What the funding covers
- Full scholarships: tuition fees plus €1,400 a month for up to 24 months.
- Tuition fee waivers: tuition only. Self-funded students pay €4,500 a semester, €18,000 in total.
- A joint degree after study on the Coimbra, Kiel and Oviedo track or the Rome, Kiel and Oviedo track.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition (€4,500 a semester) | Covered by a full scholarship or waiver |
| Living costs | €1,400 a month for full scholarship holders |
| Postage and translations | You |
Who can apply
- No nationality restriction, though no more than two scholarship holders may share a nationality.
- A bachelor's degree in engineering of at least three years (180 ECTS). The programme's general information page asks for electrical engineering.
- English at B2: IELTS 6.0 (no part below 5.5), TOEFL iBT 79 or PTE Academic 55, taken within two years of registration.
- The automatic English waiver needs a degree taught entirely in English in a country on the UK's majority English-speaking list. Ghana and Nigeria are not on that list, so plan for a test.
Which nationalities can apply
Every nationality can apply.
Documents you will need
- Europass CV
- Motivation letter, 250 words maximum
- Signed reference letters
- Transcripts and degree certificate
- English test result
- Passport
How to apply
- Apply online. Applications opened on 15 October 2026.
- Upload a Europass CV, a motivation letter of no more than 250 words, signed reference letters, transcripts, your degree certificate (or a letter confirming your expected completion) and your passport. Documents not in English need a legalised or sworn translation.
- Then post hard copies, stamped before the deadline.
- Selection runs from 16 January to February 2027, and results with or without a scholarship come out in the second half of March.
Before you apply: things to know
- The programme's pages disagree on the deadline: the home page says 8 January 2027, the admission page 15 January. Apply by 8 January.
- English certificates are accepted until 30 April, but a scholarship is easier to win with a complete file.
- Scholarship holders must study full time and cannot hold another EU grant for the same course.
Common questions
When is the STEPS deadline for 2027?
The programme's home page says 8 January 2027, while its admission page says 15 January. Submitting by 8 January is safe.
Which universities run STEPS?
The University of Oviedo (Spain) leads, with Kiel University (Germany), Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) and the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (Portugal).
What degree do I need?
A bachelor's in engineering of at least 180 ECTS, ideally in electrical engineering.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next deadline (Jan 8, 2027). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Oct 16, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth: confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Oct 30, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Nov 13, 2026Write the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Nov 27, 2026Order transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Dec 11, 2026Second draft: get feedback from someone who reads critically
Dec 25, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Jan 1, 2027Submit, but never on the last day
Jan 8, 2027Deadline