UPC-MERIT Scholarship for master’s in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet Connected Systems Open Call 2025

The UPC-MERIT Scholarship for the master's degree in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet-Connected Systems at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) Manresa is now open for applications. This scholarship, funded by the EU under the MERIT project, aims to support students in pursuing this master's program, focusing on promoting equality and excellence in computer science. The total funding for the scholarship is €104,000, with approximately 40 scholarships available until the project ends on September 30, 2026.

Eligible applicants are EU citizens or citizens of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Ukraine. They must be full-time degree-seeking students in the MERIT master's program, having either applied or been admitted for the 2025/2026 academic year. The scholarship evaluates candidates based on several criteria, including academic merit and considerations for gender and socioeconomic status.

The scholarship has five modalities of support:

1. **Tuition Fee Reimbursement**: Covers up to €3,500 for the first enrollment tuition and related fees for a maximum of three consecutive semesters, provided they conclude by June 30, 2026.
 
2. **Living and Transportation Allowance**: Offers a monthly allowance of €200 for up to 12 months, with a cap of €2,400, applicable to students with a minimum rent of €300 per month or living at least 40 km from UPC Manresa.

3. **Hardware/Software Support**: Up to €1,500 for purchases necessary for the master's program.

4. **Scientific Achievements Funding**: Supports expenses related to publications, poster presentations, and startup costs, with varying maximum amounts.

5. **Mobility Stays**: Provides up to €1,500 for expenses related to in-person mobility stays for study-related activities.

Applications can be submitted until June 1, 2026, or until the budget is exhausted. Candidates must submit various documents, including a cover letter presenting their academic merits and supporting details relevant to the scholarship, as well as specific documentation required for each funding modality.

The selection committee will assess applications based on academic performance (8 points) and gender/socioeconomic factors (2 points). Applications will undergo evaluations once per semester, ensuring a system for considering those who meet eligibility while setting a reserve list for budgetary constraints.

Successful scholarship recipients will need to sign an agreement, validate their enrollment and academic performance, and provide proof of incurred expenses to receive funds. The scholarship operates under strict eligibility guidelines, emphasizing that it cannot be combined with other funding covering the same costs.

The master's program itself focuses on equipping students with advanced training in AI, cybersecurity, and IoT technologies, thereby addressing a significant skills gap in these critical fields within the ICT sector.

The UPC-MERIT Scholarship for the master's degree in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet Connected Systems at UPC Manresa is an open call for applications. The scholarship aims to support students pursuing this master's degree, promoting equality and excellence in computer science. Gender equality and socioeconomic status are considered in the evaluation process. The scholarship is funded by the European Union within the MERIT project, Grant Agreement No. 101083531. The total budget for this call is 104000 €, and funding is available until 30/09/2026. Approximately 40 scholarships will be awarded.

The call offers five different modalities of support:

1. Reimbursement of tuition fees: This covers the first enrollment tuition costs for a master's full semester (30 ECTS) during a maximum of three consecutive semesters that must be finished before 30/06/2026, administrative and support fees, and the cost of issuance of the official title (if paid before 31/07/2026). Each beneficiary can receive a maximum of 3500 €.

2. Contribution to living and transportation expenses: This covers a monthly allowance of 200 € for a maximum of 12 months between the resolution of the concession and 30/06/2026. Each beneficiary can receive a maximum of 2400 €. For this modality, applicants must have monthly rental expenses of at least 300 € or live at a distance of UPC Manresa of at least 40 km.

3. Contribution to purchase of hardware, software, or study materials: This covers a maximum of 1500 € for the purchase of hardware, software, or study materials necessary to follow the MERIT master program. Purchases must be made while the student is enrolled in the program and before 30/06/2026.

4. Contribution to expenses for scientific achievements: This supports expenses for scientific achievements related to the MERIT master program incurred while the student is enrolled in the program and before 30/06/2026. It covers a maximum of 1000 € for costs related to full open access publication of scientific results in Q1 and Q2 journals, a maximum of 500 € for costs related to full open access publication of scientific results in Q3 and Q4 journals, a maximum of 100 € for costs related to poster preparation for presentation of results at a scientific conference, and a maximum of 5000 € for costs due to setting up a start-up company related to the master thesis.

5. Contribution to expenses for mobility stays: This supports expenses for in-person mobility stays not covered by the Erasmus+ Program related to the MERIT master program. They must be incurred while the student is enrolled in the program and before 30/06/2026. It covers a maximum of 1500 € for costs such as transportation, accommodation, and living expenses related to attendance at a scientific conference, international event, study collaboration visit to another institution, research stay at another institution for the master thesis, or attendance at courses taught at another university within the framework of the master program.

Applicants can apply for all five modalities. However, priority will be given to students who haven’t received support under modality 2.1 when assessing applications for modalities 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5. Supporting documentation for the incurred costs will be required.

Requirements for applicants:

Candidates must have been admitted to the MERIT master at UPC Manresa or applied to be admitted for the 2025/2026 academic year. Applicants must apply concurrently to the master's program or be already enrolled in the program.
Applicants must be full-time degree-seeking students in the master's degree program (30 ECTS per semester).
Applicants must be EU citizens or citizens of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Ukraine.
For modality 2.2, applicants must have monthly rental expenses of at least 300 € or live at a distance of UPC Manresa of at least 40 km.
For modalities 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5, the expenses have to be related to the MERIT master program.

Applications can be submitted from the day after the publication of this call until the maximum budget is reached or until 01/06/2026. Applications must be submitted through the UPC Electronic Office using the UPC-MERIT scholarships form.

The following documentation must be attached to the application form:

Cover letter: A presentation of the candidate detailing their academic merits and a description of their situation (personal, social, economic, work, academic performance, etc.) that may be relevant to obtaining the scholarship.
Documentary evidence of the situations described in the cover letter.
Candidates who have won a competition in a MERIThON event at UPC Manresa should indicate it in the cover letter.
For modality 2.2, documentary evidence of meeting the rental or distance requirements established in point 3.4.
For modality 2.3, a letter explaining what hardware, software, or study materials the applicant needs to purchase, the reason why this is required to correctly follow the master's degree, and the estimated budget.
For modality 2.4, proof of the scientific achievement (publication, poster, or start-up company documentation), a letter explaining the relationship with the master program, and a budget.
For modality 2.5, information about the mobility stay, a letter explaining the purpose and relationship with the master program, and a budget.

The selection committee will evaluate applications based on the academic merit of the candidate and gender and socioeconomic disparities in engineering and computer science. For modalities 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5, the relationship of the expenses with the MERIT master program will be checked. Excellence demonstrated by winning a competition in a MERIThON event at UPC Manresa will also be considered. A formula of 8 points based on academic merit and 2 points for gender and socioeconomic situation (totaling 10 points) will be assigned to each candidate. Both the master's program application documents and the additional documentation provided for this scholarship application will be taken into account. Applications that fulfill the eligibility criteria but are not awarded due to budget limitations will be included in a reserve list.

Applications for modalities 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 will be assessed once per semester (tentatively 2 months after the publication of this call, July 2025, and February 2026). There will be an additional final assessment in June 2026 for modalities 2.3 and 2.4 only. Resolutions will be announced electronically, and information about awarded scholarships will be published on the UPC-MERIT Scholarship website.

The selection committee consists of Ilker Demirkol (Coordinator of MERIT project), Xavier Moncunill, and Cristian Rodríguez Rivero.

Obligations for recipients:

Sign an agreement to accept the scholarship.
Provide a certificate of ownership of the bank account where the support should be disbursed.
Write a report on their experience and learning outcomes every semester.
Validate a minimum of 21 ECTS per semester.
Provide supporting documentation for the eligible expenses actually incurred.
For modality 2.5, contract travel insurance that covers at least health care at the destination country, accident insurance, and repatriation in case of death, and provide proof of attendance to the event or certification of the stay by the host institution.

This scholarship is incompatible with any other scholarship that covers the costs of the same expenses.

Funds will be disbursed directly to the scholarship recipients on a semester-by-semester basis upon verification that all eligibility conditions have been met. Financial support for all modalities will be provided after the completion of each semester based on the eligible expenses actually incurred by the recipient during that semester.

For modality 2.1, scholarships will cover the tuition fees of any semesters coursed before June 30th 2026. The exact amount will be defined by the applicable regulations established by the Government (Decret de Preus Públics) for the academic year.

For modality 2.2, scholarships will cover the allocated monthly amount corresponding to the number of months in which the student is enrolled in the program between the awarding of the scholarship and June 30th 2026.

For modalities 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5, scholarships will cover the actual incurred expenses up to the established maximum.

In case of non-continuation by the recipient, no further support will be given. Costs will be eligible if declared eligible in the agreement and if they fulfill the general eligibility conditions established for the EU Funding Programmes 2021-2027.

The Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Manresa of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya will process personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

This call is launched solely by Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya [UPC], and the financial support will be provided directly by UPC under its own responsibility.

The Master’s degree in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet-Connected Systems aims to provide advanced and specialised scientific and technological training in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with an emphasis on their application in internet-connected systems, including computer systems of multiple degrees of complexity in general and Internet of Things systems in particular. It addresses the current shortage of professionals who have this kind of training, which is highly valued in industry and research in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The master's program is mainly practical and focused on both application and theoretical foundation, offering a broader training in AI, cybersecurity, and Internet of Things.

In summary, this opportunity is a scholarship program offered by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) to support students enrolled in or applying to the Master of Science in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet Connected Systems (MERIT Master) at UPC Manresa. The scholarship provides financial assistance through five different modalities, covering tuition fees, living and transportation expenses, hardware and software costs, scientific achievements, and mobility stays. The goal is to promote excellence and equality in computer science education. Eligible candidates must be EU citizens (or citizens of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Ukraine) who are full-time students in the MERIT master's program. The application process involves submitting a cover letter, supporting documents, and a detailed budget for the requested funding. The selection committee will evaluate applicants based on academic merit, gender, socioeconomic background, and the relevance of their expenses to the MERIT master program. The scholarship is funded by the EU's MERIT project and aims to address the shortage of professionals in AI, cybersecurity, and IoT.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is students who have been admitted to or have applied to be admitted to the MERIT master's program at UPC Manresa for the 2025/2026 academic year. They must be full-time degree-seeking students.

Funding Type: The funding type is a scholarship/grant. It offers five different modalities of support: reimbursement of tuition fees, contribution to living and transportation expenses, contribution to the purchase of hardware, software, or study materials, contribution to expenses for scientific achievements, and contribution to expenses for mobility stays.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for a single applicant.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to EU citizens and citizens of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Ukraine.

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT, specifically focusing on Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and Internet of Things (IoT). The master's program is in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet Connected Systems.

Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Ukraine.

Project Stage: The project stage is for students already admitted or applying to a master's program, so it supports education and potentially early-stage research or startup activities related to the master's thesis.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 104,000 €. Individual scholarships vary depending on the modality:
Reimbursement of tuition fees: maximum of 3,500 € per beneficiary.
Contribution to living and transportation expenses: maximum of 2,400 € per beneficiary (200 € per month for a maximum of 12 months).
Contribution to purchase of hardware, software, or study materials: maximum of 1,500 € per beneficiary.
Contribution to expenses for scientific achievements: variable, with a maximum of 1,000 € for Q1/Q2 journal publications, 500 € for Q3/Q4 journal publications, 100 € for poster preparation, and 5,000 € for setting up a start-up company.
Contribution to expenses for mobility stays: maximum of 1,500 € per beneficiary.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money to cover tuition fees, living expenses, hardware/software/study materials, scientific achievements, and mobility stays.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, with assessments occurring once per semester and a final assessment for certain modalities.

Success Rates: The success rate is not explicitly stated, but the document mentions that the indicative total number of scholarships to be awarded is around 40, and applications that meet the eligibility criteria but are not awarded due to budget limitations will be included in a reserve list. This suggests the success rate is dependent on the number of eligible applications received and the available budget.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly required, but the scholarship only covers a portion of the expenses, implying that students may need to cover the remaining costs themselves.

The UPC-MERIT Scholarship is an opportunity for students admitted to or applying for the Master of Science in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet Connected Systems at UPC Manresa. Funded by the EU under the MERIT project, the scholarship aims to promote equality and excellence in computer science by providing financial support to students. The scholarship offers five different support modalities: tuition fee reimbursement (up to 3,500 €), contributions to living and transportation costs (200 €/month for up to 12 months), purchase of hardware/software/study materials (up to 1,500 €), scientific achievements like publications and start-up costs (varying amounts, up to 5,000 € for start-ups), and mobility stays (up to 1,500 €). Eligible applicants must be EU citizens or citizens of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Ukraine, and must be full-time students in the MERIT master's program. Applications are submitted through the UPC Electronic Office and are evaluated based on academic merit, gender, and socioeconomic factors. The call opened on April 9, 2025, and applications are accepted until June 1, 2026, or until the budget of 104,000 € is exhausted. The scholarships are assessed each semester, and funds are disbursed directly to recipients upon verification of eligibility and incurred expenses. This scholarship is incompatible with other scholarships covering the same expenses. The master's program focuses on providing advanced training in AI, cybersecurity, and IoT, addressing the shortage of professionals in these fields.