Recruitment cycle Cohort 2025

The ACHIEVE project, funded under the Digital Europe Programme, aims to enhance higher education in cloud computing and high-performance computing (HPC) through a double-degree master's program. This initiative addresses significant EU policy objectives, including the Green Deal and digital transformation, by focusing on developing advanced skills relevant to digital infrastructure.

Eligible applicants for the scholarships include students who are nationals of EU Member States, EEA countries, and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme, or those in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement. The project is designed to promote diversity, particularly encouraging female candidates and those from underrepresented regions.

There are three types of scholarships available: excellence scholarships, which include a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly allowance of 900 EUR; full tuition fee waivers; and half tuition fee waivers. The total budget allocated for scholarships is 535,000 EUR. The project is structured around eight higher education institutions from various countries, industry associations, and cloud computing firms, ensuring a consortium-based approach.

The application process is managed through an open call with multiple cut-off dates, allowing candidates to submit applications on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Applicants must enroll in one of the two ACHIEVE master's programs, provide requisite documents, and undergo a merit-based selection process. Required documents include degree certificates, transcripts, proof of English proficiency, a curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation, and financial documentation.

Scholarships will be allocated based on a merit score reflecting academic and professional experience, with a focus on transparency and uniformity in evaluation. The ACHIEVE project supports 75 scholarships across its programs, emphasizing the importance of both academic excellence and the need for diverse representation.

The program expects applications to open on March 21, 2025, with significant deadlines on May 20, 2025, and June 15, 2025. Each scholarship type varies in value, with half tuition waivers covering 2,500 EUR annually and full tuition waivers allocating 5,000 EUR annually.

Overall, the ACHIEVE project seeks to address the growing need for specialized education in digital skills, particularly in the fields of cloud computing and HPC, while supporting the EU's strategic priorities for digital transformation and economic growth. Further information about the application and related requirements can be accessed through designated online platforms and contact points.

The ACHIEVE project, or Advanced Cloud and High-performance computing Education for a Valiant Europe, aims to enhance EU higher education in IT infrastructures, particularly High-Performance Computing (HPC). This initiative addresses key policy objectives like the Green Deal and digital transformation by focusing on cloud computing, network architecture, and advanced HPC skills. These skills are applicable to complex problems in computational and data-intensive sciences, such as climate change modeling, drug design, genome sequencing, cybersecurity, and engineering design.

The project will implement a double-degree master's program (ISCED Level 7, 120 ECTS) in Cloud and Networking Infrastructure, including specializations aligned with advanced, green, and efficient HPC systems, and a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This program is a collaborative effort by eight higher education institutions from six countries, industry associations, cloud computing and HPC companies, an educational SME, a non-profit association, and EIT Digital.

ACHIEVE offers scholarships to support students participating in the education programs, promoting diversity in gender, age, and socioeconomic background. These scholarships provide financial support during the two-year master's programs.

There are three types of scholarships available: scholarship of excellence (full tuition fee waiver and monthly allowance), full tuition fee waiver, and half tuition fee waiver. The monthly allowance is weighted based on the country correction coefficient (CCCs) of the study location, which may cause the monthly allowance to vary between the first and second year of studies.

To apply for an ACHIEVE scholarship, candidates must enroll in one of the two ACHIEVE master’s programs through a single application portal. Applicants can select three Entry University options and three Exit University options, ranked by priority.

Required documents for the application include: Degree Certificate/Diploma in its original language and translated into English (with translator's credentials visible), or a statement certifying final year of studies with expected completion date (bachelor degree must be completed by July 31, 2025, if applying to Aalto as entry); Official and stamped transcript of records in original language and translated into English; Proof of English proficiency; Curriculum Vitae; A letter of motivation (maximum 3 pages) discussing an entrepreneurial idea and financial need; Supporting documents regarding financial situation (e.g., credit report); and an official ID.

ACHIEVE scholarships are available to nationals of EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories), listed EEA countries, countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme, or countries in ongoing negotiations for association agreements. Only students enrolled and accepted into an ACHIEVE Master’s program are eligible for financial support.

Scholarships are awarded based on merit, quantified by a merit score (1 to 5 scale). The merit score is based on: previous academic and professional experience, curriculum vitae, and letter of motivation (including motivation for financial support). The initial merit score is an average of scores from the Local Programme Coordinators at the Entry and Exit Universities, reviewed by Programme Leaders for uniformity. A final meeting will be held to agree on the final merit score for each applicant.

The ACHIEVE scholarship program prioritizes diversity and inclusion. Priority is given to female applicants from any EU or EU-associated country and applicants from RIS countries (EIT Regional Innovation Scheme), including EU member states, Horizon Europe associated countries, and outermost regions.

The scholarship is reflected as a discount in the tuition fee. Candidates are informed of the net tuition fee after the scholarship amount is deducted. Half tuition fee waivers are valued at 2,500 EUR per year, full tuition fee waivers at 5,000 EUR per year, and scholarships of excellence include a 5,000 EUR tuition fee waiver plus a monthly allowance of 900 EUR (weighted by the country correction coefficient).

A total of 75 scholarships (including excellence, full waiver, and half-waiver) will be distributed among the two Master’s programs on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.

The opening date for applications is March 21, 2025, with multiple cut-off deadlines. The first deadline is May 20, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time), and the second is June 15, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 18 months, with a total funding of 535,000 EUR available. The project acronym is ACHIEVE, and the grant agreement number is 101190015 under the topic DIGITAL-2023-SKILLS-05-SPECIALEDU.

Further information can be found at: Application information: https://masterschool.eitdigital.eu/cloud-and-networking-infrastructure, Application process: https://academy.eitdigital.eu/, Programme fees: https://masterschool.eitdigital.eu/admissions/fees, Required documents: https://masterschool.eitdigital.eu/admissions/required-documents, General information: https://www.eitdigital.eu/eu-collaborations/achieve, and via email at achieve@eitdigital.eu.

In summary, the ACHIEVE project offers scholarships for a double-degree master's program focused on Cloud and Networking Infrastructure and High-Performance Computing. The program aims to enhance digital skills in Europe, supporting the Green Deal and digital transformation. Scholarships are available to eligible students based on merit, with a focus on promoting diversity. The scholarships cover tuition fees and may include a monthly allowance. Interested candidates must apply through the EIT Digital application portal and meet specific eligibility criteria and documentation requirements. The project is funded by the EU under the DIGITAL program and seeks to address the growing need for specialized education in key digital capacity areas.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is students who are nationals of EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), listed EEA countries, and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature and scholarship acceptance signature.

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

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for a single applicant, namely a student applying for a scholarship.

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

Target Sector: The target sector is digital skills education, specifically in Cloud and Networking Infrastructure and High-Performance Computing (HPC). This aligns with the broader areas of ICT, education, and digital transformation.

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

Project Stage: The project stage is for students pursuing a double-degree master's program (ISCED Level 7, 120 ECTS).

Funding Amount: The funding amount varies depending on the scholarship type:
Half tuition fee waiver: 2,500 EUR per year.
Full tuition fee waiver: 5,000 EUR per year.
Scholarship of excellence: 5,000 EUR plus a monthly allowance of 900 EUR, weighted based on the country correction coefficient (CCCs).
The total funding available for scholarships is 535,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of scholarships, which may include tuition fee waivers and monthly allowances.

Application Stages: The application process involves enrolling in one of the two ACHIEVE master’s programs through a single application portal, submitting required documents, and undergoing a selection process based on merit. The allocation of scholarships occurs at the end of the selection process, before the letter of acceptance is sent. Therefore, the application process can be seen as having multiple stages, including enrolment, document submission, evaluation, and scholarship allocation.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided information. The number of scholarships available is 75, but the total number of applicants is not specified.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned as a requirement. The scholarship covers tuition fees and may provide a monthly allowance, suggesting that students may not need to provide additional funding, although this depends on their living expenses and the specific scholarship they receive.

The ACHIEVE project offers scholarships to students pursuing a double-degree master's program in Cloud and Networking Infrastructure, with specializations aligning with advanced, green, and efficient HPC systems, including a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of EU higher education in IT infrastructures and HPC, addressing complex challenges in computational and data-intensive sciences. The scholarships are available to nationals of EU Member States, EEA countries, and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme. There are three types of scholarships: excellence scholarships (full tuition waiver and monthly allowance), full tuition waivers, and half tuition waivers. The application process involves enrolling in one of the two master’s programs via a single portal, submitting required documents (degree certificates, transcripts, proof of English proficiency, CV, motivation letter, financial documents, and ID), and undergoing a merit-based selection process. The scholarships are allocated on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted, with 75 scholarships available for the current recruitment cycle. The program prioritizes diversity, particularly encouraging female applicants and those from RIS countries. The scholarship is reflected as a discount in the tuition fee, and the amount varies depending on the scholarship type and the country where the student is studying. The program is funded under the DIGITAL-2023-SKILLS-05-SPECIALEDU topic, focusing on specialized education programs in key capacity areas.