DIGITWIN4CIUE project-Scholarships for the Executive Master in Digital Twins on Infrastructures and Cities

This opportunity offers €2,000 scholarships under the DIGITWIN4CIUE project (Grant Agreement 101084054) for admitted participants of the Executive Master in Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities, with a total 2025–26 budget of €400,000 and scholarships applied as tuition fee discounts to support travel and accommodation for three mandatory onsite workshops. The cascade call is managed by Fundación Agustín de Betancourt (FUNAB), opens 10 July 2025 and closes 15 August 2026 at 23:00 Brussels time, with applications submitted via the BME e-admission platform and the DIGITWIN4CIUE apply page. Eligible applicants are admitted students or sponsoring entities who are nationals of EEA or countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme, meet degree (240 ECTS or 180 ECTS plus ≥2 years’ relevant experience), English proficiency and basic programming requirements, and are not subject to EU restrictive measures. Selection is merit-based with diversity and socioeconomic criteria, scholarships are co‑financed 50% by the EU and implemented administratively as tuition reductions.

What it funds

Overview

Mobility scholarships offered as a €2,000 tuition fee discount to support travel and accommodation for attendance at three mandatory on-site events of the Executive Master in Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems.

Total budget:€400,000 available for the 2025-26 edition; maximum €2,000 per scholarship.

Who can apply

Individuals admitted (or sponsored admitted candidates) to the Executive Master programme who are nationals of eligible countries (EEA and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme), meet academic and language requirements, and are not listed under EU restrictive measures.

1. 1Academic: Bachelor degree 240 ECTS in engineering/architecture or similar; 180 ECTS holders eligible with at least 2 years relevant work experience.
2. 2Language and skills: English level B2 (e.g. IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80) and basic programming skills (or complete preparatory course).

Selection & payment

Selection is merit-based with attention to diversity and socioeconomic need. The scholarship is applied as a discount on the tuition fee; co-financed 50% by the EU Digital Europe Programme.

How to apply:Complete the online application on the BME e-admission platform or the programme website (Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems) and upload required documents (degree, transcripts, ID, CV, proof of English, motivation video or statement).

Applicants must accept that the net tuition fee shown includes the €2,000 scholarship and scholarships cannot be combined with other tuition fee awards that would exceed the programme cost. Apply via the programme pages: Course Application (BME) and Programme site.

This call is launched and funded by Fundación Agustín de Betancourt (FUNAB); publication on the EU portal is for visibility only ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1The financial support is provided directly by Fundación Agustín de Betancourt (FUNAB) under its own responsibility; this is not an EU action and portal publication does not imply EU approval.

Opportunity summary and key facts

This call provides tuition-discount scholarships for participants of the Executive Master in Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems (DIGITWIN4CIUE). The scholarships are administered by Fundación Agustín de Betancourt (FUNAB) and co-funded 50% by the EU Digital Europe Programme under project DIGITAL TWINS FOR COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURES AND URBAN ECOSYSTEMS, Grant Agreement 101084054. The 2025-26 edition budget is €400,000 with individual scholarships of €2,000 each as a discount to tuition fees. The call opened on 10 July 2025 and the application deadline is 15 August 2026 at 23:00 Brussels time. Official call page ¹

Total funding available:€400,000 for edition 2025-26; maximum scholarship amount €2,000 per student.

Deadline and process:Single-stage call. Deadline 15 August 2026 23:00 (Brussels time). Open for submission via the BME e-admission platform and digitwin4ciue application pages.

Who can apply and eligible applicant types

Primary eligible applicants are individual students admitted to the Executive Master in Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities, or sponsoring entities applying on behalf of admitted candidates. The opportunity targets natural persons (individual applicants), educational sponsoring entities, and organisations that are not under EU restrictive measures. In practice, eligible applicant types include: individual students, universities or higher education institutions (as sponsors), employers or sponsoring companies, NGOs and nonprofit organisations that sponsor admitted candidates. Applicants under EU restrictive measures lists or subject to Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05 are excluded.

Funding type and nature of support

Primary funding mechanism:scholarship provided as a tuition fee discount. Nature of support: monetary, delivered as a reduction in the tuition fee payable to the master programme operator (FUNAB), intended specifically to contribute toward travel and accommodation costs for three mandatory on-site events.

Consortium requirement and application type

Consortium requirement:single applicant model (individual or sponsoring entity) — no consortium formation required. Application type: open single-stage call via an online application form on the BME e-admission platform and the DIGITWIN4CIUE Apply page.

Beneficiary geographic scope and mentioned countries

Geographic eligibility:nationals of eligible countries including EEA Member States and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme by 2021. The call references the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) for degree recognition requirements and provides links to EHEA membership pages. Explicitly mentioned regions and countries in call materials include the EEA and an EHEA member list (Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus suspended, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Commission, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation suspended, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom). The call also references the Hague Apostille signatory guidance and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for legalization procedures.

Target sectors and thematic focus

Target sector:education and specialised skills development in digital technologies applied to infrastructures and urban ecosystems. Thematically the opportunity focuses on digital twins, digitalisation of built environment sectors, civil/mechanical/electrical engineering, architecture, urban systems, smart cities, and related programming and digital skills.

Expected project stage and candidate profile

Project stage and candidate maturity:advanced education and professional training. The master targets professionals and graduates in engineering or architecture fields seeking further specialization. Typical expected maturity: candidates should hold at least a bachelor degree (240 ECTS) in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or similar; or 180 ECTS plus at least 2 years' relevant work experience. A minimum of 3 years' professional experience is preferred for selection but not mandatory except where 180 ECTS degrees are held.

Selection criteria and success factors

Academic merit is the predominant selection criterion. Additional selection guidelines include promoting gender balance, age diversity, geographical distribution, socioeconomic inclusion, increasing access for lower-income students, and encouraging applicants from SMEs and entrepreneurs. If applications exceed capacity (e.g., more than 200 applications per year), these guidelines will be applied to prioritize awards.

Application requirements and supporting documents

Applicants must be admitted (or be sponsoring an admitted candidate) to the Executive Master programme and complete the online application forms. Required documents include: accredited university degree certificate or proof of application for the certificate; for degrees outside the EHEA, legalized diplomas must be submitted before December of the academic year using Hague Apostille or diplomatic/legalization via Spanish consular channels; university transcript(s) translated into English, French or Spanish; proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS or similar within last 2 years) or a written statement with possible interview verification; curriculum vitae in English; copy of official identification (national ID or passport); and either a short video in English (maximum 3 minutes) explaining motivation or a written motivational statement. Candidates lacking basic programming skills must complete free pre-master programming courses as required.

1. 1Step 1: Apply and be admitted to the Executive Master via the DIGITWIN4CIUE Apply page or BME e-admission course page.
2. 2Step 2: Complete four evaluation forms on the BME e-admission platform and upload required supporting documents (degree certificate, transcripts, ID, CV, proof of English level, and video or motivation statement).
3. 3Step 3: Ensure degree legalization if applicable (non-EHEA degrees) before December of the academic year using Hague Apostille or Spanish diplomatic legalization procedures.
4. 4Step 4: Await selection notification. If selected, the scholarship is applied as a €2,000 discount to tuition fees and the advertised net tuition fee is shown to candidates.
5. 5Step 5: Attend the online live sessions and three in-person workshops (scheduled in November, February and June/July). Scholarship funds are intended to partially cover travel and accommodation for those workshops.

Payment arrangements and scholarship modality

Scholarships are delivered as a discount on the tuition fee. The net tuition amount communicated to candidates already includes the €2,000 scholarship deduction. The scholarship is designated to assist mobility costs (travel and accommodation) for the three mandatory on-site events but is implemented administratively through a tuition fee reduction paid by the student and/or sponsoring entity to the master provider. Scholarships are co-financed 50% by the EU Digital Europe Programme and 50% by FUNAB.

Scholarship compatibility and constraints

The DIGITWIN4CIUE scholarship is compatible with other DIGITWIN4CIUE project scholarships. Scholarships cannot be combined if the total would exceed the full cost of the master's programme. The scholarships cannot be used for purposes other than originally intended and are not compatible with other tuition fee scholarships unless explicitly stated by the other scholarship call.

Success rates and co-funding requirements

Success rates are not explicitly published. Selection is competitive and driven primarily by academic merit and the diversity and inclusion guidelines; the call notes a possible high application volume (e.g., over 200 applications) where additional prioritisation criteria will apply. Co-funding requirement: the scholarship is a partial contribution; students (or sponsoring entities) remain responsible for payment of the net tuition fee after scholarship deduction and any remaining travel and accommodation costs. No additional mandatory co-funding percentage is specified for applicants beyond covering the net tuition and personal travel/accommodation expenses.

Application templates and evaluation forms

Applications are submitted via the BME e-admission course Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems 2025. Applicants must complete four evaluation forms on that platform; the call text indicates these forms evaluate background and require uploads of the documents listed above. No downloadable template files are published in the call text, but required documents and the short video or motivation statement should follow standard CV and transcript formats. Applicants with non-EHEA degrees must follow legalization templates and Apostille procedures as described in the call and referenced Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance.

• Required document group 1: Degree certificate or proof of application; legalized degree for non-EHEA degrees (Apostille or Spanish consular legalization).
• Required document group 2: University transcripts translated to English, French or Spanish.
• Required document group 3: Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS or equivalent) or written statement and potential interview.
• Required document group 4: CV in English and copy of official ID.
• Required document group 5: Short motivational video (max 3 minutes) in English or written motivation statement.

Legal and administrative notes

Legal disclaimer:This call and the financial support are not an EU action. The call is launched and managed solely by FUNAB, which is fully responsible for the content, selection of beneficiaries and payment arrangements. Publication on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is for information and visibility only and does not constitute EU approval of the content or conditions of the call.

Applicants should consult the DIGITWIN4CIUE Apply page and the BME e-admission course for the live application form and for any updates to submission instructions and timelines. The call states that the scholarship is specifically to facilitate physical mobility to attend three on-site events in November, February and June/July; attendance availability for those dates is a condition of the scholarship award.

Comprehensive Q&A extraction

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicant types:Individual students admitted to the Executive Master in Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems; sponsoring entities applying on behalf of admitted candidates such as employers, universities or training providers; NGOs or nonprofit organisations that sponsor eligible admitted candidates. Applicants and sponsoring entities must not be listed under EU restrictive measures and must comply with Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05 exclusions.

Funding Type

Primary financial mechanism:scholarship delivered as a tuition fee discount. The modality is monetary support implemented administratively as reduced tuition payable to the master operator.

Consortium Requirement

Consortium not required. Single applicant model:individuals or sponsoring entities apply; no multi-partner consortium formation is necessary.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Geographic eligibility is for nationals of eligible countries including EEA Member States and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme by 2021. The call references the European Higher Education Area membership for degree validation, which lists 49 EHEA members.

Target Sector

Target sectors:higher education and professional training in digital technologies for infrastructure and urban ecosystems. Specifically: digital twins, built environment digitalisation, civil/mechanical/electrical engineering, architecture, smart cities, programming and applied digital skills.

Mentioned Countries

The call explicitly references EHEA member countries in the EHEA membership list; it also references the EEA and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme by 2021. Specific country mentions appear in the EHEA list and in linked legalization guidance (e.g., Spain as the country handling consular legalization for foreign documents submitted to Spanish institutions).

Project Stage

The opportunity is an education/training intervention aimed at advanced professional development and specialization. Project stage classification: education/training for validation/demonstration/advanced learning; candidate maturity expected at graduate/professional stage (post-bachelor).

Funding Amount

Funding range:edition budget €400,000. Scholarship amount fixed at €2,000 per student. The total number of scholarships equals the edition budget divided by €2,000, subject to administrative decisions and co-funding rules.

Application Type

Open call, single-stage, submitted online through the BME e-admission platform and the DIGITWIN4CIUE Apply page. Applicants must be admitted to the master programme prior to scholarship award consideration.

Nature of Support

Monetary support implemented as tuition fee discount. The award is intended to help cover travel and accommodation costs for in-person master events but is provided as reduced tuition rather than direct cash transfers.

Application Stages

Number of stages:1 (single-stage scholarship selection after admission to the Master). Applicants complete four evaluation forms within the single-stage application platform.

Success Rates

Success rates are not published. Selection is competitive; the call anticipates situations with high application volumes and contains prioritisation guidelines if applications exceed capacity (e.g., >200 applications).

Co-funding Requirement

Co-funding:scholarships are co-financed 50% by the EU Digital Europe Programme and 50% by FUNAB. Candidates (or their sponsoring entities) remain responsible for paying the net tuition fee after the €2,000 scholarship and for any remaining travel and accommodation costs. There is no separate applicant cash co-funding percentage required explicitly beyond payment of net tuition and personal travel/accommodation costs.

Templates and application form structure

Application uses the BME e-admission course system. Applicants must fill four evaluation forms assessing background and upload supporting documents. Although the call does not provide downloadable templates, the application structure requires: personal details and ID upload, education details and degree certificate upload (and legalization proof for non-EHEA degrees), transcripts (translated if required), CV upload, proof of English proficiency or equivalent statement, short motivational video (max 3 minutes) or written motivation. Non-EHEA degree holders must provide Apostille or diplomatic legalization documentation per Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs procedures.

For non-EHEA degrees the accepted legalization routes are the Hague Apostille for Apostille signatory countries, or legalization via Spanish embassies/consulates for non-Apostille countries; translations of documents must be in English, French or Spanish and follow the legalization guidance. Applicants should ensure sworn translations where required and follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance on legalization and translation procedures.

Summary: what this opportunity is about and how to approach it

This call offers €2,000 scholarships (applied as tuition fee discounts) to admitted students of the Executive Master in Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems. The aim is to facilitate physical mobility to attend three mandatory in-person workshops during the master and to promote equality and access to high-quality specialised digital education in digital twins, smart infrastructures and urban ecosystems. Applicants must be admitted to the master, meet degree and language requirements, and submit application materials through the BME e-admission platform. Selection prioritises academic merit and includes diversity and socioeconomic criteria when demand is high. The scholarship budget for the 2025-26 edition is €400,000 and scholarships are co-funded by FUNAB and the EU Digital Europe Programme. This is not a direct EU action; FUNAB is responsible for selection and payments. Prospective applicants should prepare degree legalization if needed, proof of English proficiency, a concise motivational presentation (video or statement), and be prepared to attend the specified in-person workshops if awarded the scholarship.

Practical next steps:verify admission to the DIGITWIN4CIUE Master, open the BME e-admission course, prepare and translate required documents, obtain Apostille or consular legalization if your degree is outside the EHEA, record a 3-minute motivation video or prepare a written statement, and submit all materials before the single-stage deadline 15 August 2026 23:00 Brussels time. For full details consult the DIGITWIN4CIUE Apply page and the official portal listing Official call page. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Primary call and administrative details available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page: ec.europa.eu and application guidance on the DIGITWIN4CIUE Apply page: digitwin4ciue.eu and BME e-admission course page: e-admission.bme.hu.

Overview

This opportunity offers scholarships under the DIGITWIN4CIUE project (Grant Agreement 101084054), funded by the EU Digital Europe Programme DIGITAL-2021. The scholarships support the Executive Master in Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities, a joint program by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), and Istanbul Technical University (ITU). The total budget for the 2025-26 edition is €400,000, with each scholarship fixed at €2,000, provided as a tuition fee discount to cover travel and accommodation for three onsite workshops.

The call opens on 10 July 2025 and closes on 15 August 2026 at 23:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission). It is cascade funding managed by Fundación Agustín de Betancourt (FUNAB), published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for visibility only. The master is a 1-year part-time blended program (60 ECTS), with online evening classes (Mon-Wed, 18:00-20:30 CET), three onsite workshops (Madrid, Paris, Budapest/Istanbul in Nov, Feb, Jun/Jul), and a capstone project mentored by industry partners.

Purpose and Benefits

Scholarships facilitate physical mobility for onsite events, aiming to attract global talent to EU digital education, promote equality in digital twins for infrastructures and cities, and support diversity in gender, age, geography, socioeconomic status, and SME/entrepreneur training. The master equips professionals with skills in digital twins for infrastructure planning, design, construction, operation, management, smart cities, transport, energy, water, and urban ecosystems. Curriculum covers digital skills (BIM, GIS, IoT, Big Data, AI, programming), management/innovation, specializations, and a practical capstone project (14 ECTS).

Eligibility and Requirements

Principal Requirements

• Must have applied and been admitted (or sponsor an admitted candidate) to the Executive Master via Apply Section.
• Availability to attend online live sessions and three onsite workshops (Nov, Feb, Jun/Jul).
• Bachelor’s degree (min 240 ECTS) in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or similar; or 180 ECTS with >=2 years work experience in built environment.
• English proficiency: IELTS 6.5 (min 5.5/subtest), TOEFL 80, or B2 equivalent (proof via test <2 years old, statement, or interview).
• Basic programming skills (or complete free pre-courses).
• National of eligible countries: EEA countries and those associated with Digital Europe Programme 2021 (e.g., EU27, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine).
• Not subject to EU restrictive measures (TEU Art 29, TFEU Art 215; Commission Guidelines 2013/C 205/05).

Application Documents

• Accredited degree certificate (or proof of application); non-EHEA degrees need legalization (Hague Apostille or Spanish Embassy stamp) by December.
• Transcripts/diplomas translated to English, French, or Spanish.
• English proficiency proof.
• CV in English.
• Official ID (passport/national ID).
• 3-min video (or document) on motivation in English.

Apply via BME e-platform:Course Platform; complete four forms. Non-EHEA applicants: legalization details via Hague Apostille or Spanish Ministry, EHEA Members. ¹

Selection Criteria

• Primary: Academic merit.
• Diversity: Gender, age, geographical distribution.
• Socioeconomic access (lower income priority).
• SME professionals and entrepreneurs.

If >200 applications, committee applies guidelines. Scholarships co-financed 50% by EU.

Funding and Payment

Amount:€2,000 per student as tuition fee discount (net fee reflects deduction). Max 200 scholarships possible from €400,000 budget.

Compatibility:Compatible with other DIGITWIN4CIUE scholarships; not with others if total exceeds master cost or misaligned purpose. Not compatible with other tuition scholarships unless specified.

Key Dates and Program Structure

Additional Information

Joint diploma issued by UPM, ENPC, BME, ITU. Target:Professionals/young engineers in civil engineering, architecture, construction, urban planning. Skills: Digital models, programming, data science/AI, management, specializations (transport, water/energy, urban design). Capstone: Real projects with partners (e.g., Typsa, Nommon, Dassault). Legal note: Call by FUNAB, not direct EU action.

Primary source:EU Funding Portal. Master details: DIGITWIN4CIUE, UPM. ²

Footnotes

1. 1Legalization required for non-EHEA degrees: Hague Apostille for signatories; Spanish Embassy for others. Translations must be certified.
2. 2Program brochure and videos available via project sites; check for updates as call opens July 2025.