IT:U is building one of Europe’s first fully interdisciplinary universities. The students who shape it deserve real support. Two scholarship programs, one for female tech talents and one for exceptional students relocating to Upper Austria, are available for the first year of study for students joining the MSc in Interdisciplinary Computing. Each scholarship program offers three awards of €10,000 each.
Female Tech Talents Scholarship
The future of technology cannot afford to leave half its builders behind.
€10,000 | 3 scholars
The technology sector continues to underrepresent women, and the barriers are often structural rather than individual. This scholarship is IT:U’s direct response to that. Not a symbolic gesture, but a concrete financial commitment to the women who are already doing the work and deserve the conditions to do it fully.
Three scholarships of €10,000 each are awarded to women in technology who demonstrate academic distinction and a clear commitment to equitable participation in tech.
What We’re Looking For
- Academic excellence: strong grades, ambitious projects, a demonstrable hunger to go further.
- Vision and voice: a personal statement that captures not just who you are, but what you will build.
- Thematic alignment: genuine engagement with interdisciplinary computing, whether in HCI, AI, XR, or beyond.
- Strategic fit: you see IT:U not only as a university, but also as a launchpad.
Eligibility
- Identifies as a woman
- Confirmed acceptance to the Interdisciplinary Computing master’s program*
- Confirmed Winter Semester 2026/27 intake*
*To be provided to the Scholarship Program Office by IT:U Student Administration after the scholarship application deadline. Applicants do not need to submit an acceptance letter or enrollment certificate as part of the scholarship application.
Come2IT:U Scholarship
Ambition doesn’t have a postcode for exceptional talents. If you’re bold enough to shape the future, IT:U is bold enough to fund it.
€10,000 | 3 scholars
This scholarship is for exceptional talent from anywhere in the world. It doesn’t matter where you come from. What matters is the quality of your thinking, the ambition of your goals, and the fit of your work with IT:U’s interdisciplinary vision.
What We’re Looking For
- Academic merit: strong academic foundations. We fund talent, not circumstance.
- Global ambition: you do not wait for the world to come to you. You go to where it is being built.
- Motivation to contribute: you are not just coming to study. You are coming to add to the Upper Austrian ecosystem.
- Thematic alignment: a clear fit with IT:U’s interdisciplinary computing vision.
Eligibility
- Confirmed acceptance to the Interdisciplinary Computing master’s program*
- Confirmed Winter Semester 2026/27 intake*
*To be provided to the Scholarship Program Office by IT:U Student Administration after the scholarship application deadline. Applicants do not need to submit an acceptance letter or enrollment certificate as part of the scholarship application.
What You Submit
Required for both:
- Scholarship application form
- Academic transcript (if your final, official transcript has not yet been issued at the time of application, please submit your most up-to-date transcript)
- Personal statement (max. 800 words). Statements exceeding 800 words will be truncated during the review process.
- One reference letter
Application Process
- Apply to the Interdisciplinary Computing master’s program: submit your study program application no later than June 22, 2026. Applications to the Interdisciplinary Computing master’s program submitted on or after June 23, 2026 will be considered for intake, but will not be eligible for the scholarship application.
- Wait for the scholarship call: the scholarship call will open on May 26, 2026. Previously accepted students with a planned intake of Winter Semester 2026/27 will be granted access to the scholarship application on that date. New applicants who apply to the study program by June 22, 2026 will be granted access to the scholarship application if/when they advance to the interview stage. If you advance to the interview stage, be sure to schedule your interview in advance of July 31, 2026. Interviews must be completed on or before July 31, 2026. Applicants who apply on or before June 22, 2026 but complete their interview after July 31, 2026 will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.
- Submit your application: complete the online scholarship form and upload all required documents within the application window.
- Eligibility screening: the Program Office will begin their review following the scholarship application deadline.
- Panel review: the Scholarship Selection Panel of at least three members (the Study Program Coordinator, a faculty representative, and a representative from the President’s Office) evaluates completely applications against four criteria: academic excellence, personal statement quality, thematic alignment, and strategic fit.
- Final approval: IT:U President gives final approval on all awards.
- Notification: Awardees will receive a formal award letter confirming the scholarship name, value, payment schedule, and continuation conditions. All scholarship applicants, successful and non-selected, will be notified in writing.
- Appeals: if you wish to appeal, you have 10 working days from notification. Valid grounds: procedural irregularity, material error of fact, or undisclosed conflict of interest. An independent Appeals Officer issues a determination within 15 working days.
- Payment begins: awards are activated in January 2027. The €10,000 is disbursed per the agreed payment schedule. For students applying for a residence permit, please note that the award notifications will be issued in September, so, even if you are selected for a scholarship, you should not plan to use these funds as proof of funds for your residence permit application. Please contact Student Support, , for any questions pertaining to your residence permit application.
Key Dates
| Dates | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 26, 2026 | Scholarship application window opens |
| June 22, 2026 | Study program deadline for applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship |
| July 31, 2026 | Scholarship application deadline |
| Early September 2026 | Results announced |
| January 2027 | Award activated |
FAQs
What scholarships does IT:U offer?
IT:U offers two scholarship programs: the Female Tech Talents Scholarship and the Come2IT:U / Come2Upper Austria Scholarship. Both award €10,000 per recipient. Approximately three scholarships are awarded per program per cycle, with flexibility up to ten combined awards where budget permits. Both programs are open to first-year students only, and for the current cycle, to students beginning the Winter Semester 2026 (October 2026 start).
What does €10,000 cover — is it a tuition waiver or a cash payment?
It is a direct financial award, not a tuition waiver. How you allocate it — towards living costs, travel, equipment, or other study-related expenses — is at your discretion. Payment is made according to the schedule set out in your award letter.
How do I apply — and how will I receive the scholarship form?
The scholarship call opens on 26 May 2026. Previously accepted students with a planned Winter Semester 2026/27 intake will receive access to the scholarship application on that date. New applicants who apply to a study program by 22 June 2026 will be granted access if and when they advance to the interview stage. The form is sent directly to eligible applicants by email — you do not need to download it. There is no dedicated scholarship tab on apply.it-u.at.
When is the scholarship application deadline?
For the Winter 2026 cycle, the scholarship call opens on 26 May 2026 and closes on 31 July 2026 (subject to confirmation). Check it-u.at/en/scholarships for confirmed dates.
Who is the Female Tech Talents Scholarship for?
Female-identifying students enrolled or accepted to an eligible programs at IT:U.
Who is the Come2IT:U Scholarship for?
A performance-based award open to any student enrolling at IT:U for the first time. There is no geographic or residency requirement; selection is based solely on academic record and program potential. Full eligibility criteria are confirmed in the scholarship call published each cycle. Contact with any eligibility questions
Do I need to be accepted to IT:U before I can apply for a scholarship?
No. Previously accepted students with a Winter Semester 2026/27 intake will automatically receive access. New applicants must apply to a study program by 22 June 2026 and advance to the interview stage to be eligible. Application to a study program does not guarantee access to the scholarship.
Are the scholarship requirements the same as the program application requirements?
No — they are entirely separate processes. Your program application is submitted via apply.it-u.at and assessed by the Admissions Committee. Your scholarship application is submitted using a separate form sent to you by email after you receive your admission offer. It requires additional materials — a personal statement and supporting documents — beyond what you submitted for admission.
When will I find out if I have been awarded a scholarship?
For the Winter 2026 cycle, award results are announced in September 2026 before enrollment decisions are finalized. Awards are activated in January 2027 following the start of the semester. All applicants — selected and non-selected — receive written notifications.
Can I appeal a scholarship decision?
Yes. IT:U operates a formal appeals procedure on the following grounds: procedural irregularity; material error of fact in the eligibility assessment; or undisclosed conflict of interest on the part of a panel member. Disagreement with the panel’s academic judgment alone is not valid grounds. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Program Office within 10 working days of receiving notification.