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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This scholarship aims to provide financial support to students pursuing the Master's degree in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity for Internet Connected Systems (MERIT Master) at UPC Manresa, fostering high-quality education, equality, and excellence in computer science. - Target recipient: Individual students admitted or applying to the MERIT Master's program. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC - Focused on education and research within Machine Learning and Cybersecurity, specifically for internet-connected systems. - Geographic scope: Students from EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Ukraine are eligible to apply. The Master's program is delivered at UPC Manresa, Spain. - Key filtering criteria: Must be a student (or applicant) of the specified Master's program, be a citizen of eligible countries, and demonstrate academic merit. - Grant frequency: This is an 'Open Call 2025' linked to the MERIT project, suggesting it's tied to the project's funding duration until 30/09/2026.

Financial Structure

Total maximum budget for this call is 104,000 €.
Funding is available until 30/09/2026, tied to the MERIT project end date.
Indicative total number of scholarships to be awarded is around 40.
Five different modalities of support are offered, each with a maximum cap:
- Modality 2.1 (Reimbursement of Tuition Fees): Maximum of 3,500 € per beneficiary. Covers first enrollment tuition for up to three consecutive semesters (30 ECTS each), administrative/support fees, and cost of official title issuance (if paid before 31/07/2026).
- Modality 2.2 (Contribution to Living and Transportation Expenses): Maximum of 2,400 € per beneficiary. Covers a monthly allowance of 200 € for a maximum of 12 months (between concession resolution and 30/06/2026).
- Modality 2.3 (Contribution to Hardware, Software, Study Materials): Maximum of 1,500 € per beneficiary. For purchases necessary to follow the master program, incurred while enrolled and before 30/06/2026.
- Modality 2.4 (Contribution to Scientific Achievements): Maximum of 5,000 € per beneficiary. Covers expenses related to:
  - Full open access publication in Q1/Q2 journals: up to 1,000 €.
  - Full open access publication in Q3/Q4 journals: up to 500 €.
  - Poster preparation for scientific conferences: up to 100 €.
  - Setting up a start-up company related to the master thesis: up to 5,000 €. Expenses must be incurred while enrolled and before 30/06/2026.
- Modality 2.5 (Contribution to Mobility Stays): Maximum of 1,500 € per beneficiary. For in-person mobility stays not covered by Erasmus+ program, incurred while enrolled and before 30/06/2026. Covers costs like transportation, accommodation, and living expenses for scientific conferences, international events, study collaborations, research stays, or courses at other universities related to the master program.
Priority for Modalities: When assessing applications for modalities 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5, priority will be given to students who have not received support under modality 2.1.
Payment Mechanism: Funds will be disbursed directly to scholarship recipients semester-by-semester. Financial support is provided after the completion of each semester based on eligible expenses actually incurred by the recipient during that semester.
Ineligibility/Incompatibility: This scholarship is incompatible with any other scholarship that covers the exact same expenses, to avoid double funding. Costs will only be eligible if declared in the agreement and fulfill general eligibility conditions for EU Funding Programmes 2021-2027.
Financial Guarantees: Recipients must provide a certificate of ownership of the bank account for disbursement.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Status

Must be admitted to the MERIT master at UPC Manresa OR have applied for admission for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Must be a full-time degree seeking student in the MERIT master's degree program (requiring validation of 30 ECTS per semester).

Citizenship

Must be an EU citizen or a citizen of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Ukraine.

Specific Modality Requirements

For Modality 2.2 (Contribution to Living and Transportation Expenses):
- Must have monthly rental expenses of at least 300 € OR live at a distance of at least 40 km from UPC Manresa.
For Modalities 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 (Materials, Scientific Achievements, Mobility):
- The expenses claimed must be directly related to the MERIT master program.

Application Process

Application Window

Applications can be submitted from the day after the call's publication until the maximum budget is reached, or in any case, until 01/06/2026.

Submission Method

Applications must be submitted through the UPC Electronic Office by filling out the UPC-MERIT scholarships form.

Required Documentation

Cover Letter: Must detail academic merits, and describe personal, social, economic, work, or academic performance situations relevant to obtaining the scholarship. Should also indicate if the candidate has won a MERIThON event competition at UPC Manresa.
Documentary Evidence: Provide proof for any situations described in the cover letter.
Modality-Specific Documents:
- For Modality 2.2 (Living/Transport): Documentary evidence meeting the rental or distance requirements (e.g., rental contract, address proof).
- For Modality 2.3 (Materials): A letter explaining the specific hardware, software, or study materials needed, why they are required for the master's program, and an estimated budget.
- For Modality 2.4 (Scientific Achievements): Proof of the scientific achievement (e.g., publication, poster, start-up documentation), a letter explaining its relationship with the master's program, and a budget.
- For Modality 2.5 (Mobility Stays): Information about the mobility stay, a letter explaining its purpose and relationship with the master's program, and a budget.

Evaluation and Resolution Schedule

Applications for all 5 modalities will be assessed once per semester: tentatively in July 2025 and February 2026.
An additional final assessment for modalities 2.3 and 2.4 only will occur in June 2026.
Resolutions will be announced electronically to all candidates and published on the UPC-MERIT Scholarship website.

Post-Award Obligations

Sign an agreement to accept the scholarship.
Provide a certificate of bank account ownership for disbursement.
Write a report on experience and learning outcomes every semester.
Validate a minimum of 21 ECTS per semester.
Provide supporting documentation for all eligible expenses actually incurred.
For Modality 2.5 (Mobility): Contract travel insurance covering health care, accident insurance, and repatriation. Provide proof of attendance or certification from the host institution.
If a recipient discontinues the program, no further support will be given.

Evaluation Criteria

General Scoring Factors

Academic Merit: This is a primary factor, weighted heavily (8 points out of 10).
Gender and Socioeconomic Disparities: Considered to promote equality and excellence in computer science (2 points out of 10).

Specific Contribution Factors

Relationship of Expenses: For modalities 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5, the direct relevance and justification of the expenses to the MERIT master program will be checked.
Excellence through MERIThON: Demonstrated excellence by winning a competition in a MERIThON event at UPC Manresa will be positively considered in the assessment across all modalities.

Application Document Review

Information provided in both the master's program application documents and the scholarship application will be used for assessment.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Data Protection: Personal data will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 by the Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Manresa of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Financial Standards

Costs must fulfill the general eligibility conditions established for the EU Funding Programmes 2021-2027.

Ethical Standards

Promotes gender equality and socioeconomic equality in evaluation.

Special Disclaimer

This call and the financial support provided are not an EU action. The call is launched solely by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), which is fully responsible for its content, conditions, and selection of applicants. Publication on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is for information purposes only to increase visibility.

Risk Management (for mobility)

For Modality 2.5, recipients must contract travel insurance that covers at least health care at the destination country, accident insurance, and repatriation in case of death.

Grant Details