Call for Master’s & PhD Modules 2025

The Call for Master’s & PhD Modules 2025 is an EU funding opportunity provided by EIT Culture & Creativity as part of the Culture and Creativity Business Plan. The total funding available is €1,650,000 aimed at developing innovative educational content in the cultural and creative sectors. Higher education institutions and research organizations registered on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal with a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC) can apply. The funding is non-repayable, with up to 80% of project costs covered and a minimum co-funding rate of 20% required from applicants.

Both single applicants and consortia are allowed, although having a consortium could enhance competitiveness due to the evaluation criteria prioritizing multi-beneficiary projects. The beneficiary scope includes organizations in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, without restrictions to specific regions. The target sector focuses on education within culture and creativity, emphasizing entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialization.

The funding per project (module) is capped at €275,000, supporting a total of six modules. The application process involves a single-stage submission through an online form, open from July 4 to September 30, 2025. Proposals must pass admissibility and eligibility checks before being evaluated in two stages: the first evaluating external quality and the second assessing strategic fit and impact.

The success rates are competitive, implied to be around 10% to 39%, with only six projects to be funded based on a strict ranking system. The evaluation will consider strategic alignment, educational quality, and impact. The funding supports projects that promise long-term educational benefits, scalability, and sustainability within the culture and creativity sectors.

The Call for Master’s & PhD Modules 2025 is an EU funding opportunity provided by EIT Culture & Creativity, under the HORIZON-EIT-2024-2025-KIC-CCSI topic, which is part of the Culture and Creativity Business Plan 2024-2025. The project acronym is EIT CC - BP2024-2025, and the grant agreement number is 101159520.

The total funding available is 1,650,000.00 EUR. The expected duration of participation is up to 1 year.

The opening date for submissions is 4 July 2025, and the deadline for submissions is 30 September 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). This is a single-stage submission model.

Applicants must submit their proposals exclusively through the designated online application form available on the EIT Culture & Creativity platform. The submission link is provided. All proposals must be submitted before the deadline to be considered for evaluation; late submissions will not be accepted.

The submission and evaluation process includes the following stages:

1. Proposal Submission: Proposals must be submitted via the online application form on the EIT Culture & Creativity platform between 4 July 2025 and 30 September 2025 (17:00 CET).

2. Admissibility and Eligibility Check: Each proposal will undergo an admissibility and eligibility check to ensure compliance with the call’s basic requirements.

Admissibility Criteria:
The proposal must be submitted before the deadline via the designated application platform.
The proposal and all its attachments must be written entirely in English.
The submission must include all necessary accompanying documents in English.
The proposal must include all required documents, completed form sections, and annexes.
The proposed modules must comply with the duration requirements stated in the call.
The financial section must be completed using the EIT Culture & Creativity budget template provided.

Eligibility Criteria:
The lead applicant and, if applicable, all consortium members must be registered on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal with a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC).
Applicants and consortium members must comply with the applicant requirements as specified in the call guidelines.
The proposal must demonstrate a minimum co-funding rate of 20% across the project.
The project must align with mandatory Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Only proposals meeting both admissibility and eligibility criteria will proceed to the evaluation stage.

3. Evaluation Process: Eligible proposals will be assessed through a two-stage evaluation process.

Stage 1 – External Quality Evaluation: Each proposal will be evaluated by three independent external experts based on five core criteria:

Strategic Fit – The proposal aligns with EIT Culture & Creativity’s objectives, addresses call topics, and will contribute to relevant EIT Culture & Creativity KPIs.
EU Dimension – The proposal demonstrates a strong EU dimension through consortium composition (multi-beneficiary) and/or module’s impact and scope.
Excellence – The proposal highlights the applicant’s expertise in (entrepreneurship) education, innovation, and commercialisation, with clear learning outcomes and novel approaches.
Impact – The proposal ensures measurable benefits for skills, employability, and sector relevance, includes a structured outreach plan, and addresses market potential, commercialisation, intellectual property, and financial sustainability beyond EIT Culture & Creativity’s funding.
Quality & Efficiency of Implementation – The proposal presents a structured work plan, clear member roles, strong management, risk mitigation measures, and a well-justified budget ensuring value for money.

Each criterion must be passed individually, and additionally proposals must reach an overall minimum score of 63 out of 90 points to be considered for the next stage.

Stage 2 – Portfolio Selection: Proposals passing the quality evaluation will be reviewed by the EIT Culture & Creativity Selection Committee. Proposals will be further assessed based on:

Strategic Portfolio Fit – Complementarity with EIT Culture & Creativity’s current education portfolio; contribution to regional or demographic diversity.
Long-Term Educational Impact – Potential for sustainability, scalability, and contribution to future revenue streams and partnerships.

Only proposals that meet the required thresholds in the portfolio selection process will be considered for final funding.

4. Ranking, Selection & Reserve List: Proposals that pass all required thresholds at each stage of the evaluation process will be ranked based on the combined score from the quality evaluation and the portfolio assessment. Funding will be allocated in strict ranking order until the available budget is exhausted. Proposals that pass all thresholds but are ranked below the funding line will be placed on a reserve list. Final funding decisions for reserve list proposals will be communicated within a timeframe that allows for proper project implementation.

5. Communication of Results: Applicants will be informed of the evaluation outcome via the official EIT Culture & Creativity communication channels.

For further information, applicants are directed to the EIT website for the Call for Master’s & PhD Modules 2025 – EIT Culture & Creativity.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to support Master’s and PhD modules within the EIT Culture & Creativity framework. The call seeks proposals that align with EIT's objectives, demonstrate a strong EU dimension, exhibit excellence in education and innovation, ensure measurable impact, and present a high-quality implementation plan. The evaluation process involves assessing proposals based on strategic fit, EU dimension, excellence, impact, and quality/efficiency of implementation, followed by a portfolio selection based on strategic portfolio fit and long-term educational impact. Successful proposals will be ranked, and funding will be allocated based on this ranking until the budget is exhausted. Proposals that meet the thresholds but are not funded immediately will be placed on a reserve list. The call requires a co-funding rate of 20% and alignment with mandatory KPIs.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, the mention of "lead applicant and, if applicable, all consortium members" suggests that both single applicants and consortia are possible. The requirement for registration on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal with a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC) indicates that eligible applicants are likely to be organizations such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other entities capable of participating in EU-funded projects. The call is for Master's and PhD modules, which implies that higher education institutions are primary targets.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, as indicated by the terms "GrantCascade funding" and "Grant agreement number."

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity allows for both single applicants and consortia. The text mentions "lead applicant and, if applicable, all consortium members," indicating that consortia are not mandatory but permitted. The "EU Dimension" evaluation criterion also suggests that proposals demonstrating a strong EU dimension through consortium composition (multi-beneficiary) will be viewed favorably.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but the program is managed by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation & Technology) Culture & Creativity, which implies a focus on EU member states and potentially associated countries. The "EU Dimension" evaluation criterion suggests a preference for projects with impact and scope across the EU. Applicants must be registered on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, further suggesting an EU or associated country focus.

Target Sector: The program targets the Culture and Creativity sectors, specifically focusing on education through Master's and PhD modules. It also emphasizes entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialization within these sectors.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The focus is on the EU, as indicated by the EIT Culture & Creativity program and the requirement for registration on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development and implementation of Master's and PhD modules. This suggests a stage of development where the educational content and structure are being created and delivered. The emphasis on learning outcomes, market potential, and financial sustainability indicates a move towards validation and potential commercialization of educational programs.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €1,650,000.00. The funding range for individual projects or modules is not specified, but it will likely vary depending on the scope and duration of the proposed activities.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves five stages: 1. Proposal Submission, 2. Admissibility and Eligibility Check, 3. Evaluation Process (Stage 1 – External Quality Evaluation, Stage 2 – Portfolio Selection), 4. Ranking, Selection & Reserve List, and 5. Communication of Results.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, the two-stage evaluation process, the ranking of proposals, and the creation of a reserve list suggest that the success rate is likely to be competitive, and therefore likely to be in the 10 to 39% range or below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement: A minimum co-funding rate of 20% is required from the applicant.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals from the EIT Culture & Creativity program, aimed at supporting the development and implementation of Master's and PhD modules within the culture and creativity sectors. The call is open to both single applicants and consortia, with a preference for projects demonstrating a strong EU dimension. The total funding available is €1,650,000, and the application deadline is September 30, 2025.

The application process involves a single-stage submission, followed by admissibility and eligibility checks, a two-stage evaluation process (external quality evaluation and portfolio selection), ranking and selection, and communication of results. Proposals will be evaluated based on strategic fit, EU dimension, excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. A minimum score of 63 out of 90 points is required to pass the quality evaluation stage. A co-funding rate of at least 20% is mandatory.

The program seeks to support educational initiatives that align with EIT Culture & Creativity's objectives, contribute to relevant KPIs, and demonstrate potential for long-term educational impact, sustainability, and scalability. Successful proposals will be ranked, and funding will be allocated in strict ranking order until the available budget is exhausted. Proposals that pass all thresholds but are ranked below the funding line will be placed on a reserve list. This call represents an opportunity for higher education institutions and other relevant organizations to secure funding for innovative educational programs in the culture and creativity sectors, fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialization within these fields.