DEAI is a two-year, 120-ECTS Erasmus Mundus joint master in data engineering and artificial intelligence. The five-university consortium delivers the first year in Brussels and Barcelona, followed by a specialisation in Vienna, Padua or Lyon and a final-semester thesis.
Students study full time and in person in English. The published 2026–2028 application periods have closed, and the next cycle’s dates are not yet available.
Benefits & funding
- Full DEAI Scholarship: all participation costs and insurance, plus €1,400 per month for up to 24 months.
- Partial DEAI Scholarship: all participation costs, but no monthly allowance, travel funding or living-cost support.
- Self-funded admission: €4,500 per academic year for programme-country students or €9,000 per academic year for partner-country students; participation costs include insurance.
Eligibility
- Students from all countries may apply; no nationality or residency gate is stated.
- Applicants need a Bachelor’s degree equivalent to at least 180 ECTS from an accredited university. Final-year Bachelor’s students may apply conditionally, subject to later proof of the degree.
- Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR B2 or an accepted equivalent.
- Computer Science is preferred rather than mandatory; the programme also considers other backgrounds with suitable computing and mathematics preparation.
- Previous recipients of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship are not eligible for the full DEAI scholarship.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Register an account on the DEAI online application portal.
- 2Complete the application forms and upload the required materials, including a photo, cover letter, passport, CV, degree evidence, transcripts and the Bachelor self-evaluation file.
- 3Ask referees to upload their recommendation letters before the relevant deadline.
- 4Submit the application before the deadline and confirm receipt of the acknowledgement email.
- 5Await academic ranking and, for scholarship candidates, European Commission approval of the selected list.
Program timeline
Grant application period opened for the 2026–2028 cohort.
Oct 21, 2025
Grant application deadline at noon GMT.
Jan 13, 2026
Grant-route reference-letter deadline.
Jan 20, 2026
Self-funded application period opened.
Mar 1, 2026
Self-funded deadline for applicants from non-EU countries.
Apr 30, 2026
Self-funded deadline for applicants from EU countries.
Jun 30, 2026
EU-route reference-letter deadline.
Jul 2, 2026
Autumn 2026
The 2026–2028 programme begins.
Date not published
Next application cycle.