As artificial intelligence advances into critical sectors—from public health to defense—questions about ethics, regulation, and accountability have become central. In response, Europe has emerged as a global leader in shaping AI governance frameworks, responsible innovation, and the regulation of algorithmic systems. This shift has spurred a wave of interdisciplinary scholarship and fellowship opportunities for STEM graduates interested in AI ethics, digital rights, and tech policy.

1. European Master’s in Law, Technology and Society (EMILDAI)

Program Focus: AI ethics, data governance, digital sovereignty, algorithmic bias, and tech law
Type: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree
Participating Institutions:

• Dublin City University (Ireland)
• Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
• University of Bologna (Italy)
• University of Tartu (Estonia)

Scholarship Coverage:

• Full tuition waiver
• Monthly living stipend (€1,400)
• Travel allowance and insurance
• Funded by Erasmus+

Who Should Apply:

• STEM graduates with interests in AI governance, digital policy, or societal impacts of emerging technologies
• Background in computer science, data science, or engineering is welcomed

Deadline: January–March 2025
Unique Features: Includes research labs on the EU AI Act, GDPR enforcement, and digital ethics advisory boards

2. Mozilla Fellowship for Tech + Society (Europe Stream)

Focus: AI ethics, platform accountability, data justice, public interest technology
Host Locations: Partnered organizations and research institutes across Europe (e.g., AlgorithmWatch, Tactical Tech, and European Digital Rights – EDRi)

Funding:

• $60,000–$90,000 annual stipend (converted into local currency)
• Health care and project support funds
• Placement for 10–12 months

Eligibility:

• Technologists with policy, design, or computer science backgrounds
• Must demonstrate commitment to responsible technology and open source values

Applications Open: Fall 2024

Mozilla Fellows often work closely with European regulators and civil society groups on high-impact AI ethics projects, from algorithmic transparency to facial recognition bans.

3. Centre for the Governance of AI (GovAI) – Research Scholarships

Institution: University of Oxford (UK), with collaborative ties to European Union AI observatories and Brussels-based policy networks
Focus Areas:

• AI alignment and safety
• Strategic governance of powerful AI
• Ethics of frontier model deployment

Funding:

• Full-time research stipend (£25,000–£35,000/year)
• Access to Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute and AI policy circles

Ideal For:

• Computer science or engineering graduates pursuing policy-relevant research
• Early-stage researchers or prospective PhD students

Deadline: Rolling, with primary intake in spring 2025

4. AI4Gov – European Master’s in AI for Public Services

Focus: Ethical and responsible AI deployment in government, smart public infrastructure, and algorithmic decision-making
Type: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree
Partner Universities:

• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain)
• Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany)
• University of the Aegean (Greece)
• Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)

Scholarship Benefits:

• Tuition-free for scholarship holders
• Monthly allowance (€1,400)
• Travel costs covered

Key Topics:

• Public sector AI ethics
• Fairness in automated decision-making
• Digital public policy frameworks

This program is ideal for students with technical training who want to work at the interface of AI deployment and government accountability.

5. Ethics of AI PhD Fellowship – TU Delft & The Hague Program on International Cyber Security

Country: Netherlands
Program: PhD in Responsible AI or Security and Technology Policy
Research Themes:

• AI in warfare and diplomacy
• Global norms for algorithmic control
• Explainable AI and civic trust

Funding:

• Four-year contract
• Monthly salary (~€2,770–€3,539)
• Travel budget for policy conferences

Eligibility:

• Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, security studies, or philosophy of technology
• Prior research experience preferred

This is one of the few doctoral tracks embedded in both an academic and policy-facing setting, allowing PhD candidates to shape EU and NATO-level discussions on AI risks.

6. European Forum Alpbach – Technology and Society Scholarship Programme

Event-Based Fellowship
Location: Austria
Timing: August 2025
Focus: Digital democracy, ethical tech design, AI for social inclusion
Support Includes:

• Full participation in the Alpbach Forum
• Accommodation and board covered
• Travel stipends (for select countries)

While short-term, this highly selective fellowship is a gateway into pan-European policy networks and think tanks shaping AI regulation.

7. PhD Positions in Digital Ethics and AI Accountability – University of Twente

Country: Netherlands
Institute: Department of Philosophy of Technology, with links to EU AI Ethics Guidelines drafting bodies
Key Areas:

• Explainability and algorithmic accountability
• AI for social good
• Intersection of ethics, law, and software engineering

Funding:

• Full salary (starting ~€2,770/month)
• Four-year research contract

The University of Twente is a pioneer in “responsible tech” education and hosts multiple research centers on ethical AI development in real-world systems.

8. Ada Lovelace Institute Visiting Fellowships (UK/EU)

Focus: Rights-based technology design, algorithmic audits, ethical regulation of AI
Length: 3–6 months
Fellowship Includes:

• Stipend based on experience
• Workspace in London or hybrid placement
• Collaboration with regulators and legal scholars

Eligibility:

• Technologists, legal researchers, or social scientists working on AI ethics
• Must present a project proposal relevant to European tech governance

9. Research Internships at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Location: Ispra (Italy), Seville (Spain), or Brussels (Belgium)
Fields:

• AI regulation and standardization
• Risk-based approaches under the EU AI Act
• Ethical impact assessments

Stipend: €1,220/month + housing support
Duration: 3–5 months
Eligibility: Recent graduates in engineering, law, computer science, or ethics-related fields

Ideal for students seeking hands-on policy research within the heart of the European Commission’s tech regulation machinery.

10. CEU Budapest – PhD in Science and Technology Studies with AI & Society Focus

Institution: Central European University (Austria/Hungary hybrid model)
Topics:

• AI and political agency
• Surveillance technologies
• Ethics of predictive systems

Funding:

• Full tuition scholarship
• Monthly stipend (~€1,100–€1,300)
• Conference and research mobility funds

CEU’s cross-disciplinary approach attracts researchers focused on both technical rigor and critical theory in AI discourse.

Summary Table: Key Scholarships at a Glance