Procedure and Deadlines

Application phases for Intake 8 (class 2023-2025):

  • Regular Application (E+ Scholarships + self-funded students) closed in December 2022.
  • Spring Window Application (self-funded students only, no E+ Scholarship available) is currently open, but only places as ‘reserve’ are currently available. We recommend only students who do not need a Visa to study in the EU to apply, as the process of getting the Visa might not be compatible with the programme’s start in late September.
New applications to Intake 8

Important information regarding Intake 8 applications

The DCLead Programme was selected by the EACEA for funding in 2015 and 2018. Thanks to this funding, DCLead was able to provide 111 students with a full scholarship, each valued at circa 36.000 euros for two years.
DCLead must apply for new funding in February 2023, and it will receive an answer regarding its application in July. If selected the programme will have funding for scholarships for four more intakes (2023-2026). While DCLead has a good chance to be selected again for funding, it also has no guarantees.

This situation has consequences on the 2022 selection process. These are:
1) Candidates can apply before the 6th of Dec. 2022. By the end of January, selected candidates will be contacted for interviews. Those candidates that will pass the interview will be asked to move to phase 2 of the application. This also requires seconding the original legalized degree. However, until July the programme will not be able to confirm that the scholarship is available, even to the candidates that have been selected.
2) Because of the late notification concerning the scholarship, DCLead has to prioritize applications from candidates that have real chances to obtain a valid visa for the Schengen area in time, and before the beginning of the programme, or candidates that do not require a Visum at all. The former are candidates residing in countries where there is an Austrian diplomatic representation (embassy). The latter are EU citizens. In case of similar qualifications, these two types of candidates will be prioritized.
3) DCLead cannot guarantee until July 2023 that a new intake of students will start in September 2023. In case of non-selection for funding by the EACEA, the programme board will decide whether the number of self-funding students represents a viable group to start a new intake for the year. In case of cancellation, all deposits and fees will be returned in full.

We regret the uncertainty caused by this situation. Unfortunately, we are only implementing in the best possible way a system designed by the EACEA, which also undertakes a very large and complex selection process in a relatively short time.

Also note that candidates applying for self-funding will be also considered for the DCLead Scholarship. This scholarship entails a reduction of the participation costs. DCLead Scholarships will be announced after the phase one. Only candidates applying as self-funding students will be eligible.

We suggest following our social media channels for regular updates about the programme:

Facebook Facebook Group | LinkedIn Twitter | Instagram 

Regular Application Procedures (September to December)

The application procedure is divided into two phases: Application (Phase 1) and Registration (Phase 2). All candidates wishing to participate in the programme must carry out the tasks described in Phase 1.

Only candidates shortlisted for participation, after receiving a confirmation of their selection by email, can carry out the tasks described in Phase 2.

Note that if the documents provided for phase 2 provide any information that is different from the information provided during phase 1, the application will be immediately cancelled.

Providing a proof of English proficiency is recommended for Phase 1, particularly if a candidate applies for an E+ Scholarship. A fulfilment of the rules for the proof of English proficiency is mandatory for Phase 2.

Click on the “+” sign to open and review the relevant procedure.

In the first phase, candidates fill out the online application form and attach, where requested, a single PDF file of less than 14MB containing the following documents in the order specified here:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV), based on the English template from the Europass website
  2. A scan of the original university diploma(s), AND certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German.
  3. A scan of the original (AND certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German) official transcript of study results from your university.
  4. Original English test results, certificates or diplomas (see below the section about English proficiency). Students that are not in possession of a proof of English proficiency can simply indicate their level of expertise in the curriculum using the guidelines provided in the Europass template. Nonetheless, if selected, the proof of English proficiency is STRICTLY required prior to registration (hence, within 4-6 weeks from the notification of the selection’s result). Nonetheless, please note that the submission of a valid proof of English proficiency at the moment of the application is favourably valued by the commission.
  5. A Motivation letter. In the letter, the candidate should explained how past experiences have prepared him/her for participation in the master in digital communication leadership, how this programme is likely to improve his or her own career perspectives, and why the candidate is interested in the topic of digital communication leadership. The motivation letter should be:
    • Typed using a word processing software before saved as a PDF file
    • 4,000-6,000 characters long, including spaces (equivalent to max 1500 words).
    • Types using a Times New Roman or Book Antiqua font size 12
    • Page size A4
    • Typed using a 1.5 space in-between lines
    • The title of the letter should be in BOLD and it should read Motivation Letter by (your name)
    • Pages should be numbered
    • Note that handwritten letters are NOT accepted. A letter shorter than the minimum requirement is accepted, yet it is likely to be a disadvantage for the candidate.
  6. Two (minimum) or three (maximum) Recommendation Letters in English. The letters do not follow a template. The only requirement is that the contact details of the person providing the reference must be clearly typed and must contain a business email address [not a private one] and a telephone number. Referees that prefer to provide the letters directly to the programme’s administration, can email their letters to [email protected]. The people writing the recommendation letters can be also marked as referees in the application form. Referees are people who have collaborated with the candidate, which are willing to answer questions about her/him. One of these references should be an academic who has been a teacher or tutor of the candidate; other referees, can be from the professional experiences of the candidate.Please note that the referees must be able to communicate in English or German.

Recommended for Phase 1 and Required for Phase 2.

Applicants must demonstrate their English proficiency. This can be done through the following tests and diplomas:

These are the only tests accepted as proofs of English proficiency. Any other type of diplomas is not considered as valid proof of English proficiency. The period between the proficiency test or diploma and the deadline for applications must not exceed two years.

For applicants who already completed a bachelor’s degree or another university degree that was entirely held in English, from an institution based in either Australia, the UK, Ireland, USA, New Zealand, South Africa or Canada, this counts as sufficient demonstration of their English proficiency. No test is necessary.

A bachelor or master’s degree entirely held in English from institutions based elsewhere than in Australia, the UK, Ireland, USA, New Zealand, South Africa or Canada are not considered as proof of English proficiency.

Study periods of different lengths not leading to a degree entirely held in English, in an institution based in Australia, the UK, Ireland, USA, New Zealand, South Africa or Canada, DO NOT count as sufficient demonstration of their English proficiency. A test result is required.

The selection committee ranks the top 30 to 40 applications. The first 13 to 15 applicants for E+ scholarships are placed in the MAIN LIST for a particular track. Separately, self-funding students are also selected.

Candidates that are not selected by the selection committee are notified by email before 15. February of the year following the deadline for applications.

Candidates placed on the MAIN LIST are invited for an interview by means of a teleconference by a member of the selection committee or by the coordinator. If confirmed, they are provisionally offered an E+ scholarship, which is subject to the submission of the full application package within the timeframe suggested in the letter of acceptance (about 8 weeks), and the approval of the EACEA, i.e. the EU agency providing the scholarships.

The remaining candidates that are selected, but not offered a scholarship because of their lower ranking, are placed on the RESERVE LIST. Candidates on this list might be offered an E+ scholarship if a numner of pre-defined candidates on the main list drops out, or fails to provide a complete application package before the deadline.

Candidates that are on the RESERVE LIST and have (also) expressed their intention to register as self-funding students in case they are not awarded an E+ scholarship are offered a place in the programme as self-funding students [Note that students with other scholarships than the E+ Scholarship are considered self-funding students].

The full application package required for students on the main list after a successful interview (and, if/when notified, from students on the reserve list) must be sent by post to the following address:

Sergio Sparviero
DCLead Master Programme
Fachbereich Kommunikationswissenschaft
Universität Salzburg
Rudolfskai 42
5020 Salzburg
Austria

and must contain the following documents:

  1. A signed copy of the Declaration Form.
  2. A signed copy of the Declaration of Past and Present stays in Programme Countries.
  3. Proof of identity and nationality (colour scanned copy of the passport, all pages)
  4. Proof of place of residence. 2 documents are required: a certified copy of residence / identity certificate or card (which indicates the current address of the candidates) and a letter from the candidate’s place of work, study or training, which also should indicate the current address of the candidate. Candidates that are currently unemployed might decide to obtain a certificate from the unemployment services. Please note that this last letter / document must not be older than one year.
  5. legalised  ORIGINAL* (AND ORIGINAL certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German) of university diplomas.
  6. legalised ORIGINAL *(AND ORIGINAL certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German) of official transcripts of university study results.
  7. Original copies of English test results, certificates or diplomas (see above the section about English proficiency).
  8. Originals of the recommendation letters submitted for the application. If an original cannot be provided the recommendation letter should be sent to [email protected] from the business email address of the referee providing the recommendation letter.
  9. Filled out and signed application form for University of Salzburg.
  10. Candidates with degrees awarded by Chinese universities must additionally obtain an APS certificate. Degrees from other universities do not require an APS certificate.
  • * Please note that an ORIGINAL is a document certified by the institution awarding the degree. Some Universities provide graduates with more copies of their diplomas, one of which is considered the original and other certified copies. In this case, the certified copy stamped and signed by the institution awarding the degree is considered an ORIGINAL.

Selected candidates  are interviewed (by means of a teleconference) by a member of the selection committee or by the coordinator. If they are accepted after the interview, they are required to send a full application package by post to the following address:

Sergio Sparviero
DCLead Master Programme
Fachbereich Kommunikationswissenschaft
Universität Salzburg
Rudolfskai 42
5020 Salzburg
Austria

and must contain the following documents:

  1. Proof of identity and nationality (colour scanned copy of ID-Page of passport/ID-Card)
  2. legalised  ORIGINAL* (AND the ORIGINAL of the certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German) of University diplomas.
  3. legalised ORIGINAL * (AND the ORIGINAL of the certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German)of official transcript of University study results.
  4. Originals of English test results, certificates or diplomas (see above the section about English proficiency).
  5. Originals of the recommendation letters submitted for the application. If an original cannot be provided the recommendation letter should be sent to [email protected] from the business email address of the referee providing the recommendation letter.
  6. Filled out and signed application form for University of Salzburg.
  7. Candidates with degrees awarded by Chinese universities must additionally obtain an APS certificate. Degrees from other universities do not require an APS certificate.
  8. A proof of payment of the first instalment of participation fees. This amounts to €1.000 (new lower deposit!) for both Progamme country and Partner country and should be paid by electronic transfer to:

Precise denomination of the account holder: UNIVERSITY OF SALZBURG
Name of bank: UNICREDIT BANK AUSTRIA AG
Address of branch: 65-67, JAGERSTRASSE, AT – VIENNA
IBAN code: AT231200006953834602
Please add the reference: Surname DCLead Application P_133001_67.

For questions, please email [email protected]; beforehand, however, please check if your question has not yet been answered in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section or in the DCLead Applicants group on Facebook.

Application Procedure “Spring Window” (January or February to June)

Applications might be accepted for the spring window, if places for self-funding students remain available following the regular application procedure. Students selected during the Spring Window start in September of the same year. There are no E+ scholarship assigned during the Spring Window, as all the scholarships for the next intake of students are allocated during the regular application procedure. Students that completed all the required ECTS/credits for the diploma, which counts as pre-requisite for accessing the programme, but have not yet obtained the official degree, can also apply for a place in the programme.
Note that, starting with the beginning of July, any places available can only be allocated to EU citizens or non-EU citizens already in possession of a permit to study in the EU for the coming 6 to 8 months.This is because the procedure of obtaining a valid permit is generally longer than the time available before the start of the programme.
Candidates interested in applying for a place in the programme during the Spring Window should follow this procedure:

Attached, where requested, there should be a single PDF file of less than 14MB containing the following documents in the order specified here:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV), based on the English template from the Europass website
  2. [Optional] A scan of the original university diploma(s), AND certified translation if the document is not issued in English.
  3. [Optional] A scan of the original (AND certified translation if the document is not issued in English) official transcript of study results from your university.
  4. Original English test results, certificates or diplomas (see below the section about English proficiency). Students that are not in possession of a proof of English proficiency can simply indicate their level of expertise in the curriculum using the guidelines provided in the Europass template. Nonetheless, if selected, the proof of English proficiency is STRICTLY required prior to registration (hence, within 4-6 weeks from the notification of the selection’s result). Nonetheless, please note that the submission of a valid proof of English proficiency at the moment of the application is favourably valued by the commission.
  5. A Motivation letter. In the letter, the candidate should explained how past experiences have prepared him/her for participation in the master in digital communication leadership, how this programme is likely to improve his or her own career perspectives, and why the candidate is interested in the topic of digital communication leadership. The motivation letter should be:
    • Typed using a word processing software before saved as a PDF file
    • 4,000-6,000 characters long, including spaces (equivalent to max 1500 words).
    • Types using a Times New Roman or Book Antiqua font size 12
    • Page size A4
    • Typed using a 1.5 space in-between lines
    • The title of the letter should be in BOLDand it should read Motivation Letter by (your name)
    • Pages should be numbered
    • Note that handwritten letters are NOT accepted. A letter shorter than the minimum requirement is accepted, yet it is likely to be a disadvantage for the candidate.

Two (minimum) or three (maximum) Recommendation Letters in English. The letters do not follow a template. The only requirement is that the contact details of the person providing the reference must be clearly typed and must contain a business email address [not a private one] and a telephone number. Referees that prefer to provide the letters directly to the programme’s administration, can email their letters to [email protected]. Referees without a business email address can provide a link to their LinkedIn account.The people writing the recommendation letters can be also marked as referees in the application form. Referees are people who have collaborated with the candidate, which are willing to answer questions about her/him. One of these references should be an academic who has been a teacher or tutor of the candidate; other referees can be from the professional experiences of the candidate. Please note that the referees must be able to communicate in English or German.

The application form will be reviewed and if the candidate is considered eligible, she/her/they will be asked by email to pay for the deposit. This amounts to €1.000 for both Programme country and Partner country and should be paid by electronic transfer to the account listed below. Note that a proof of payment should be also sent by email to [email protected].

Precise denomination of the account holder: UNIVERSITY OF SALZBURG
Name of bank: UNICREDIT BANK AUSTRIA AG
Address of branch: 65-67, JAGERSTRASSE, AT – VIENNA
IBAN code: AT231200006953834602
Please add the reference: Surname DCLead Application P_133001_67.

Note that in case of non-selection after the interview and/or after the following stages, 1000 euro (i.e. the deposit, minus a banking fee) will be returned to the candidate. Also, 1000 euro will be returned in case a candidate decides to cancel the application before 23. April. Between the 23. April (included) and 31. July there are 100 days, and the deposit of any applicant deciding to cancel her/his/their application will be proportional to the number of days remaining to 1. August. For example, if a candidate cancel the application on 22. July, 10 days before the deadline, 10% of the 1000 deposit will be returned to the candidate (100 euro). The date considered for the reimbursement is the date of the email received by [email protected] that candidate use to announce the withdrawn of their application. In case of withdrawn after 1. August, the deposit is no longer reimbursed.

Following the reception of the proof of payment, the candidate will be contacted by email and asked to arrange an interview with one representative of the programme. This will take place via teleconference meeting and it will last between 40 minutes and one hour. Sometimes, a second meeting will be required, and so the candidate will be asked by email to arrange a time with a second representative for a second interview.

If the places for the required track are still available, the candidate will be asked to send the full application package by post to the following address:

Sergio Sparviero
DCLead Master Programme
Fachbereich Kommunikationswissenschaft
Universität Salzburg
Rudolfskai 42
5020 Salzburg
Austria

and must contain the following documents:

  1. Proof of identity and nationality (colour scanned copy of ID-Page of passport/ID-Card)
  2. legalised  ORIGINAL* (AND the ORIGINAL of the certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German) of University diplomas.
  3. legalised ORIGINAL * (AND the ORIGINAL of the certified translation if the document is not issued in English or German)of official transcript of University study results.
  4. Originals of English test results, certificates or diplomas (see above the section about English proficiency).
  5. Filled out and signed application form for University of Salzburg.
  6. Candidates with degrees awarded by Chinese universities must additionally obtain an APS certificate. Degrees from other universities do not require an APS certificate.
Re-watch the Q&A sessions

What are key characteristics of a successful DCLead application? How is the experience of studying in multiple countries and education systems? What is life as a DCLead student like in Salzburg/Brussels/Copenhagen?

If you have been wondering about these or other questions, maybe the recordings of our Live Q&A sessions can give you the answers. Check our YouTube Channel!

Appeal Procedure

Candidates that would like to appeal the decision of the selection committee can do so by sending a letter (PDF or Word file) by email to [email protected]. The letter should be addressed to the ‘Chair of the Selection Committee‘ and the subject of the email should read ‘Appeal to the Selection Committee‘. Only letters sent within 2 weeks from the receipt of results of the application will be considered.

 

Every year, the DCLead selection committee receive applications from students all over the world! Browse and interact with the map of the applications countries distribution for the period 2016-2021 (Intakes 1 to 6).