The master’s is delivered online by four European third level colleges: National College of Ireland, Linköping University in Sweden, NOVA IMS in Portugal and the University of Bologna in Italy.
Students will learn practical skills in areas including artificial intelligence (AI) for business, cybersecurity, data science, cloud computing, the internet of things, blockchain, generative AI and digital transformation.
The scheme covers all tuition, registration and exam fees.
Anyone in Ireland or across the EU can apply. Applicants must have a ‘Level 8’ degree or equivalent international qualification.
It is suitable for people who want to move into digital roles, professionals who want to upskill, and recent graduates who want to enter the job market with stronger digital experience. A technical background is not required, it said.
Applications can be made online through the Digital4Business website. Applicants must upload a CV, academic transcripts and a short personal statement explaining their interest in the course.
The four colleges review applications together, and if accepted, the student is officially enrolled by one of the partner institutions.
The programme is designed to fit around people’s lives and offers full-time, part-time and accelerated course options.
Students can also take more compact modules if they want to complete smaller parts of the programme without committing to the full master’s.
Ireland has a strong role in the partnership, with organisations including National College of Ireland, Skillnet Ireland, Digital Technology Skills Limited, Matrix Internet and Terawe involved.
The focus is to give learners the skills that employers currently need in modern digital roles, it said.
Digital4Business will help build advanced digital skills across Europe, according to junior digital and AI transformation minister Niamh Smyth.
“Digital4Business is an important EU-funded partnership to help build the advanced digital skills that businesses now require. Ireland plays a central role in this consortium, alongside leading universities and industry partners across the EU,” she said.
“The opening of fully funded applications for the January 2026 intake is a significant opportunity for learners to access world-class AI and digital education at a critical moment for our economy.”
Applications close on December 19 and the programme begins on January 19, 2026.