Recruitment cycle Cohort 2025

The RESCHIP4EU project, also known as Reinforcing Skills in Chips Design for Europe, aims to enhance European education excellence in embedded systems design through a double-degree master's program. This initiative, situated within the Digital Europe Programme, focuses on addressing skill shortages in the semiconductor sector and enhancing digital skills among students. Eligible applicants for this scholarship are individuals who are students accepted into one of the master's programs in Embedded Systems Design. The funding type includes various scholarships: scholarships of excellence (which consist of full tuition fee waivers along with a monthly allowance), full tuition fee waivers, and half tuition fee waivers. The total funding available for this initiative is €360,000. The program requires no consortium membership for applicants; students apply individually despite the program being delivered through a consortium comprising nine universities, two small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), one corporate partner (ST Microelectronics), and international organizations. Geographic eligibility includes applicants from EU member states, EEA countries, and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme, with the aim of increasing participation diversity regarding gender, age, and socioeconomic background. The targeted sector is semiconductors, aligning with the European Chips Act, which aims to boost the EU's semiconductor market share. The specific educational stage of this project is categorized under education and training. The application process is an open call with multiple deadlines, starting on March 21, 2025, and including cut-off dates on May 20 and June 15, 2025. Applicants will need to submit documentation including academic records, motivation letters, and proof of financial necessity in a single application portal. Although success rates aren't explicitly detailed, it is noted that up to 40 scholarships will be awarded within this recruitment cycle, indicating a competitive selection process. Co-funding is not required, as scholarships cover tuition and living expenses. In sum, the RESCHIP4EU initiative is designed to foster diversity in the field of semiconductor skills through comprehensive educational opportunities, oriented towards practical innovation and entrepreneurship, while promoting strong ties between academic institutions and industry partners. The program's structure encourages a broad participation base, striving to equip the next generation of professionals with essential semiconductor expertise.

The RESCHIP4EU project, or Reinforcing Skills in Chips Design for Europe, aims to bolster higher education excellence within the EU in the field of embedded systems design. This is achieved through the design and delivery of a double-degree master’s program, classified as ISCED Level 7 and totaling 120 ECTS credits, in Embedded Systems Design. The program offers specializations in safer, greener, and smarter embedded platforms, complemented by a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The master’s program is a collaborative effort, designed and delivered by a consortium of 9 higher education institutions spanning 5 countries. The consortium also includes Semi.org, ST Microelectronics, an innovative SME, an ASBL, and EIT Digital, a pan-European organization with experience in advanced digital skills education. RESCHIP4EU emphasizes strong academia-industry interactions, entrepreneurship promotion, and knowledge triangle integration.

The two specialized master’s programs incorporate a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and are delivered by a consortium of 9 higher education institutions from 5 countries, along with 2 SMEs (EITD and EA), 1 corporate entity (ST), 1 AISBL (JA Europe), and 1 international organization (SEMI) from 4 countries, all possessing in-depth knowledge and experience in the digital skills domain.

RESCHIP4EU provides financial support to eligible students participating in the education programs through scholarship programs designed to promote diversity in terms of gender, age, and socio-economic background. These scholarships aim to broaden access to high-quality education in digital areas and increase diversity among future digital experts. Scholarship recipients receive financial support during their two years of studies in one of the double-degree master’s programs offered by RESCHIP4EU.

Three types of scholarships are available:

1. Scholarship of excellence, including a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly allowance.

2. Full tuition fee waiver.

3. Half tuition fee waiver.

The monthly allowance is weighted based on the country correction coefficient (CCCs) of the country where the student is studying, which means the monthly allowance can vary between the first and second year of studies.

To apply for a RESCHIP4EU scholarship, candidates must enroll in one of the two RESCHIP4EU master’s programs through a single application portal. During enrollment, applicants can select 3 options for both Entry University and Exit University, ranked by priority. This provides students with a wider range of choices, as applicants not accepted to their preferred institution may still be accepted elsewhere. The multiple-option offer also ensures a high number of applications are processed, given the limited capacity of each institution.

Required documents for application include:

1. Degree Certificate/Diploma in its original language and translated into English. If the university does not provide translation services, the translation must be done by an authorized translator, whose credentials, signature, and stamps must be visible in the translated document. For ongoing studies, a statement certifying final year enrollment is required, issued by the degree administration office (or equivalent) confirming enrollment and expected completion date. Note: For Aalto as entry, the bachelor's degree must be completed by July 31, 2025.

2. Official and stamped transcript of records in the original language and translated into English, including all courses taken. Both the front and back of every document must be scanned to ensure all stamps and signatures are fully visible.

3. Proof of English proficiency, which varies depending on the higher education institution/country selected. Refer to the EITD Master School website ‘Admissions’ tab for more information.

4. Curriculum Vitae, including details on academic and professional career.

5. A letter of motivation (maximum 3 pages) demonstrating the applicant’s innovative potential and need for financial support. The letter should discuss and/or propose an entrepreneurial idea and explain the applicant’s financial situation and need for support.

6. Supporting documents regarding the applicant’s financial situation, such as a credit report.

7. An official ID, such as a passport or National ID.

Scholarship allocation occurs at the end of the selection process, before the letter of acceptance is sent.

RESCHIP4EU scholarships are available to nationals or residents of eligible countries, including:

1. EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)).

2. Listed EEA countries and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme (associated countries).

3. Countries in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement, where the agreement enters into force before grant signature.

Only students enrolled and accepted into one of the RESCHIP4EU master’s programs are eligible for financial support. Students will be notified of their scholarship allocation when they receive their letter of acceptance and study offer.

Scholarships are awarded based on merit. A merit score (on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the maximum) is assigned to each applicant accepted into one of the master’s programs. Three elements are considered in assigning the merit score:

1. Previous academic and professional experience.

2. Curriculum vitae.

3. Letter of motivation, including the motivation for receiving financial support.

The initial merit score is an average of the scores assigned by the two Local Programme Coordinators accepting the applicant (the Local Coordinator at the Entry University and the Local Coordinator at the Exit University). These scores are reviewed by Programme Leaders to ensure uniformity across different universities and countries. A final meeting, including Programme Leaders, all Local Programme Coordinators, and the Quality Assurance Manager of the RESCHIP4EU project, is held at the end of each Recruitment Period to agree on the final merit score for each applicant.

The RESCHIP4EU scholarship program promotes diversity and inclusion through its scholarship opportunities. Priority is given to:

1. Female applicants from any EU country or EU-associated country, aiming to increase female participation in master’s programs in Chip Design.

2. Applicants from RIS countries (included in the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme), supporting students from countries with moderate or modest innovation scores and lower gross domestic product. Eligible RIS countries include:

a. EU member states.

b. Horizon Europe associated countries.

c. Outermost regions such as Guadeloupe and Réunion (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain).

The scholarship is reflected as a discount in the tuition fee, and candidates are informed of the net tuition fee amount after deducting the scholarship.

The nominal value of the scholarships are:

1. Half tuition fee waivers:€2,500 per year.

2. Full tuition fee waivers:€5,000 per year.

3. Scholarship of excellence, including a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly allowance:€5,000 plus a monthly allowance of €900, weighted based on the country correction coefficient (CCCs) of the country where the student is studying.

Scholarships are allocated on a rolling basis until all financial support schemes are exhausted for the current recruitment cycle. For this call, RESCHIP4EU will make available 40 scholarships (including excellence, full waiver, and half-waiver) to be distributed among the two master’s programs.

Key Dates:

Opening date:21 March 2025

Deadline dates:20 May 2025 17:00 (Brussels time) and 15 June 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

Expected duration of participation:18 months

Total funding available:€360,000.00

Project acronym:RESCHIP4EU

Full name of the EU funded project:Reinforcing Skills in Chips Design for Europe

Grant agreement number:101158828

Topic:DIGITAL-2023 - Reinforcing skills in semiconductors

Application information:masterschool.eitdigital.eu

Application process:academy.eitdigital.eu

Programme fees:masterschool.eitdigital.eu

Required documents:masterschool.eitdigital.eu

Further information:eitdigital.eu

Email:reschip4eu@eitdigital.eu

In summary, RESCHIP4EU is an EU-funded project aimed at enhancing education in embedded systems design through a double-degree master's program. It offers scholarships to eligible students to promote diversity and inclusion in the field. The program is a collaboration between multiple higher education institutions, SMEs, and organizations, focusing on integrating academic knowledge with industry practices and fostering entrepreneurship. The scholarships are merit-based, with priority given to female applicants and those from RIS countries. The funding supports tuition fee waivers and monthly allowances for selected students, contributing to the development of skilled professionals in the semiconductor industry.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant type is students who are nationals or residents of eligible countries and who are enrolled and accepted into one of the RESCHIP4EU Master's programmes.

Funding Type:The funding type is a scholarship. The scholarships are available in three types: scholarship of excellence (including a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly allowance), full tuition fee waiver, and half tuition fee waiver.

Consortium Requirement:This opportunity is for single applicants, specifically students applying for a scholarship to support their studies in a double-degree Master's programme.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes nationals or residents of EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), listed EEA countries, countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme (associated countries), or countries in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement that enters into force before grant signature.

Target Sector:The target sector is digital skills and education, specifically in embedded systems design and semiconductors. The master's programme focuses on specializations in safer, greener, and smarter embedded platforms, with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Mentioned Countries:The text mentions EU member states, EEA countries, France (Guadeloupe, Réunion), Portugal (Azores, Madeira), and Spain (Canary Islands).

Project Stage:The project stage is education and training, specifically supporting students pursuing a double-degree master's programme.

Funding Amount:The funding amount varies depending on the scholarship type. Half tuition fee waivers are valued at €2,500 per year, full tuition fee waivers are valued at €5,000 per year, and scholarships of excellence include a €5,000 tuition fee waiver plus a monthly allowance of €900, weighted based on the country correction coefficient. The total funding available for this call is €360,000.

Application Type:The application type is an open call, with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support:The beneficiaries will receive both money in the form of tuition fee waivers and monthly allowances (for the scholarship of excellence) and non-monetary services in the form of access to high-quality education in digital areas.

Application Stages:The application process involves enrolling in one of the RESCHIP4EU master's programmes through a single application portal, submitting required documentation, and undergoing a selection process based on merit. The exact number of stages is not explicitly stated, but it involves at least enrollment, document submission, and selection.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the document mentions that 40 scholarships (including excellence, full waiver, and half-waiver) will be distributed among the two Master's programmes. The success rate would depend on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding is not explicitly required, but the scholarships are reflected as a discount in the tuition fee, suggesting that students may still need to cover the remaining tuition costs if they do not receive a full tuition fee waiver.

Summary:

The RESCHIP4EU project aims to bolster European higher education in embedded systems design by offering scholarships to eligible students pursuing a double-degree master's programme. This initiative, funded under the Digital Europe Programme, targets the semiconductor sector and seeks to enhance digital skills among students. The scholarships are designed to promote diversity in terms of gender, age, and socioeconomic background. The program offers three types of scholarships: excellence scholarships (including tuition waivers and monthly allowances), full tuition waivers, and half tuition waivers.

To apply, students must enroll in one of the two RESCHIP4EU master's programmes through a single application portal, selecting preferred entry and exit universities. The application requires various documents, including degree certificates, transcripts, proof of English proficiency, a CV, a motivation letter, financial support documents, and an official ID. Scholarships are awarded based on merit, considering academic and professional experience, the CV, and the motivation letter. Priority is given to female applicants and those from RIS countries. The scholarship is reflected as a discount on tuition fees, with excellence scholarships also providing a monthly allowance. A total of 40 scholarships are available for the current recruitment cycle. The project is a collaborative effort involving higher education institutions, SMEs, corporations, and international organizations, all working to strengthen the integration of the knowledge triangle and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of embedded systems design. The opening date for applications is March 21, 2025, with multiple deadlines, the first being May 20, 2025, and the second being June 15, 2025.