TU Graz GreenChips-EDU Scholarship

The TU Graz GreenChips-EDU Scholarship is a specialized financial support program aimed at Master's students in sustainable semiconductor technologies. It specifically targets students enrolled or planning to enroll in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Information and Computer Engineering, or Biomedical Engineering at Graz University of Technology starting from the 2025/2026 academic year onward. The scholarship is available to nationals from EU Member States, EEA countries, and several countries in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

There are various types of funding available, which can be awarded as reimbursements or as fixed payments in advance. The total funding amount available for the scholarship program is €40,000, with a maximum of €10,000 that a single student can receive across different grant types. These grants cover tuition fees, specialized training, documentation costs, short-term and long-term mobility expenses, and support for scientific achievements. The funding can be allocated as follows: tuition coverage (up to €3,500), specialized courses (up to €1,500), documentation costs (up to €1,000), short-term mobility (up to €1,500), long-term mobility (up to €6,000), and scientific publications (up to €2,000, depending on the publication type).

The application process consists of four rolling deadlines: 15 February 2026, 1 July 2026, 14 February 2027, and 1 June 2027. Applications are submitted via email and must include various documentation forms and proof of placement. The assessment criteria include academic performance, additional merits, professional experience, gender considerations, socioeconomic factors, and motivation.

The program emphasizes merit-based selection and aims to support students in gaining valuable academic and professional experiences while advancing the development of environmentally sustainable technologies. It is designed to promote collaboration between academia and industry, particularly focusing on education in sustainable microelectronics and eco-friendly innovations. Selected students are required to submit final reports detailing their funded activities. The scholarship program represents a significant opportunity for talented students to engage in mobility and practical training in high-demand fields within the semiconductor sector.

The GreenChips-EDU Scholarship, launched in 2023 by TU Graz, aims to support talented Master's students in sustainable semiconductor technologies across Europe. The project focuses on educating students and researchers in eco-friendly chip design, energy-efficient manufacturing, and materials innovation. The scholarship provides financial assistance to students participating in academia-industry collaborations through mobility programs, fostering cooperation and enriching educational experiences in electronics and microelectronics.

The call offers six distinct types of grants, with a maximum award of €10,000 per individual. The total funding available is €40,000. Financial aid is provided as reimbursement or a fixed amount in advance. Students must disclose any other scholarships or fellowships they have received or applied for. Only semesters commencing before 30 June 2027 are eligible, with funding for up to four consecutive semesters.

The six grant types are:

1. Coverage for tuition and registration fees: Maximum of €3,500 as reimbursement. Covers tuition fees for first-time enrolled credits, mandatory administrative fees, optional fees aligned with the scholarship goals, tuition and fees at host institutions for double degree students, and costs related to Master’s Degree certificate issuance at both institutions.

2. Coverage for participating specialized courses/trainings: Up to €1,500 as reimbursement. Supports participation in specialization courses or training programs offered by universities or industries affiliated with the GreenChips-EDU project. Includes a travel allowance of max. 500 €, including a daily scholarship rate (ranging from 5 -15 €, depending on the host country), and reimbursement of the course fees, up to a maximum of 1000 €. Covers registration or tuition fees for extra courses, certification costs for micro-credentials, material or software, and travel or accommodation if the course is at a different location. An initial 80% of the funding will be disbursed upfront, with the remaining 20% released upon submission of the student’s report.

3. Coverage for the costs of issuing documentation: Up to €1,000 as reimbursement. Covers expenses related to obtaining necessary documentation for international mobility, including visa and residence permit application and issuance, insurance coverage (life, health, accident, and civil liability), language accreditation fees, and translation fees.

4. Contribution to the costs of short-term mobility stays related to the Master's Degree: Up to €1,500 as a fixed amount payment in advance (€ 79/day, up to a maximus total of 1500EUR including the travel cost indicated in “Distance Band Support”). Supports short-term mobility expenses not covered by Erasmus+, excluding Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs). Covers participation in international or domestic events (summer schools, workshops, conferences), completion of a Master’s thesis at a GreenChips-EDU network institution, and professional training or internships at aligned companies. Covered expenses include transport, accommodation, and meals. An initial 80% of the funding will be disbursed upfront, with the remaining 20% released upon submission of the student’s report.

5. Contribution to the expenses of long-term mobility stays related to the Master's Degree: Up to €6,000 as a fixed amount payment in advance. Provides additional financial support for long-term mobility, especially in double degree programs. May cover days exceeding Erasmus+ duration limits and living expenses during the first year at TU Graz for double degree students. Covered expenses include transport, accommodation, and meals. An initial 80% of the funding will be disbursed upfront, with the remaining 20% released upon submission of the student’s report.

6. Contribution to expenses for scientific achievements during the mobility stay: Supports research activities leading to scientific publications aligned with GreenChips-EDU topics. Covers scientific publication fees (up to €1,000 for Q1/Q2 journals, up to €500 for Q3/Q4 journals), presentation materials (up to €100 for posters), and high-level conference attendance (up to €2,000 for CORE A* rated congresses). Funding is provided as reimbursement.

Eligible applicants must be enrolled or have applied for admission for the 2025/2026 academic year or later in one of the following Master’s programs at TU Graz: Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Information and Computer Engineering, or Biomedical Engineering. Applicants must be nationals of EU Member States or countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme (EEA countries, Western Balkans, Eastern Europe).

Applications can be submitted starting from the day following the publication of the scholarship call, with deadlines on 15 February 2026, 1 July 2026, 14 February 2027, and 1 June 2027. Applications must be submitted to greenchips-edu.scholarships.ife@tugraz.at.

Required documents include:

Form A: Cover Letter (introduction, academic background, personal circumstances, future plans)

Form B: Application of Grant (checklist indicating grant types)

Academic Grade Documentation (average grade of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree)

Documentary accreditation (GPA, academic merits, social and economic circumstances)

Accreditation of Mobility Placement (proof of secured placement or endorsement document)

Justification for Grants Type 2.2 (relevance and benefit of specialized training)

Documentation for Grants Type 2.6 (copy of publication/poster, reference number, expense verification)

The selection committee evaluates applications based on academic merit, gender, and socioeconomic inequalities. The evaluation system assigns points across six blocks: Academic performance (20 points), Additional academic merits (5 points), Professional experience (5 points), Positive gender discrimination (2 points for female applicants), Situation of vulnerability (2 points), and Motivation and alignment with the call (1 point).

Selected students must provide a final report including a questionnaire and a brief video about their funded activity.

Distance Band Support is provided based on the EU Distance Calculator, with lump sums for environmentally friendly and non-environmentally friendly travel.

The GreenChips-EDU Scholarship is a TU Graz initiative and not an EU action, with TU Graz responsible for all aspects of the call and selection process.

In summary, this scholarship program offers financial support to Master's students at TU Graz enrolled in specific engineering programs, facilitating their participation in mobility programs and specialized training related to sustainable semiconductor technologies. It aims to promote academic and industry collaboration, enhance students' educational experiences, and contribute to the development of eco-friendly technologies in the microelectronics sector. The scholarship covers various expenses, including tuition, training, documentation, mobility, and research activities, with a focus on supporting students from diverse backgrounds and promoting gender equality in the field.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are Master's students enrolled or planning to enroll in specific study programmes at TU Graz, namely Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Information and Computer Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering. Applicants must be enrolled or have applied for admission for the 2025/2026 academic year or later.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a scholarship, which includes various types of grants to cover different expenses related to the student's studies and mobility. These grants can be in the form of reimbursement or fixed amount payments in advance.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity is for single applicants, specifically individual Master's students.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility extends to students who hold the nationality of EU Member States or countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme. This includes countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, as well as other nations that have signed association agreements, including those from the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: sustainable semiconductor technologies, eco-friendly chip design, energy-efficient manufacturing, materials innovation, electronics, and microelectronics. The specific fields of study are Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Information and Computer Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering.

Mentioned Countries: Austria, Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at supporting students during their Master's studies, particularly during mobility programmes, specialized courses/trainings, and research activities related to their final projects. This encompasses development, validation, and demonstration stages of their academic and research endeavors.

Funding Amount: The funding ranges are variable depending on the type of grant. The maximum amount that can be awarded to an individual is €10,000. The specific funding limits for each grant type are as follows:
Coverage for tuition and registration fees: Up to €3,500 as reimbursement.
Coverage for participating specialized courses/trainings: Up to €1,500 as reimbursement, including a travel allowance of max. 500 € and reimbursement of course fees up to 1000 €.
Coverage for the costs of issuing documentation: Up to €1,000 as reimbursement.
Contribution to the costs of short-term mobility stays: Up to €1,500 as a fixed amount payment in advance (€ 79/day, up to a maximum total of 1500 EUR including the travel cost indicated in “Distance Band Support”).
Contribution to the expenses of long-term mobility stays: Up to €6,000 as a fixed amount payment in advance.
Contribution to expenses for scientific achievements: Up to €1,000 for full open-access publication in Q1 or Q2 journals, Up to €500 for full open-access publication in Q3 or Q4 journals, Up to €100 for poster preparation, Up to €2,000 for high-level conference attendance (CORE A*).

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of scholarships to cover various expenses related to their studies, mobility, and research.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a one-stage process, where applicants submit their application with all required documentation by the specified deadlines. The applications are then evaluated by a selection committee.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:
The GreenChips-EDU Scholarship, offered by TU Graz, supports talented Master's students in sustainable semiconductor technologies. The scholarship aims to foster cooperation between academia and industry, enriching the educational experiences of students dedicated to advancing sustainable and innovative technologies in the electronics and microelectronics sectors. The scholarship provides financial assistance for tuition, specialized courses, documentation, mobility stays, and scientific achievements. The program is open to students enrolled or planning to enroll in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Information and Computer Engineering, or Biomedical Engineering at TU Graz, who are nationals of EU Member States or countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme. The application process involves submitting a cover letter, application form, academic grade documentation, and other supporting documents. The selection criteria include academic merit, gender, and socioeconomic inequalities. There are four application rounds with deadlines in February 2026, July 2026, February 2027, and June 2027. The total funding available is €40,000, and the maximum amount awarded to an individual is €10,000. This scholarship is not an EU action but is solely launched and funded by TU Graz.