Different Brilliant 2026
Innovative Research in Design-related Bachelor & Master Theses
It starts with you
Different Brilliant invites students and recent graduates to submit their Bachelor's and Master's theses in design, media and digital technologies – using creative, theoretical, empirical or experimental approaches to generate new perspectives and knowledge.
At the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, we believe that knowledge creates value when it connects with real-world challenges. Through applied research, interdisciplinary collaboration and creative practice, we support people in transforming ideas into insights, solutions and meaningful contributions beyond academia.
Application opens soon!
Submission deadline: September 18, 2026
Presentation: November 25, 2026 at IConCMT, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten
About the Different Brilliant Award
The Different Brilliant Award is an initiative of the bachelor programme Media Technology of the USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten that recognizes outstanding Bachelor's and Master's research in design, media and digital technologies.
Inspired by the USTP brand promise “It starts with you”, the award celebrates people who turn curiosity into knowledge and knowledge into real-world impact. At USTP, we believe that higher education carries a responsibility beyond the classroom: to empower people to develop evidence-based solutions for the challenges of our time and to create value for society through applied research, interdisciplinary collaboration and creative practice.
The Different Brilliant Award makes these contributions visible by honoring research that opens new perspectives, inspires innovation and helps shape a better future.
Contact
All questions about submissions should be emailed to different.brilliant@ustp.at.
FAQs
We are looking for Bachelor's and Master's theses that:
- are backed by evidence
- show a method you tested
- include a finding you can show
- provide an insight you can share
Different Brilliant welcomes theoretical, empirical, applied, artistic and experimental approaches.
Different Brilliant gives you the opportunity to:
- present your research at an international conference
- make your work visible to researchers, designers and creative communities
- share your approach and learn from other perspectives
- connect with an international network of students, graduates and researchers
You can apply if you are:
- a student or graduate of an Austrian university or higher education institution
- a graduate who completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree within the last two years
- a student or graduate from one of our international partner universities:
Aleksander Moisiu University Durres
Artesis Plantijn University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp
Artevelde University of Applied Sciences- Ghent
Atlantic Technological University
Avans University of Applied Sciences
Beijing Foreign Studies University
Bonch Bruevich State University of Telecommunications, Sankt Petersburg
Budapest Metropolitan University
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
CBS International Business School
Cherkasy State Business College
Dublin Business School
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Ecole d’Ingénieurs en Génie des Systèmes Industriels (EIGSI)
Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Tarbes
Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena
Fachhochschule Dortmund
Fachhochschule Graubünden
Fachhochschule Kiel
Fachhochschule Stuttgart - Hochschule der Medien
Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Glasgow Caledonian University
Haute Ecole de Namur-Liège-Luxembourg (HENALLUX)
Haute Ecole EPHEC
Hochschule Ansbach
Hochschule Bremen
Hochschule Darmstadt
Hochschule Düsseldorf
Hochschule Fulda
Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg
Hochschule Furtwangen
Hochschule Luzern
Hochschule Mittweida
Hochschule Osnabrück
HOWEST University of Applied Sciences
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
HYBRIA School of Business and Technologies & EKLYA School of Business
Inha University
Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Internationale Hochschule SDI München - University of Applied Sciences
Izmir University of Economics
Jagellonian-Universität
Jamk University of Applied Sciences
Jianghan University, Wuhan
Kadir Has University
London Metropolitan University
MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Nanyang Technological University
National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest
Nottingham Trent University
Oslo Metropolitan University
Oulu University of Applied Sciences
Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology
Politécnico de Setúbal
PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Sapienza – Universitá di Roma
Saxion University of Applied Sciences
Saxion University of Applied Sciences
Semmelweis University
Södertörns Högskola
SRH Hochschule Heidelberg
Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe
Staatliche Linguistische Universität Pyatigorsk
TalTech University
Technische Hochschule Augsburg
Technische Hochschule Köln
Technische Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Würzburg
Technische Universität Ilmenau
Technische Universität Lodz
Technische Universität Warschau
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Tomas Bata University
Transilvania University of Brasov
UCLL University of Applied Sciences
Politehnica University Timișoara
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
UCLL University of Applied Sciences, Leuven-Limburg
Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU
Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia
Universidad de Guadalajara
Universidad de Salamanca
Universidad de Valladolid
Universidad Europea de Canarias, La Orotava
Universidad Europea de Valencia
Universidad Nacional de Lanús
Universidad Politécnia de Cartagena
Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias
Università degli Studi di Bari
Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Universitat de Barcelona
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Universitat Politècnica de Valencia
Université de Montpellier
Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France
University of Applied Sciences in Ferizaj
University of Nyiregyháza
University of West Attica
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
Westsächsische Hochschule
Windesheim University of Applied Sciences
Wirtschaftsuniversität Krakau
Details
Submission deadline: Friday, September 18th 2026
Communication with three finalists: Friday, October 2nd 2026
Presentation at IConCMT: Wednesday, November 25th 2026, 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm
The Different Brilliant Award will take place as part of the conference IConCMT. It will be held at USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, Campus-Platz 1, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria.
Present your research at IConCMT.
The three selected finalists will present their research during the 8th International Conference on Creative\Media/Technologies.
Each finalist will give a:
- 15-minute presentation
- English-language presentation
- On-site presentation at USTP (online participation is not possible)
Nominated finalists will be provided with a detailed template to structure and set-up your presentation (including sections, timetable, examples). Winners are named after the presentations and discussion with the audience.
The winners receive:
- a prize of 500 EUR (to be shared among the winners)
- the opportunity to attend the conference
- conference dinner invitation
- an auxiliary fee for train tickets and/or accommodation costs
Program committee
- Graziele Lautenschlaeger
- Rosa von Suess
- Matthias Tratz
Organizing committee
- Graziele Lautenschlaeger
- Rosa von Suess
Reviewers
- Christine Schweiger (NDU)
- Margarita Köhl (FHV)
- Matthias Tratz (USTP)
- Rosa von Suess (USTP)
- Marcel Sagesser (USTP)