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Accessibility and Motivations to Study Master Level Advanced Digital Skills

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, advanced skills in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity have become fundamental for innovation and security. As Europe seeks to lead in digital transformation, there’s an increasing demand for highly skilled professionals. Meanwhile Eurostat data indicates the lack of ICT specialists and struggle to find ones.

The lack of ICT specialists is affected by multiple factors. Some of them are low availability of master level studies and persons desire to step up and choose to study more technical ICT studies. This has even more important dimension for master level studies, where labour participants prefer to remain in the current position rather than go for more advanced digital skill gaining.

There scholarships might play an important role in equipping students with possibilities to join master studies and dedicate time to master advanced technical and theoretical expertise.

Why Scholarships Matter for Advanced Digital Skills

Pursuing a master’s degree often means delving into specialized areas that require more than just a foundational understanding of technology. Advanced studies in AI, IoT, and cybersecurity demand rigorous coursework, hands-on experience, and the latest research tools and resources. However, the cost of a master’s programme, coupled with the need for expensive technological equipment and materials, can be prohibitive. Scholarships address these challenges by:

1. Breaking down financial barriers. Tuition fees and other costs of postgraduate studies can make advanced education unattainable for many talented students. Scholarships reduce these financial burdens, opening doors to students from diverse backgrounds and fostering a more inclusive pool of digital experts.
2. Encouraging talent development in high-demand fields. Europe’s digital economy relies on specialists who can drive forward AI, IoT, and cybersecurity initiatives. Scholarships in these areas not only attract skilled candidates but also encourage them to pursue paths that they might not otherwise consider due to financial limitations.
3. Supporting research and innovation. Scholarships fund students who contribute to groundbreaking research, bringing fresh insights and solutions to pressing digital challenges. By supporting students in their academic pursuits, scholarships fuel a cycle of innovation and knowledge-sharing essential for digital progress.

How MERIT Project Is Making a Difference

The MERIT project is specifically designed to meet Europe’s need for digital experts. MERIT offers 4 new and 1 updated master’s study programmes in 4 different EU countries. These study programmes and additional training, upskilling opportunities coming close to it, contribute to the possibilities to increase the number of ICT specialists with advanced digital skills. At the same time MERIT project admits the need of financial support to assure the study availability, students’ diversity, support of research and innovations. Therefore, MERIT project provides scholarships to students who wish to pursue advanced studies in fields that are critical to Europe’s digital future, including AI, IoT, and cybersecurity.

The first round of scholarships awarded by the MERIT project has already been assigned. These scholarships are empowering students to become specialists in AI, IoT, and cybersecurity, areas where Europe needs growth and innovation.

This first cohort of MERIT scholarships were distributed within the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC) students. UPC awarded seven full-tuition scholarships, ensuring that every eligible applicant received financial support during the entire duration of their studies. Out of a total of 14 applicants, all seven individuals who met the criteria were granted scholarships, covering the complete cost of their tuition. The scholarships aim to help talented individuals pursue their academic and professional goals without the burden of financial constraints.  By covering full tuition, these awards will empower recipients to focus on their studies and prepare for impactful careers in the digital transformation. In the coming academic year 2025-2026, a second call to scholarships will be open, offering full-tuition scholarships for the second cohort of Master’s students. As the Master’s degree progresses, further mobility scholarships will be announced, helping establish exchanges between students from different partner universities.

The MERIT scholarships at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) were assigned during October 2024. VILNIUS TECH divided the scholarships into several different types, based on their purpose. The Targeted Scholarships are aimed to increase the accessibility of master’s studies developing advanced digital skills for European citizens and promote the growth of higher-level skills, equality and diversity in computer science. While Excellence Scholarships and Mobility Grant Awards aim to promote the practical application, publicity and research of advanced digital skills among European citizens, thereby fostering innovation and the activity and mobility of those who can create it.

Within this Targeted Scholarship call, 14 applications were received before 15 October, 2024. All the applications were evaluated to ensure equal conditions for achieving advanced digital skills for region and big city citizens, promote gender equality in computer science, develop advanced digital skills among people of different age, promote gifted students or students contributing to society and personal development in the area of advanced digital skills, eliminate economic barriers to study in the master studies for the EU citizens. From all the applications, 10 students got scholarships of 350 Eur/month for their study period. In contrast to the situation where ICT sector employees currently are, in the majority, men, the Target Scholarships were awarded to 8 women and 2 men.

Additionally, 4 applications for the Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award were received. All 4 applications were approved. The students received 400 Euros for their additional efforts to promote the advanced digital skills and work as a role model of the new MERIT study programmes at VILNIUS TECH.

A set of scholarships are planned in other MERIT partner institutions too, hoping to provide wider possibilities for studies in different EU countries and study programmes.

Scholarships as Catalysts for a Digital Future

The ultimate goal of programmes like MERIT and their scholarship offerings is to ensure Europe remains competitive on the global stage. Advanced digital skills are not just beneficial for individual students but are essential for the economic health, security, and technological advancement of the EU as a whole.

By enabling students to gain advanced digital skills through affordable master’s studies, MERIT is creating a new generation of specialists ready to lead Europe into a tech-driven future. Scholarships are not merely financial assistance; they are catalysts for a larger vision of an innovative, secure, and competitive European Union that thrives in the digital era.

For students considering a career in AI, IoT, cybersecurity, or digital transformation, MERIT project offers an opportunity to contribute to Europe’s digital evolution—without the financial burden that so often comes with advanced studies. In short, MERIT project master’s study programmes with its leading scholarships are paving the way for a brighter, digitally skilled Europe, one student at a time.