DIGI-ME Triple Degree Scholarship Award Procedure and Selection Rules at the University of Vaasa

The DIGI-ME Triple Degree Scholarship at the University of Vaasa funds lump-sum mobility support for enrolled full-time DIGI-ME master's students to complete mobility phases at the University of Pavia (Italy) and Grenoble School of Management (France). The call allocates up to €90,000 to award up to 10 scholarships, with typical components reported as €500 per month for living, a one-time €700 travel contribution, and an optional €250 monthly top-up for students with fewer opportunities. Applicants must be matriculated in academic year 2026–2027, meet nationality and English proficiency requirements, submit a complete online application and comply with eligibility and selection procedures. The submission deadline published in the call materials is 15 October 2026, 17:00 CET.

What it funds

Purpose and value

Lump‑sum scholarships to support student participation in the DIGI-ME triple degree exchange with University of Pavia (Italy) and Grenoble School of Management (France). Up to €90,000 is available in total to fund up to 10 scholarships.

Typical award structure:Fixed components: monthly contribution €500 and one‑time travel contribution €700. Additional monthly top‑up €250 for applicants with defined fewer‑opportunities conditions. Payments disbursed in two instalments (80% on start, 20% on successful completion) ¹.

1. 1Mobility schedule: two phases totalling 8–10 months (Jan–May 2027 at Pavia; Aug–Dec 2027 at Grenoble).
2. 2Eligibility: students matriculated in academic year 2026–2027 in University of Vaasa Master’s programmes MIB or SBD, full‑time, within normal study duration, not on leave.
3. 3Nationality: EU/EEA or Digital Europe Programme associated (DEP) countries as listed in programme guidance.
4. 4Language: proof of English (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 88, Cambridge 180, or a full English bachelor degree) unless native speaker.
5. 5Incompatibility: scholarship cannot duplicate other EU funding for the same purpose.
6. 6Application: submit via the dedicated online form by 15 October 2026 (17:00 CET).

Selection is internal:eligibility check, expert evaluation (threshold 70%), ranking and reserve list. Successful applicants must accept the offer within five business days and sign required agreements. Applications and personal data are processed according to the DIGI‑ME guidelines and GDPR ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call guidelines, schedule and application form details available in the DIGI‑ME University of Vaasa guidelines document: DIGI-ME Guidelines for Triple Degree Scholarships.

Basic Opportunity Details

Opportunity Title:DIGI-ME Triple Degree Scholarship Award Procedure and Selection Rules at the University of Vaasa. Call Identifier: DIGITAL-2022. Project Acronym: DIGI-ME. Project ID / Grant Agreement: 101123009. Programme Period: 2021-2027 (Digital Europe Programme co-funded action). Available Budget for this call (University of Vaasa scholarships): €90,000. Maximum number of scholarships available through this call: up to 10 candidates. Mobility duration per beneficiary: single mobility action of 8 to 10 months split into two mobility phases (Jan–May 2027 at University of Pavia, Italy; Aug–Dec 2027 at Grenoble School of Management, France). Project start date (project-level): 2026-08-15. Call closing date for submission: 15 October 2026, 17:00 CET. Deadline model: single-stage.

Call status and legal note:This scholarship call is launched and managed by the University of Vaasa. Although the DIGI-ME project is co-funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101123009, the scholarships awarded by the University of Vaasa are provided by the University in its own name and under its own responsibility. Publication on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is for visibility only and does not imply EU approval of the call content.

Eligible Applicant Types

Primary eligible applicants:students regularly enrolled on the University of Vaasa DIGI-ME master programmes: Master’s Programme in International Business – Sustainable Global Business (MIB) and Master’s Programme in Strategic Business Development (SBD). Eligible student status specifics: matriculated in academic year 2026-2027, full-time students, have not exceeded the standard curriculum duration, and not on academic leave. Nationality eligibility: passport holders from EU/EEA countries and Digital Europe Programme (DEP) associated countries as listed in the DEP participating countries document. Additional eligibility constraints: English language proficiency required (unless native speaker), and scholarship is incompatible with other EU funds for the same purpose. Supporting documentation required for eligibility verification is detailed below.

Funding Type and Financial Details

Funding type:scholarship award provided as lump-sum financial support (grant in the form of financial contribution to third parties awarded by the University of Vaasa). Total call budget allocated at University of Vaasa level: €90,000 to distribute to up to 10 selected scholarship recipients. Payment mechanism: scholarships paid in two instalments — first tranche: 80% of the total estimated scholarship amount paid within 30 days of signing the Mobility Agreement and providing an approved Learning Agreement and correct bank details; second tranche: remaining 20% paid at the end of mobility conditional on fulfilment of administrative obligations, regular completion of the mobility period, achievement of training results consistent with the Learning Agreement, and correct administrative conclusion. Tax and social security: subject to Finnish tax legislation and mandatory contributions including health insurance and public broadcasting tax; recipients must verify personal tax obligations and may be covered by pension insurance under MYEL where applicable.

Scholarship components and amounts:Fixed components: Item A Monthly contribution €500.00; Item B Travel contribution per destination one-time fee €700.00. Optional additional component: Item C Monthly contribution €250.00 for participants with fewer opportunities (eligibility defined by listed conditions). The scholarship comprises minimum items A and B and maximum items A, B and C depending on applicant circumstances. Payments are lump sums and cover living and subsistence costs during the mobility phases.

Consortium Requirement and Beneficiary Scope

Consortium requirement:single beneficiary application model (individual student applicants). Beneficiary scope (geographic eligibility): applicants must be citizens/passport holders from EU/EEA countries or from countries participating in the Digital Europe Programme (DEP associated countries). The call targets students enrolled at University of Vaasa; mobility hosts are University of Pavia (Italy) and Grenoble School of Management (France).

Target Sectors and Thematic Focus

The scholarship targets advanced digital skills related to transformative innovation management and entrepreneurship. Thematic sectors include digitalisation, innovation management, entrepreneurship, international business, data and artificial intelligence applied to management, and related digital skills for transformative innovation. The call is part of the DIGI-ME project which focuses on Digital Ecosystem for Transformative Innovation (DETI) and education in digital technologies for business and management.

Project Stage and Expected Maturity

Expected project stage for applicants:academic study at master level and practical learning mobility — maturity expected at study/education stage (students already enrolled in master programmes aiming for curriculum completion, i.e., development/learning and demonstration through mobility and coursework). The mobility period forms part of the triple-degree curriculum and contributes to qualification completion by May 2028.

Application and Selection Process

Application type:open call (public call) with exclusive online submission via the dedicated application form. Submission period: 15 August 2026, 09:00 CET to 15 October 2026, 17:00 CET. Deadline: 15 October 2026, 17:00 CET. Submission method: exclusively through the specified dedicated online form (link provided by University of Vaasa). Deadline model: single-stage. Number of application stages: three-step evaluation process (1 Admissibility and eligibility check; 2 Internal evaluation by a panel of experts; 3 Ranking and selection). Applicants must confirm acceptance within five business days upon selection. Appeals: applicants may submit a written appeal within five business days of receiving results; appeals reviewed by an internal panel plus one external member.

1. 1Step 1: Application submission and supporting documents uploaded through the dedicated form during the call period.
2. 2Step 2: Admissibility and eligibility check to filter incomplete or non-eligible applications.
3. 3Step 3: Internal evaluation by a panel of three University of Vaasa experts using defined scoring criteria.
4. 4Step 4: Ranking and selection; successful applicants receive invitation and must accept within five business days.
5. 5Step 5: Signing of Declaration of Honour, Mobility Agreement and Learning Agreement and enrolment procedures.

Evaluation Criteria and Scoring

Only eligible candidates are evaluated. Minimum passing threshold:70% of total evaluation score. Evaluation components and weighting: Academic background 65% (weighted average grade adjusted by ratio of earned to expected ECTS credits); Motivation 25% (motivation letter/study plan assessing positive mindset toward advanced digital skills, innovation, international business and entrepreneurship); Additional experience 10% (academic and non-academic achievements in CV). In tie situations equal scores, selection committee applies priority order favouring female applicants, applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds, applicants experiencing disabilities, applicants from low DESI countries, and applicants from minority groups. Optional demographic and socio-economic information may be provided voluntarily for diversity monitoring and used only in tie-breaking as described.

Required Documents and Application Templates

All required documents must be uploaded in PDF via the dedicated form by the deadline. Mandatory documents: Official Transcript(s) of Records showing grades from most recent studies and any foreign institution records for 2025–2026 if applicable; Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages, no photo); Personal Statement / Motivation Letter / Study Plan for exchange abroad (maximum 700 words in call text, elsewhere described as up to 3 pages—applicants should follow the dedicated form field limits); Certified evidence of English language competency (IELTS Academic overall 6.5, TOEFL iBT 88, Cambridge C1/C2 score 180, or a completed bachelor degree fully taught in English); Copy of passport or identity card. Optional: voluntary demographic information (gender, age, socio-economic background) used for diversity and tie-breaking. Post-selection required documents: Declaration of Honour, Mobility Agreement, and Learning Agreement. Applicants should consult the DIGI-ME Guidelines for full templates and specific form fields. The call references a Guidelines document available at the project website which contains detailed templates and annexes DIGI-ME Guidelines TD FSTP calls ¹.

Eligibility Special Conditions and Fewer Opportunities

Additional monthly top-up (Item C €250) is available for participants classified as students with fewer opportunities. Categories defining fewer opportunities include: disability with certified invalidity >=50%; refugee status or international/subsidiary protection or displaced persons; dependent minor children (birth proof within limits); sustained employment for at least six months in the 12 months preceding mobility; recognised professional athletes of national interest with federation certificate; orphan of at least one parent with age/financial dependency constraints; children of victims of terrorism or organised crime. Supporting documents for Item C are requested only from successful applicants.

Payment Conditions, Cancellation and Recovery

First tranche payment conditions:within 30 days of signing Mobility Agreement, provided that an approved Learning Agreement is presented and bank details are correctly entered. If conditions are not met immediately, first tranche is paid within 30 days of actual satisfaction. Second tranche conditions: balance paid after mobility subject to administrative compliance, regular completion of mobility period, achievement of training results consistent with Learning Agreement, and correct administrative conclusion. Failure to satisfy any condition may lead to loss of balance payment and possible total or partial recovery of previously paid amounts. Cancellation rules: acceptance of mobility is formal commitment; cancellations limited to serious documented force majeure; cancellations must be communicated in writing to the DIGI-ME coordinator digime@unipv.it and may require refund of contributions already received; failure to properly justify cancellation may affect future eligibility for University of Vaasa mobility programmes.

Success Rates, Co-funding and Double Funding

Success rates:not explicitly published. Indicative maximum number of awards is 10 from the pool of eligible applicants; selection is competitive and based on ranking after evaluation. Co-funding requirement: no applicant co-funding required for the scholarship itself. Double funding: prohibited to receive EU funds for the same costs; applicants must declare they have not received other EU funding for the same purpose. Recipients must comply with taxation and social contribution obligations as per Finnish law.

Geographic and Host Institution Details

Host institutions and mobility schedule:Phase 1 host University of Pavia, Italy (January to May 2027). Phase 2 host Grenoble School of Management, France (August to December 2027). Scholarship awarded by University of Vaasa, Finland, to University of Vaasa students enrolled in MIB or SBD master programmes. Eligible nationalities include EU/EEA and DEP associated countries per DEP list (see referenced DEP participating countries document).

1. 1Explicitly mentioned countries/locations: Finland (University of Vaasa), Italy (University of Pavia), France (Grenoble School of Management).
2. 2Geographic eligibility scope: EU and Digital Europe Programme participating countries (DEP document lists EU, EEA/EFTA members, candidate and associated countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Switzerland under transitional arrangements etc.).

Application Timeline and Key Dates

Data Protection, Confidentiality and Record Retention

Personal data processing:UNIPV acts as Data Controller for data submitted through the dedicated form. The dedicated form and DIGI-ME consortium processes are designed to comply with GDPR (EU) 2016/679. Personal data may be communicated to external bodies as required by European legislation (EU Agencies, host institutions). Data retention: DIGI-ME consortium retains generated data for five years after project balance payment, or longer if audits, investigations or litigation are ongoing. Confidentiality obligations: selected applicants must keep project data and related documentation confidential during implementation and for five years after project completion, with possible extension by agreement.

Contacts and Further Information:General inquiries and technical support: digime@uwasa.fi. For administrative information after selection: outgoing.international@uwasa.fi. Detailed call guidelines and annexes, including procedural templates and DEP country list, are available at the DIGI-ME guidelines document and project website DIGI-ME Guidelines TD FSTP calls ¹.

Additional Operational Details and Notes for Applicants

Important practical notes:Applications submitted in languages other than English will not be considered; English is the official language of the call and the master programmes. Applicants must ensure all uploaded PDFs have no printing restrictions. Acceptance of scholarship implies formal commitments including participation in DIGI-ME activities such as student ambassador roles and completion of the triple degree by May 2028. Registration as exchange student will be performed by the Unit for International Relations at University of Vaasa; selected students must provide requested registration data. The call includes a reserve list policy to fill vacancies if selected candidates decline. Appeals and redress are limited to procedural errors or discrimination claims; academic judgement disputes are not typical grounds for successful appeal.

Structured Categorization Answers

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Individual students regularly enrolled at University of Vaasa in the DIGI-ME master programmes MIB and SBD (masters students). Indirect stakeholder categories referenced: higher education institutions as partners (University of Pavia, Grenoble School of Management), DIGI-ME consortium partners. Not eligible: external organisations, companies, or individuals not enrolled in the specified master programmes.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant in the form of scholarship (financial support to third parties / lump sum).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Single applicant (individual student); no consortium required.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Applicants must be nationals/passport holders from EU/EEA and Digital Europe Programme (DEP) participating countries as per DEP list (EU and associated countries). Mobility hosts are in Italy and France; awarding institution is in Finland.
5. 5Target Sector: Education with emphasis on digital skills for transformative innovation, innovation management, entrepreneurship, international business and data/AI for management (education in digitalisation/DeepTech applied to business).
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Finland, Italy, France. Eligibility additionally references EU, EEA and DEP participating countries (see DEP list including countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and associated candidate countries as per the DEP document).
7. 7Project Stage: Academic study / learning and demonstration stage; students in master programmes preparing for mobility and degree completion (development/validation through study and mobility).
8. 8Funding Amount: Total call budget €90,000; up to 10 scholarships. Per-beneficiary monthly/itemised amounts: Item A €500 per month; Item B travel contribution €700 (one-time); Item C top-up €250 per month for eligible fewer-opportunity participants. Total per-person amount will depend on mobility length (8–10 months) and whether Item C applies.
9. 9Application Type: Open call with exclusive online submission via dedicated form, single-stage application.
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary (scholarship lump sums) plus non-monetary administrative support (enrolment, mobility facilitation, mobility agreements, ambassador activities).
11. 11Application Stages: Three main evaluation stages (1 admissibility/eligibility check, 2 internal evaluation by experts, 3 ranking and selection), followed by administrative enrolment steps and signing of agreements.
12. 12Success Rates: Not published. Maximum awards: up to 10 scholarships; success rate depends on number of eligible applicants and ranking outcomes.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: No applicant co-funding required. Double-funding restriction applies: recipients must not receive other EU funds covering the same costs and must declare non-receipt of duplicative EU funding.

Templates:The call refers applicants to the DIGI-ME Guidelines document for detailed templates and structures. Application elements to prepare and upload include: completed dedicated online form fields; Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages); Personal Statement / Motivation Letter / Study Plan (max 700 words or follow dedicated form limits); Official Transcript(s) of Records; English language certificate; Copy of passport or identity card; optional socio-demographic information. Post-selection templates to be signed: Declaration of Honour, Mobility Agreement, and Learning Agreement. Applicants should use the dedicated form interface which contains the official fields and upload slots; the Guidelines PDF provides full template text and procedural annexes DIGI-ME Guidelines TD FSTP calls ¹.

Final Summary

What this opportunity is about and how to explain it:The DIGI-ME Triple Degree Scholarship at the University of Vaasa is an open competitive student scholarship scheme funded by the DIGI-ME project (co-funded by the EU under Grant Agreement 101123009) and implemented by the University of Vaasa. It aims to financially support up to ten University of Vaasa master students enrolled in two targeted DIGI-ME master programmes (MIB and SBD) to complete a structured triple-degree mobility sequence: a first mobility phase at the University of Pavia in Italy and a second at Grenoble School of Management in France. The scholarship provides lump-sum contributions for living and travel costs, with a possible top-up for students with fewer opportunities. Candidates must be enrolled, meet nationality and English proficiency criteria, submit a complete online application through the dedicated form by 15 October 2026, and pass a three-step evaluation (eligibility check, expert evaluation, ranking). Selected students will sign Mobility and Learning Agreements and receive payments in two tranches linked to contractual and learning outcomes. The University of Vaasa manages selection, disbursement and administrative processes under its responsibility, and applicants should consult the DIGI-ME call guidelines for full templates, procedural details, and the DEP country eligibility list ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full guidelines, templates and country participation lists are provided in the DIGI-ME Guidelines TD FSTP calls document available from the DIGI-ME project website: digime-project.eu and the DEP participating countries list: ec.europa.eu

This is a student mobility scholarship call linked to the DIGI-ME degree pathway at the University of Vaasa. The primary source is the European Commission portal EU Funding and Tenders Portal, but the accessible indexed material is incomplete and inconsistent on both the exact title and the deadline, so the portal should be treated as controlling.¹

At a glance

Who can apply

The indexed grant snippet indicates that the call is open to individual students rather than organizations, and that applicants must be enrolled full time at the University of Vaasa in one of the DIGI-ME master's programmes.³

• Applicant type is individual student, not an entity.³
• Full time enrolment at the University of Vaasa is required.³
• The scholarship is tied to the DIGI-ME master's track, so applicants must already belong to the relevant programme pathway.³
• The accessible snippet also lists an eligible applicant country set including EU27 and several associated countries, but the public material does not clearly show whether this is a nationality rule, a residence rule or a mobility route rule.

How the funding works

The scholarship is described as lump-sum mobility support rather than a reimbursement grant. The indexed snippet does not show an award ceiling, an award floor or a percentage funding rate, so the only firm financial facts visible are the overall budget and the maximum number of scholarships.³

• Total call budget is €41,500.³
• Up to five scholarships are available.³
• No separate cost reimbursement rate is visible in the available snippets because the award is structured as a lump sum.

Selection and award approach

The public snippets do not reveal the full scoring rubric, but related University of Vaasa scholarship guidance says scholarship decisions are based on academic merit and reviewed during the application process, which suggests that previous academic performance and application quality are central to the selection logic.⁴

• Academic merit is likely to matter most.⁴
• Completeness and compliance of the application file are likely important.
• Fit with the DIGI-ME mobility pathway is likely important because the award is linked to a specific international degree route.
• The accessible material does not show an interview stage or a separate ranking formula.

Important caveats for applicants

• There is a title discrepancy between the supplied opportunity metadata, which says Triple Degree Scholarship Award Procedure and Selection Rules, and the indexed grant result, which uses Double Degree Scholarship Award Procedure and Selection Rules.¹
• There is also a deadline discrepancy between the supplied metadata and the indexed search result, so applicants should verify the live portal status before relying on any archived snippet.¹
• The accessible material does not show the full application document list, so the portal instructions are still needed to confirm what must be submitted.
• The available snippets do not show whether the scholarship can be combined with other University of Vaasa scholarships or tuition fee waivers.

Footnotes

1. 1The official EU portal is the authoritative source. The indexed grant page and the supplied metadata conflict on title and deadline, so the current round should be verified on the portal before application.
2. 2University project pages describe DIGI-ME as a 2-year, 3-country pathway with semesters at Grenoble EM in France, University of Pavia in Italy, and the University of Vaasa in Finland, ending in three degrees.
3. 3The indexed grant snippet states a budget of €41,500, up to five lump-sum mobility scholarships, and eligibility limited to individual students enrolled full time at the University of Vaasa in a DIGI-ME master's programme.
4. 4Related University of Vaasa scholarship guidance says scholarships are based on academic merit and reviewed during the application process, but the publicly indexed snippets do not show the full DIGI-ME scoring rubric.