only one waiver per module per student.

The relevant Digital Europe participation guidance identifies EU Member States, EEA countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and associated countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine and Switzerland, subject to the applicable programme scope and participation conditions.2

Applicants should verify their nationality against the current official Digital Europe participating-country list because participation can be subject to programme-specific limitations and updated association arrangements.

Eligible activities and support

Support is available only for individual modules taken in the semester for which the waiver is granted. A waiver does not cover the entire master’s programme, unrelated education, previous semesters, or modules that cannot contribute to the final qualification.

Applicants may request waivers for multiple modules if they are enrolled in those modules. Each module application is assessed independently, and an applicant may receive more than one waiver where the requested modules are different and the applicant’s ranking is high enough for the available budget and waiver quota.

The waiver is implemented as a reduction in the tuition amount. Selected students receive an updated tuition fee notice showing the 80 percent reduction for the relevant module.

Funding and financial conditions

The call material distinguishes module tuition reductions from other possible student costs. Applicants should rely on the updated tuition fee notice and Ulm University instructions to determine whether any semester fees, administrative charges, examination-related charges, or other costs remain payable. The waiver should not be assumed to cover costs that are not part of the eligible module tuition fee.

Application requirements

Applicants must submit a completed application form that identifies all modules they plan to attend in the winter semester 2026 to 2027 and clearly indicates the modules for which a fee waiver is requested.

The required application package consists of the following items.

1. Completed application form.

2. Proof of nationality, such as an identity document or passport copy, subject to the programme administration’s document requirements.

3. Consent allowing the programme administration to access relevant student information held in the HIS student administration system and the App4Master admission system.

4. Any optional supporting evidence relevant to the diversity tie-breaking criteria, where the applicant wishes to be considered under those criteria.

Applicants should ensure that the requested modules are correctly identified, remain creditable towards the degree, and are modules in which the applicant is enrolled. Incomplete, inconsistent, or unsupported information may affect eligibility or ranking.

Evaluation and ranking

The Study Programme Committee of the AI4CI programme at Ulm University and the corresponding talent scouting team will evaluate the applications.

Evaluation is carried out at module application level rather than only at student level. The highest-ranked eligible module applications receive waivers until the available number of waivers or budget is exhausted. Other eligible applications are placed on a reserve list.

Module applications are scored according to the curriculum area of the requested module.

The maximum score for a module application is 3 points. The scoring structure gives priority to modules in the mandatory artificial intelligence area, followed by the specified technical and elective areas.

Tie-breaking and diversity considerations

Where applications receive the same score, priority is applied sequentially using the following criteria.

1. Women and gender minorities.

2. Applicants with disabilities.

3. Applicants with family responsibilities or caregiving duties.

Applicants may submit supporting documentation relevant to these criteria during the application process. If applications remain tied after these criteria are applied, the final ranking is determined by a random draw conducted by the Study Programme Committee and the talent scouting team.

Evaluation timetable and notifications

The evaluation is expected to take place within 10 working days after the application deadline. Applicants are expected to be informed of the outcome within five working days after completion of the evaluation.

The final list of fee waiver recipients is to be published no later than 15 December 2026. Publication and processing of personal data must comply with applicable data protection requirements.

Appeals

An appeal is available only where the applicant identifies a procedural error or factual inaccuracy in the evaluation. Appeals cannot be used simply to challenge the competitive ranking or to request a discretionary reassessment without identifying an error.

Appeals must be submitted in writing within five working days after notification of the results and must clearly specify the alleged procedural error or incorrect data. The Study Programme Committee will review the appeal and issue a decision within 10 working days.

Double funding and other scholarships

Receiving a fee waiver does not automatically prevent an applicant from applying for or receiving other scholarships, unless the rules of the other funding programme prohibit this. However, double funding from EU sources for the same purpose is not permitted.

If an applicant receives additional funding, the applicant must provide a written declaration confirming that EU double funding for the same purpose does not occur. If double funding is identified, the fee waiver may be reduced or withdrawn.

Termination and withdrawal

The fee waiver may be withdrawn if the student withdraws from the programme, takes academic leave, transfers to another study programme, or violates academic integrity or ethical standards.

A student may voluntarily give up the waiver by submitting a written request. Unused funding may be reallocated in a future fee waiver call within the AI4CI project, subject to the project rules and available time and budget.

Applicant action plan

1. Confirm admission and registration in the AI4CI programme for the winter semester 2026 to 2027.

2. Confirm that the requested modules are part of the AI4CI curriculum and remain creditable towards the final degree.

3. Check nationality eligibility against the applicable EU, EEA, or Digital Europe associated-country rules.

4. List all modules planned for the semester and identify the modules for which support is requested.

5. Obtain proof of nationality and provide the required consent for access to relevant student records.

6. Provide optional evidence for any applicable diversity tie-breaking criterion.

7. Submit the complete application by 1 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

8. Retain evidence of submission and monitor the notification and appeal periods.

Key risks and points requiring attention

The number of waivers is capped at 80 and the budget is capped at €80,000, so satisfying the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.

Because applications are ranked by module area and tie-breaking criteria, applicants should not assume that requesting a more expensive module gives priority. The published scoring system is based on curriculum category, not the amount of the requested fee reduction.

A waiver applies only to the specific semester and module for which it is awarded. It is not a general entitlement, does not automatically renew, and cannot be assumed to transfer to another module or semester.

Students should verify the final fee amount, remaining payment obligation, submission channel, application form version, and any university-specific administrative instructions with Ulm University before submitting.

Contact and authoritative sources

The official EU call record is available at EU Funding and Tenders Portal opportunity.

The Digital Europe participating-country guidance is available at Digital Europe participating countries guidance.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal publication is informational. Financial support to third parties is provided by AI4CI project beneficiaries under their own responsibility, and recipients of the fee waivers are not parties to the AI4CI grant agreement. The project beneficiaries remain responsible to the granting authority for the proper use of the project funding.

Footnotes

1. 1Official opportunity record: EU Funding and Tenders Portal opportunity.
2. 2Digital Europe participation guidance: Digital Europe participating countries guidance. The applicable official list and programme-specific restrictions should be checked at the time of application.