TALTECH MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship Award

The TALTECH MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship at Tallinn University of Technology is a financial aid initiative supported by the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme, specifically aimed at master’s students in the Industrial Engineering and Management program. The total funding allocated for this scholarship is €100,000, with each successful applicant receiving €300 per month for five months, amounting to €1,500 per semester.

Eligibility is strictly for EU citizens who are enrolled full-time in the MARM program. Applicants must achieve a minimum weighted average grade of 4.0 or an admission score of at least 7.0 for first-semester students. They are required to complete their curriculum in full with a study volume of 30 ECTS per semester within the standard duration without being on academic leave.

The application process involves submitting a free-form email application by 30 September 2025 for the autumn semester and by 28 February 2026 for the spring semester. The application must include the student's code, full name, and bank account details. Candidates will be prioritized based on their semester’s weighted average grades, followed by cumulative performance and progress in their studies.

Scholarship funds are paid on the last working day of each month, with some delays for the September and February payments. The scholarship will cease if a student is ex-matriculated or found to have submitted false information. The selection and management of this scholarship are solely the responsibility of TalTech, even though it is funded by the EU.

Key deadlines are set for 30 September 2025 and 28 February 2026 for application submissions. While the scholarship fosters academic excellence, its criteria may limit diversity among applicants as it is exclusive to EU citizens. However, it aligns strongly with the EU's intent to develop specialized skills in digital sectors, reinforcing the importance of supporting advanced education in technology fields.

In summary, this scholarship provides an essential opportunity for EU master’s students at TalTech, recognizing academic excellence while contributing towards the enhancement of skills relevant to the digital economy.

The MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship at TalTech is an opportunity for students enrolled in the "Industrial Engineering and Management" (MARM) master's degree program at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). The scholarship aims to support and recognize students who demonstrate excellent academic performance and are completing the full curriculum. The MERIT project, which funds these scholarships, is co-funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101083531. A total of 100,000 euros is available for these scholarships.

Eligibility criteria:

Applicants must be citizens of the European Union (EU).
Applicants must be studying in the MERIT project master's degree program "Industrial Engineering and Management" (MARM) at TalTech.
Applicants must be full-time students.
Applicants must be completing the curriculum cumulatively in full, with a study volume of 30 ECTS per semester. Note that the volume of the curriculum completed with the recognition of previous studies and work experience (APEL) is not included, except for formal education completed elsewhere during studies.
Applicants must not have exceeded the standard duration of the curriculum.
Applicants must not be on academic leave.
Applicants must have a weighted average grade of at least 4.0 for the entire period of study or an admission score of at least 7.0 for students in their first semester.

Application procedure:

Students can apply for the MERIT scholarship twice in an academic year, in September and February, starting from their first semester.
To apply, students must submit a free-form application via e-mail to the study consultant of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering by 30 September 2025 for the autumn semester and by 28 February 2026 for the spring semester.
The application must include the student's code, first and last name, and the bank account number of the scholarship recipient.

Selection process:

A ranking will be compiled based on the weighted average grade of the semester of the student's participation in studies. If a student has studied at a foreign educational institution during the last semester, the weighted average grade will be calculated based on the last semester of study at TalTech.
If several students have the same weighted average grade, the weighted average grade for the entire period of study will be considered first. If the grades are still equal, preference will be given to the applicant with the higher percentage of completion of the study volume according to the curriculum.
The outcome of the call for awarding the MERIT scholarship will be published on the TalTech website without rankings.

Scholarship details:

The scholarship amount is 300 euros per month.
The scholarship is awarded for one semester (five months of study).
Recipients will be informed by e-mail.

Payment and cessation of scholarships:

The recipients of the MERIT scholarship will be confirmed by the dean no later than five working days before the payment date.
The scholarship will be transferred to the recipient's bank account based on the dean's order.
The scholarship is paid on the last working day of the current month for the current month, except for the September and February scholarships, which are paid on the last working day of the following month.
If a recipient is ex-matriculated (except when completing the curriculum) or goes on academic leave before the payment date, the scholarship will not be paid for that month and will be terminated. If a student is ex-matriculated upon completion of the curriculum, they will be paid the scholarship for the entire calendar month of ex-matriculation.
Payment of the scholarship will be terminated to a student upon going on academic leave, except for students completing the curriculum who are:
Persons with a moderate, severe, or profound disability.
Parents or guardians of a child under 3 years of age or a disabled child.
On academic leave in connection with completing conscript or alternative service.
If false information is submitted for the scholarship, payment will be terminated immediately, and the university has the right to reclaim it.

Important dates:

Opening date: 01 September 2025
Deadline for autumn semester: 30 September 2025, 22:59 (Brussels time)
Deadline for spring semester: 28 February 2026, 22:59 (Brussels time)
Expected duration of participation: 5 months

Funding:

Total funding available: 100,000 euros

Project information:

Project acronym: MERIT
Full name of the EU funded project: Master of Science in Smart, Secure and Interconnected Systems
Grant agreement number: 101083531
Topic: DIGITAL-2021-SKILLS-01-SPECIALISED - Specialised education programmes in key capacity areas

Legal Disclaimer:

It is important to note that this scholarship is NOT an EU action but is launched solely by Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). TalTech is responsible for all aspects of the call, including preparation, drafting, and selection of successful applicants. The publication of this call on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is for informational purposes only and does not imply approval or endorsement by EU authorities.

In summary, the MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship at TalTech offers financial support to outstanding EU students enrolled in the Industrial Engineering and Management master's program. The scholarship provides 300 euros per month for one semester to students who meet specific academic criteria and maintain full-time enrollment. The application process involves submitting a simple form via email, and selection is based primarily on academic performance. This scholarship is a valuable opportunity for students to receive recognition and support for their studies at TalTech.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is students who are citizens of the European Union studying in the MERIT project master's degree program “Industrial Engineering and Management” (MARM) at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). They must be full-time students completing the curriculum cumulatively in full, not exceeding the standard duration of the curriculum, and not on academic leave. They also need to maintain a weighted average grade of at least 4.0 or have an admission score of at least 7.0 if in their first semester.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a scholarship.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity is for single applicants only, specifically individual students.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to citizens of the European Union (EU).

Target Sector: The target sector is education, specifically within the field of Industrial Engineering and Management, and related to the broader topic of specialized education programs in key capacity areas within the digital sector, as indicated by the topic DIGITAL-2021-SKILLS-01-SPECIALISED. The full name of the EU funded project is Master of Science in Smart, Secure and Interconnected Systems.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned other than the European Union as a region. Estonia is implied as the location of Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech).

Project Stage: The project stage is for students already enrolled in a master's program, focusing on supporting their ongoing studies and recognizing academic excellence.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is 300 euros per month, awarded for one semester (five months of study). A total of 100,000 euros is available to be distributed for the scholarships.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates. Students submit a free-form application via e-mail.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a scholarship.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a single-stage process. Students submit their application, and a ranking is compiled based on academic performance.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding from the applicant or other parties is not explicitly required.

Summary:

This opportunity is the MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), co-funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101083531. It aims to support and recognize EU citizen students who demonstrate excellent academic results in the "Industrial Engineering and Management" (MARM) master's program at TalTech. The scholarship provides 300 euros per month for one semester (five months).

To be eligible, students must be full-time, completing the curriculum in full with a study volume of 30 ECTS per semester, not exceeding the standard duration of the curriculum, and not on academic leave. They must also maintain a weighted average grade of at least 4.0 or have an admission score of at least 7.0 if in their first semester.

The application process involves submitting a free-form application via e-mail to the study consultant of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, indicating the student code, name, and bank account number. Applications are accepted twice per academic year, with deadlines on September 30, 2025, and February 28, 2026.

A ranking is compiled based on the weighted average grade of the semester, with consideration given to the overall weighted average grade and the percentage of completion of the study volume in case of ties. The outcome of the call is published on the TalTech website without rankings.

The scholarship is paid on the last working day of the month, except for September and February, which are paid on the last working day of the following month. The scholarship payment will be terminated if the recipient is ex-matriculated or goes on academic leave, with some exceptions for students completing the curriculum who have disabilities, are parents of young children, or are on academic leave for conscript or alternative service. False information will result in immediate termination and potential reclamation of the scholarship.

Although the MERIT project is co-funded by the EU, this specific scholarship call is launched and managed solely by TalTech, who is responsible for the selection of successful applicants and the provision of financial support. The EU Funding & Tenders Portal publishes this call for informational purposes only.