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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core Objective: To increase the accessibility of master's studies focused on advanced digital skills (specifically AI) for European citizens, promoting growth, equality, and diversity in computer science.
Target Recipient: Individual students.
Size: N/A (for individuals).
Designation: SECTOR-SPECIFIC
Geographic scope: European Union citizens studying at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) in Lithuania.
Key filtering criteria: EU citizenship, enrollment in specific VILNIUS TECH Master's programs (Engineering of Artificial Intelligence or Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions).
Grant frequency and program context: This is a competitive call for targeted scholarships under the MERIT project, which is co-funded by the European Union. It appears to be an annual or recurring opportunity.

Financial Structure

Total funding available for targeted scholarships at VILNIUS TECH: 66500.0 euros.
Scholarship amount: 350 euros per month.
Maximum scholarship amount per student over the entire period: 10820.0 euros.
Currency: EUR.
Eligible costs (solely for study purposes):
- Reimbursement of tuition fees.
- Purchase of hardware or software necessary for study.
- Living and travel costs essential for study availability.
- Acquisition of additional training or information sources, improvement of necessary competencies.
- Other study-related expenses.
Payment schedule: Paid monthly from scholarship award until graduation or July 1, 2026 (whichever comes first).
- For the first year of study: paid in October-June.
- For the second year of study: paid in September-June.
Double funding policy: Students can receive other scholarships, but double funding for the same purposes is not allowed. If other scholarships are received, a written explanation justifying the absence of double funding is required. MERIT scholarship can be rejected or reduced if double funding occurs.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Type

Must be an EU citizen.
Must be an individual student.

Study Program & Institution

Must be studying at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH).
Must be enrolled in one of the following Master's degree programs:
- Engineering of Artificial Intelligence (state code 6211BX023)
- Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions (state code 6211BX024)
Must be included in the lists of full-time study students for these programs.

Documentation

Provide a copy of identity document indicating nationality and date of birth.
Provide a document showing declaration of residence.

Exclusion Criteria

Not specified explicitly for initial application, but scholarship termination conditions exist (e.g., discontinuing studies, academic leave, failing courses, ethical violations).
Cannot receive double funding for the same purpose (e.g., another scholarship covering the same expenses).

Application Process

Application Submission

Application deadline: 2025-10-14T06:00:00+0000.
Applications accepted by VILNIUS TECH Department of Information Technologies.
Required documents:
- Application form (briefly indicating motivation, plans for scholarship use, and how it contributes to program aim and digital skills upskilling) (mandatory).
- Copy of identity document showing date of birth and nationality (mandatory).
- Document showing declaration of residence (mandatory).
- Copies of documents/links to data sources illustrating applicant's achievements (optional).

Selection Process

Within 5 working days after application deadline, study program committees assess applications and rank applicants based on criteria.
Within 5 working days of committee meetings, all applicants are informed of decisions.
Final list of recipients published and payment begins by November 15.

Post-Award Requirements

Within 10 working days of receiving scholarship notification, students must:
- Sign a scholarship award agreement, including consent for personal data processing (management and marketing).
- Provide necessary bank details for transfer of scholarship.

Scholarship Termination Conditions (leading to termination of payment)

Discontinues studies.
Takes academic leave.
Transfers to another study program.
Does not pass at least one exam or fails a course during the scheduled semester.
Violates rules of ethics and academic honesty.
Student can voluntarily terminate by submitting a written request.

Appeal Process

Appeals accepted by the study program committee within 3 working days from notification of assessment results.
Appeal must be in writing, indicating specific instances of improper scoring or factual errors.
Committee must evaluate appeal within 5 working days and inform applicant of results.
If inaccuracies are confirmed, scores and scholarship order are updated.

Scholarship Redistribution

If a scholarship is refused or terminated, the next priority applicant from the reserve list is contacted.
Redistribution evaluation occurs within one month of termination, but not earlier than 10 working days after termination.
Students of the relevant program are informed of vacant scholarships within 5 working days of termination.
Students can submit documents for vacant scholarships within 5 working days of notice.
For redistribution, the weighted average of master's study subjects is assessed instead of entrance score (for criterion 5.3.5).

Evaluation Criteria

Merit-Based Ranking Criteria

Geographic Equality (Weight: 2.5):
- Applicants residing in regions (not one of the three largest cities in their country of residence) are given a score based on the ratio of metropolitan applicants to total applicants.
- Applicants residing in one of the three largest cities are given a score based on the ratio of regional applicants to total applicants.
Gender Equality (Weight: 2):
- Male applicants receive a score based on the ratio of women to total students in the programs.
- Female applicants receive a score based on the ratio of men to total students in the programs.
Age Diversity (Weight: 1):
- Applicants under 25 years receive a score based on the ratio of students aged 25 and older to total students.
- Applicants 25 years and older receive a score based on the ratio of students under 25 years to total students.
Academic Excellence / Gifted Students (Weight: 5):
- Score is awarded based on the entrance score of the applicant relative to the lowest and highest entrance scores of all students in the programs.
Contribution to Society & Personal Development in Digital Skills (Weight: 3):
- Evaluates active participation in digital skills-related events or their application within the last 3 years. Only the maximum score from any single activity is used, not cumulative sum.
- Up to 1 point: Participation and achievement at the MERIThON event.
- Up to 0.75 points: Participation and achievement in another hackathon-type event related to advanced digital abilities.
- Up to 0.75 points: Establishment of a startup or company providing services/products requiring advanced digital skills.
- Up to 0.5 points: Participation in MERIT or other courses related to advanced digital competencies.
- Up to 0.5 points: Participation in volunteering related to advanced digital skills.
Economic Barrier Elimination (Weight: 2):
- Jury awards a score (0 to 1) based on the expediency and reasonableness of the financial support need, as justified in the motivation statement.

Overall Scoring

Scores for each criterion are multiplied by their weight and summed.
Maximum possible score: 15 points.
Applicants are ranked from highest to lowest score within each program.
Up to 5 highest-ranked applicants per program are awarded the scholarship, provided they meet all requirements.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Ethical and Conduct Standards

Scholarship terminates if the student violates rules of ethics and academic honesty.

Data Protection and Privacy

Applicants must consent to the processing of their personal data for scholarship management and marketing purposes.

Project Alignment & Impact

Scholarship aims to increase accessibility to master's studies developing advanced digital skills and promote growth of higher-level skills, equality, and diversity in computer science. Applicant's motivation statement should articulate how the scholarship will contribute to this aim.

Specific Use of Funds

Scholarship funds must be used solely for study purposes, including tuition, hardware/software, living/travel for study, additional training, and other study-related expenses.

Other Considerations

This is a highly targeted scholarship, specific to Master's students in particular AI programs at VILNIUS TECH.
The selection process incorporates specific criteria to promote diversity and inclusion (regional balance, gender equality, age diversity), indicating a strong social impact objective beyond academic merit.
The scholarship is part of the broader MERIT project, which is co-funded by the European Union.
The 'establishment of a start-up or company that provides services of competences requiring advanced digital skills or sells a product based on them' is a scoring factor, highlighting a preference for entrepreneurial drive and real-world application of digital skills.

Grant Details