SPECTRO Recruitment cycle Cohort 2025

Details

Status: Closed
Publication date: 8 October 2025
Opening date: 19 August 2025
Deadline model: Single-stage
Deadline date: 20 October 2025, 17:00 (CEST)

Funding programme: Digital Europe Programme (2021/2027)

Industrial Ecosystem

Digital

Level of funding

EU level

Description

Overview

Objectives

SPecialised Education programmes in CybersecuriTy and Robotics (SPECTRO) delivers two double-degree master’s programmes (ISCED Level 7, 120 ECTS) in two key digital technology areas for the future of Europe:

Cybersecurity: this master's programme is designed to give students a general overview of the role that cybersecurity plays in creating a safe and inclusive digital society. It also equips them with practical skills in ethical hacking, blockchain technologies, and quantum cryptography.
Robotics: the master's programme is designed to approach autonomous systems from both a computer science and an electronic engineering perspective. It covers everything from the basics of autonomous systems to such specific skills as: Internet of Things (IoT), Machine learning, Artificial intelligence, and Robotics.

The two specialised master’s programmes, also include a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, are designed and delivered by a consortium consisting of 12 higher education institutions from 7 different countries, 2 innovative SMEs, 1 leading research centre in Information Systems and EIT Digital, a pan-European organisation with in-depth knowledge and experience in the digital skills domain.

Activities/actions supported

The students awarded a scholarship will be financially supported during their two years of studies in one of the double-degree in Masters’ programmes offered by SPECTRO. The scholarships available are full tuition fee waivers. Scholarships will be allocated on a rolling basis, until all financial support schemes are exhausted for the current recruitment cycle. With this call SPECTRO will make available 3 scholarships to be distributed among the two Master’s programmes.

Anticipated outcomes

SPECTRO provides eligible students the financial support to take part to the education programmes and offers scholarship programmes to promote diversity in terms of gender, age, social and economic background. SPECTRO’s scholarships allow the greatest number to have access to high-quality education in digital areas and increase diversity among students and future digital experts.

Institution providing the funding

European Commission

Size of funding

EUR 35,000

Conditions

Overview of eligibility criteria

SPECTRO scholarships are available to nationals of one of the eligible countries:

EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
Listed EEA countries and countries associated to 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.

Only students enrolled and accepted in one of SPECTRO Masters’ programme are eligible to financial support. When receiving their letter of acceptance and study offer, students will be notified of their scholarship allocation.

Overview of award criteria

The scholarships will award applicants based on merit. To quantify merit, a merit score (on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the maximum) will be given to each applicant accepted to one of the master’s programmes. Three elements will be considered in assigning a merit score: previous academic and professional experience of an applicant; curriculum vitae; and letter of motivation, which also includes the motivation for an applicant to receive financial support. The SPECTRO scholarship programme will thrive to promote diversity and inclusion through its scholarship opportunities - priority will be given to female applicants from any EU country or EU-associated country, and to applicants from RIS countries - included in the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS).