How to Apply

Admissions

Key Dates

Entry Requirements

Before Applying

Application Instructions

Selection Process

Applications for EMILDAI

Applications for partial funding opens on November 10th 2025.

This first round of applications for the 2026-2028 edition of EMILDAI will close on January 25th 2025.

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EMILDAI aims to attract talents from all over the world, with particular attention to aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion. One of the EMILDAI’s key missions is to enhance the level of internationalisation of its partner institutions.

The internationalisation of students is an essential element to foster excellence in teaching and learning. A more diverse learning experience will generate experts with an awareness of global issues and multicultural skills. The partner universities consider internationalisation within higher education as a methodology to prepare students to be competent to undertake complex international assignments, through intercultural understanding.

Funding Opportunities

For the 2026/2028 edition, the EMILDAI programme will select the best 30 students. For this intake, we will only offer partial scholarships (to be detailed). For more information please visit our pages on tuition fees and scholarship opportunities.

Key Dates

Admissions to the 2026-28 edition of the EMILDAI programme will be articulated in two rounds. In the first round of applications (November 10th 2025 – January 25th 2026) all students will be considered for a partial scholarship. Applicants who will be unsuccessful in securing a partial scholarship will be offered a self-funded place.

If places are still available on the programme, applications for self-funded will reopen between March 22nd and May 29th 2026 and will be assessed on a rolling basis. If you wish to secure a place on the programme, we advise you to apply within the first round of applications.

Round 1 – Partial scholarship and self-funded students

10 November 2025

Applications open for partial scholarships and self-funded students

January 25th 2026

Closing date

February 2026

Academic review

March 2026

Results are communicated to the applicants

Round 2 – Self-funded students (subject to availability of places)

March 22nd 2026

Applications reopen for self-funded students, subject to the availability of places

May 29th 2026

Closing date

April-June 2026

Academic review of the applications on a rolling basis

April-June 2026

Results are communicated to the applicants on a rolling basis

1 September 2026

– Launch of 2026-28 edition at DCU

To remain updated on the key dates and latest announcements related to the 2026-28 edition of the EMILDAI programme, please follow our social media or subscribe to our newsletter by sending an email with ‘Newsletter’ in the subject to info-emildai@dcu.ie.

Entry Requirements

To ensure the best candidates are selected for EMILDAI, the following entry requirements have been jointly set and agreed by the partners. All entry requirements should be met at the time of the application.

All EMILDAI students should possess 1) a relevant degree and 2) an appropriate language proficiency level in English and either French or Spanish (for Study Track A and B only). If you have doubt on any of the following please contact us at info-emildai@dcu.ie.

Computing stream students: Applicants must have a 2.2 Undergraduate Honours degree or equivalent qualification in Computer Science, Computing, Computer applications or a related discipline with at least three modules in computing (e.g. Engineering). Candidates with significant experience in the software development sector in addition to an Honours primary degree in some other discipline, may also be considered for entry in accordance with DCU’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.
Law stream students: Applicants must normally have achieved a 2.1 Undergraduate Honours degree or equivalent qualification in Law or other degree which includes law as a significant component (e.g. Economics, Political science and International relations). Candidates with significant experience in the legal and policy sector in addition to an Honours primary degree in some other discipline, may also be considered for entry in accordance with DCU’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy. In that case, students will have to satisfy the specific entry requirements established by the University of Pisa for students without a law degree (i.e. having passed at least 30 ECTS of law modules and 9 ECTS of economics modules).

For more information about what is meant by a 2.1 or 2.2 Undergraduate Honours degree please see our FAQ page.

All applicants must satisfy DCU of their competency in the English language. Applicants who are non-native speakers of English should demonstrate to possess at least a level C1 CEFR English language proficiency certificate (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) or proof of equivalent experience (e.g. a previous degree taught in English). In addition to an appropriate level of English proficiency, all applicants should satisfy one of the two following language requirements:

In addition to an appropriate level of English proficiency, applicants for Study Track A and B should satisfy one of the two following language requirements:

Study track A – Data Governance, offered to both Law and Computing Stream Students by Avignon Université: Applicants studying part of their programme at AU, who are non-native speakers of French, should demonstrate to possess at least a level C1 CEFR French language proficiency certificate or proof of equivalent experience (e.g. a previous degree taught in French).
Study track B – Cybersecurity, offered to both Law and Computing Stream Students by Universidad de León: Applicants studying part of their programme at ULE, who are non-native speakers of Spanish, should demonstrate to possess an appropriate level of Spanish language proficiency (e.g. a language proficiency certificate or a previous degree taught in Spanish).

Applicants interested in Study Tracks C and D only need to fulfil the English Language Proficiency requirement. However, applicants should still upload a document under the section ‘Evidence of language competence in French (data governance) or Spanish (cybersecurity)’ saying that they wish to be considered for an English-speaking Study Track (C or D). If this section is left empty, the application will be marked incomplete and therefore unsuccessful.

For more information about which proofs of language competence are accepted please read our FAQ page.

Students spending part of the second year at Università di Pisa will undertake their compulsory modules in English, and therefore do not need to satisfy any further language requirements. An elementary knowledge of Italian is advised for all daily activities in the city of Pisa. To this end, students will be offered intensive language courses before the start of the semester in Pisa.

Before Applying

Before applying, please scroll through the checklist below:

Take note of the application deadlines. The application portal will not let you submit your application after the deadline.

Make sure you satisfy the programme entry requirements. If you have doubts or queries, please contact us at info-emildai@dcu.ie.

Do you have any specific support needs? No problem, read the section on support needs and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!

If the copy of your diploma or academic transcript is not in English, please make sure to obtain a certified translation into English. It may take some time to get a certified translation, so please start this process sufficiently in advance.

Take some time to prepare and proofread your personal statement. Spelling errors don’t look nice and here the first impression might be decisive.

Prepare a clear CV where you highlight your skills and most significant experience. Don’t include everything though – try to be concise and focus on the most relevant aspects of your career to date.

You will be required to upload two reference letters – don’t wait until the last minute to write to your former teachers or employers!

Take note of the application deadlines. The application portal will not let you submit your application after the deadline.

Make sure you satisfy the programme entry requirements. If you have doubts or queries, please contact us at info-emildai@dcu.ie.

Do you have any specific support needs? No problem, read the section on support needs and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Take some time to prepare and proofread your personal statement. Spelling errors don’t look nice and here the first impression might be decisive.

You will be required to upload two reference letters – don’t wait until the last minute to write to your former teachers or employers!

Application Instructions

The joint application procedure consists of an online application through DCU’s online Student Application Portal. The application is the same for students applying for the EMILDAI scholarships and self-funded students.

The application is free. When starting your application, DCU will email you a single-use voucher to use on the application portal. To guide you through the application process please follow this quick step by step guide.

You will be required to provide the following information / documents:

Your personal details, including nationality, country of residence, gender and specific support needs

An electronic copy of all your diplomas and academic transcripts (if the degree is not in English, a certified English translation will be required)

Evidence of language competences (for more information please read here)

Your preference as regards which Stream (Law or Computing) and which Study Track (Data Governance or Cybersecurity) you are applying to

A 500 – 750 word personal statement including:

an explanation of why you wish to undertake the EMILDAI programme;
an analysis of what makes you suitable for the EMILDAI programme;
an illustration of the impact which you expect EMILDAI to have on your future careers

Your CV and details of relevant experience

Email addresses of two referees (referees will be contacted via email and asked to provide a reference letter).

Selection Process

Initial Review

DCU, as the Coordinating Institution, will perform an initial review of the applications to ensure satisfaction of the jointly agreed entry requirements and the inclusion of all required documents. The applications will then be cooperatively assessed by a Student Selection Committee composed by one academic representative per partner university.

Ranking

A table will be formed listing the applicants according to a score based on the following criteria: academic merit (70%); other relevant professional experiences (20%); personal statement (10%). If there is any doubt about the suitability of an applicant, the selection committee can arrange a remote interview.

Scholarship Students

The list will then be divided by Study Stream and Study Track following the ratio and caps annually established by the Partnership Management Board. Students qualifying for a scholarship will be identified in each Study Stream and Track. The number of scholarship students in each Study Stream and Track will reflect the ratio of the number of students allocated to each Study Stream and Track.

Diversity Check

To guarantee diversity of EMILDAI students, a nationality check will be performed to guarantee that no more than 10% of the selected students have the same nationality. Moreover, the partners are committed to actively ensuring gender balance within the study body and promoting the representation of minority groups. Where suitable candidates exist and following the list prepared by the selection committee, measures will be taken to promote a representation of the minority gender of at least 40% of the total number of students annually admitted.

Offers

Offers for students selected for scholarships will then be made, followed by offers without scholarship support. Full or partial tuition fee waivers might be offered to students without scholarship, subject to the availability of funding. DCU will communicate all decisions regarding admission and scholarship selection to the applicants on behalf of the partners.

Support Needs

EMILDAI prospective students may declare any support needs when they apply to the programme. On the application form, students will have the option of disclosing any circumstances for consideration by the selection committee that may affect their ability to participate in the programme. The selection committee and the relevant Disability and Learning Support staff from the partner universities will discuss these needs with the applicant by arranging a virtual call, and determining how they can be best accommodated.

Deposit

Following the announcement of scholarship and non-scholarship selection results, applicants with an offer of a place on the programme but who have not secured a scholarship will be invited to pay a deposit of €500 to secure a self-funded place. This includes students who have been offered a fee waiver.

Waiting List

Students who meet the agreed entry requirements but have not been successful in securing a place on the programme will be placed on a waiting list for each study track.

After the initial admission and scholarship decisions are made in April, applications for self-funded students may reopen and be assessed on a rolling basis until all places on the programme are filled.

Fairness

DCU is committed to fair, transparent and consistent admissions processes in line with DCU’s Admissions Principles. For more information on how an applicant can appeal an admission decision and how the University will assess the appeal, please read the DCU Admissions Appeals Policy.