Digital4Business Scholarships Call – Joint European Master’s in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business (September 2026 Intake)

The Digital4Business consortium is offering 100 fully funded scholarships for the Joint Professional Master’s in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business (60 ECTS), delivered 100% online with partner institutions including National College of Ireland, University of Bologna, Linköping University and NOVA IMS for the September 2026 intake. Scholarships are awarded on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) criteria rather than academic merit; applicants must meet at least two EDI indicators across socioeconomic status, underrepresented groups, and geographic diversity. Applications are submitted via the Digital4Business portal (my.digital4business.eu) and the call uses a rolling, first-come first-served allocation until the €200,000 budget is exhausted, with an overall deadline of 3 September 2026. This call is managed and funded by the Digital4Business consortium (scholarship administration and selection are the consortium's responsibility; recipients must declare any other EU funding to avoid duplication).

What it funds

Summary

100 fully funded scholarships for the Joint European Master’s in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business (fully online, 2 semesters). Scholarships cover tuition and industry-recognised certifications to improve employability and are awarded under an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion framework rather than academic merit. The total funding envelope for the call is €200,000.00.

Who can apply:Learners from disadvantaged, underrepresented, or vulnerable backgrounds: including unemployed or low-income applicants, first-generation students, persons with disabilities, women in male-dominated Tech/STEM, and applicants from specified geographic target countries. Applicants must meet the eligibility and documentation requirements in the application form and score at least the EDI minimum on evaluation ¹.

1. 1Call owner: Digital4Business consortium (scholarships managed by National College of Ireland). This is not an EU-funded direct action; the consortium provides the funds under its responsibility.
2. 2Deadline (application): 3 September 2026 (single-stage).
3. 3Selection: EDI-based scoring (minimum qualifying score of 6); awards allocated on rolling first-come, first-served basis until budget exhausted.

How to apply:complete the scholarship application via the Digital4Business portal and submit required documents (application form, motivation statement, ID, and EDI supporting documents such as proof of low income, unemployment, disability, or first-generation status). Apply via the project site Digital4Business Application Portal.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call and EDI framework available from the Digital4Business documentation (scholarship call PDF and EDI Framework). See the call publication for legal disclaimer and detailed eligibility: Scholarship Call Document and EDI Framework.

Key facts

Opportunity title:Digital4Business Scholarships Call – Joint European Master’s in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business (September 2026 Intake). Opening / publication context: Published for visibility on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal but this call is launched and managed solely by the Digital4Business (D4B) consortium. Legal disclaimer: the financial support is NOT an EU action; funding is provided directly by the D4B consortium in its own name and under its own responsibility.

Deadline:Application deadline / intake deadline: 3 September 2026 (deadline model: single-stage). Note: the call also indicates rolling allocation of scholarships until budget is exhausted and the documents show an internal earlier deadline of 31 July 2026 for some processing steps.

Total funding available:Total budget allocated for scholarships: €200,000.00. The call offers 100 scholarships for the September 2026 intake; the call documents do not specify an exact monetary value per scholarship in the public text but the budget implies an average value of €2,000 per scholarship if divided equally. Full scholarship benefits include fully funded access to the Joint European Master’s programme and industry-recognised certifications.

What the opportunity offers

The Digital4Business consortium provides 100 fully funded scholarships to enable participation in the Joint European Master’s in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business (two academic semesters depending on the programme). The Master’s is delivered fully online and jointly accredited by four higher education institutions: National College of Ireland (IE), Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna (IT), Linköpings Universitet (SE), and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PT). The scholarships are targeted at learners facing socioeconomic barriers, underrepresentation in STEM, or geographic disparities and are awarded based on an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) evaluation framework rather than academic merit.

Eligible Applicant Types

Primary eligible applicants:individual learners/students. The scheme is intended for individuals (students) from disadvantaged, underrepresented, or vulnerable groups. Institutional applicants are not the target; applications are individual scholarship applications submitted by prospective students. Eligible applicant profiles emphasise: unemployed individuals, low-income students, first-generation higher education students, students under age 25, women in male-dominated Tech/STEM fields, persons with disabilities, and applicants from specified underperforming or priority countries. Public bodies, universities, research organisations, SMEs or private companies are not applicants for the scholarship awards (they are consortium partners or programme deliverers).

Funding Type

Primary financial mechanism:scholarship award (direct financial support provided by the consortium). This is effectively an award/grant scholarship covering the cost of participation and linked fully funded certifications; described as consortium-provided financial support rather than an EU grant instrument. The opportunity also provides non-monetary benefits (industry-recognised certifications, programme participation, digital learning access).

Consortium Requirement

Application mode:single applicant (individual scholarship application). No multi-organisation consortium is required for applicants. The scholarships are issued to individual students applying through the Digital4Business application portal.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Geographic eligibility:Europe-focused. The Master’s is a Joint European Master’s delivered by EU-based institutions and scholarships prioritise applicants from EU Member States. The EDI geographic diversity indicators explicitly list citizens of Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovakia, Greece, Germany, Slovenia, and Latvia as priority for geographic diversity scoring. Overall the initiative is intended to reduce inequalities across EU regions, with emphasis on Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and other below-average digital skills performers.

Target Sector and Thematic Scope

Sector:Education and ICT / Digital Skills. The programme targets digital upskilling for business-facing advanced digital technologies and application in companies (topics include advanced digital technologies, digital transformation, ICT skills for business). The call aligns with Digital Europe Programme priorities and labour-market oriented industry certifications.

Project Stage and Expected Maturity

Project stage:education and training delivery at programme enrolment stage. The scholarships support participation in an operational, fully designed Joint Master’s programme (ready-for-delivery learning materials, online platform, partner institutions and industry collaboration). This is not a research call; it funds participation (learning, certification, professional upskilling) rather than technology development.

Nature of Support

Beneficiaries receive both monetary and non-monetary support. Monetary:funded scholarships covering programme costs (tuition/fees or equivalent financial coverage provided by D4B). Non-monetary: access to the fully online Joint Master’s, industry-recognised certification(s), learning materials, platform access, student support services, and potential integration with the European Student Card system for mobility-related services.

Application Type and Process

Application type:open call to individual applicants via the Digital4Business application portal (my.digital4business.eu). The process is single-stage and follows a create-account, email verification, eligibility check, and application submission workflow through the portal. The selection is carried out on a rolling, first-come first-served basis subject to meeting a minimum EDI qualifying score. Applicants may contact admissions@digital4business.eu for assistance in case of technical issues.

Required documentation and application form structure:Applicants must complete the application form on the Digital4Business website and submit supporting documents. Core components requested: application form, motivation statement, passport or national ID, and EDI documentation tailored to the indicators claimed (medical certificate or official proof for disability, signed self-declaration for first-generation students, proof of low-income from national authority, unemployment certificate/registration for unemployed applicants, academic transcript or proof of study/work in STEM/Tech for women in male-dominated fields, plus any additional supporting documentation). The portal requires account creation, verification, an eligibility check and then the full application submission.

Award Criteria, Scoring and Selection

Scholarships are awarded using an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) scoring mechanism. Academic merit is not the basis for award; the EDI framework is the decisive evaluation criterion. Applicants must meet a minimum pass score of 6 points (out of 10) under the EDI scoring system. Allocation is on a rolling basis until budget is exhausted, following first-come, first-served principle among candidates who meet the minimum score.

1. 1Minimum qualifying score: 6 points (applicants must meet at least two EDI indicators to reach the minimum).
2. 2Scoring is cumulative: each qualifying EDI indicator contributes to the total (see EDI indicators below).
3. 3Allocation order: applicants assessed and scholarships allocated on a rolling basis subject to the budget and minimum score.
4. 4Consortium reserves right to modify deadlines, criteria, or not to award all scholarships if insufficient qualified applications are received.

EDI indicators (categories and examples):EDI indicators are grouped under three categories: socioeconomic status, underrepresented groups, and geographic diversity. Socioeconomic status indicators include unemployed individuals, low-income students, students below age 25, and first-generation students. Underrepresented groups include women in male-dominated Tech/STEM fields and persons with disabilities (as per UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). Geographic diversity includes citizens of Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovakia, Greece, Germany, Slovenia, and Latvia.

Incompatibilities and reporting

D4B students receiving these scholarships are considered not eligible for other EU funding for the same courses; any additional funding must be declared in writing within 30 days and applicants must confirm no duplication of costs. Applicants are responsible for accuracy of submitted information; false or misleading information may lead to disqualification and recovery of funds. Personal data will be processed in accordance with GDPR for scholarship administration purposes only.

Application stages and timeline

Number of application stages:1 primary application stage with internal verification and scoring. Applicant steps on the portal: (1) create account, (2) verify email, (3) complete eligibility check, (4) submit full application with supporting documents. Selection is evaluated against EDI indicators and awarded on a rolling basis subject to budget availability. There is no multi-stage competitive interview or multi-round formal evaluation described in the public call documents.

Success rates

Official success rate:not provided in call documents. Practical allocation method: scholarships are allocated on a rolling first-come, first-served basis among applicants who meet the minimum EDI qualifying score until the €200,000 budget is exhausted or 100 scholarships are awarded. Therefore success depends on applicant timing and meeting EDI indicators; no historical success-rate data is published.

Co-funding requirements

Co-funding:the call does not require co-funding from scholarship applicants. The scholarships are described as fully funded by the Digital4Business consortium. Any other support or additional funding received by a candidate must be declared to ensure no cost duplication, but no applicant co-payment is indicated.

Templates and application form layout guidance

Application is done via the Digital4Business online portal. The documentation lists required components and the supporting evidence expected. The application form structure and required attachments are: application form (portal fields for personal data, contact details, nationality), motivation statement, passport or national ID, and EDI evidence specific to claimed indicators. EDI evidence examples: medical certificate or official status proof for persons with disabilities; signed self-declaration for first-generation students; official national documents proving low-income status (certificate of social assistance, housing support, food vouchers, free school meals, etc.); unemployment certificate or registration from national employment agency; academic transcript or employer letter proving study/work in STEM/Tech for women in male-dominated fields. The portal will provide detailed document specification per applicant circumstance and the applicant must follow the portal workflow (account creation, email verification, eligibility check then application submission).

1. 1Technical application flow: create account on my.digital4business.eu, verify email, pass eligibility check, complete application form and upload documents.
2. 2Document checklist: motivation statement, ID, EDI supporting documents as applicable, other supporting documentation as relevant.
3. 3Submission route: fully online via the Digital4Business portal; email admissions@digital4business.eu only for technical assistance, not as a primary submission route.

Mentioned Countries

The call explicitly mentions the following countries in the geographic diversity indicators: Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovakia, Greece, Germany, Slovenia, Latvia. The programme universities are based in Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and Portugal. The initiative is EU-focused and references broader clusters of Central, Eastern and Southern European countries with below-average digital skills performance.

Other operational details

Delivering organisations and contacts:the scholarships manager is the project coordinator National College of Ireland (NCI). For application questions or technical assistance applicants are directed to admissions@digital4business.eu. Programme delivery: fully online, four partner universities, close collaboration with industry partners, expected duration two academic semesters. EDI framework and policy references apply to programme design, teaching, assessment and platform accessibility (WCAG 2.2 referenced).

Where to apply and documentation:Apply via the Digital4Business application portal at my.digital4business.eu. Full call text and scholarship guidance are published on the Digital4Business website (Scholarships for the Joint European Master’s PDF and the EDI Framework are available as public documents) Digital4Business Scholarships Document Equality Diversity and Inclusion Framework Project Page on EU Portal.

For technical support with the application portal contact admissions@digital4business.eu.

Summary and interpretation

This opportunity is a targeted scholarship scheme run by the Digital4Business consortium to enable inclusive access to a Joint European Master’s in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business for the September 2026 intake. It offers 100 scholarships, funded from a dedicated €200,000 budget, prioritising applicants who meet Equity, Diversity and Inclusion indicators related to socioeconomic disadvantage, underrepresentation in STEM, and geographic diversity. Selection is not merit-driven but EDI-driven: applicants must provide documentary evidence of qualifying indicators and achieve at least 6 points under the EDI scoring mechanism. Allocation is rolling and operates on a first-come, first-served basis among qualifying applicants until funds or scholarship slots are exhausted. The programme is fully online, jointly accredited by four European universities, and provides both financial coverage for participation and non-monetary certification and learning outcomes aligned to labour market needs. The call is managed by the D4B consortium (NCI as scholarships manager) and explicitly states the funding comes from the consortium and not as an EU action. Applicants should apply via the Digital4Business portal, prepare the required EDI documentation, and be aware that additional funding must be declared to avoid duplication of costs. The initiative is designed to reduce inequalities, support underrepresented groups in digital education, and increase access to advanced digital skills across Europe.

Key contact and help:admissions@digital4business.eu. Portal: my.digital4business.eu. Full call documents and EDI Framework available on the Digital4Business website and linked in the call for reference ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source documents: Scholarships for the Joint European Master’s (Digital4Business) PDF and the Digital4Business Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Framework, available from the Digital4Business website and linked in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal listing.

Overview of the Opportunity

The Digital4Business consortium is offering 100 fully funded scholarships for the September 2026 intake of its Joint Professional Master’s in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business, a fully online, European-level accredited programme designed to address the digital skills gap in Europe ¹.

Unlike traditional admissions, scholarships are awarded based on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) criteria rather than academic merit, prioritizing learners facing socioeconomic barriers, underrepresentation in STEM, or geographic disparities ².

Who Should Apply

Target Groups:Applicants must meet at least two EDI indicators across three categories: socioeconomic status (e.g., unemployed, low-income, under 25, first-generation students), underrepresented groups (e.g., women in Tech/STEM, persons with disabilities), and geographic diversity (citizens of Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovakia, Greece, Germany, Slovenia, Latvia) ³.

• Unemployed individuals
• Low-income students
• First-generation university students
• Women in male-dominated Tech/STEM fields
• Persons with disabilities
• Citizens of specified EU countries with lower digital skills performance

Programme Details

Application Process & Requirements

Applications must be submitted via the Digital4Business admissions portal (my.digital4business.eu) by 03 September 2026 at 06:00 UTC, following a single-stage deadline model ⁴.

Required Documentation:Applicants must provide an application form, motivation statement, passport/ID, and EDI-specific proof such as medical certificates (disabilities), self-declarations (first-generation), low-income certificates, unemployment registration, or academic transcripts (women in STEM) ⁵.

1. 1Create an account on my.digital4business.eu
2. 2Verify email address
3. 3Complete eligibility check
4. 4Submit application form and motivation statement
5. 5Upload all required EDI documentation

Selection Criteria & Funding Allocation

Scholarships are awarded based on an EDI scoring mechanism (6–10 points), with a minimum pass score of 6 points required; each additional qualifying indicator adds one point up to a maximum of 10 ⁶.

Funding is allocated on a rolling basis under the 'first come, first served' principle until the €200,000 budget is exhausted, meaning early application is strongly recommended ⁷.

Important Legal Disclaimer

This call and financial support are NOT an EU action; they are launched solely by the Digital4Business consortium, which is directly responsible for selection and funding administration, with the EU portal publication serving only for visibility purposes ⁸.

Scholarship recipients are not eligible for other EU funding as a result of participation, and any additional funding must be declared within 30 days to prevent cost duplication ⁹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call document: Scholarships for the Joint European Master’s
2. 2EDI Framework: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework
3. 3Geographic diversity justification: DESI data on digital skills gaps in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe Geographic Diversity Report
4. 4EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Digital4Business Call
5. 5Application portal: my.digital4business.eu
6. 6EDI scoring mechanism details: Scholarships Call Document
7. 7Rolling allocation principle: Scholarships Call Document
8. 8Legal disclaimer: Scholarships Call Document
9. 9Incompatibilities and reporting: Scholarships Call Document