FCP Awards Two Master Scholarships to Students of TU Wien for the First Time
András Gelencsér and Florian Pernsteiner receive 300 € per month each for their master theses in bridge construction for two semesters.
Vienna, 12 October 2026 – FCP Fritsch, Chiari & Partner Ziviltechniker GmbH awarded the first two FCP master scholarships in cooperation with TU Wien. András Gelencsér and Florian Pernsteiner are sponsored. Both of them have received 300 € per month each as support for their master theses since 1 September 2026 for two semesters.
“The master theses of the two scholars deal with specific questions of bridge construction. With the scholarship we support their research and offer them the chance to win insights into engineering practice”, said Dieter Pichler, managing director of FCP.
Ten students applied for the first public offer of a scholarship. FCP and representatives of the TU Wien made a preselection and invited four candidates to present their proposals at FCP. Subsequently the FCP managing directors Christian Nüssel and Dieter Pichler chose the two scholars based on the application documents and presentations.
With the scholarship we support their research and offer them the chance to win insights into engineering practice.
Research Issues from Bridge Construction
The master theses of the two scholars treat issues of bridge construction: András Gelencsér analyses “Plattierte Bleche im modernen Stahlbrückenbau: Tragverhalten und effektive Steifigkeiten” (Clad sheets in modern steel bridge construction: load bearing behaviour and effective stiffnesses). Florian Pernsteiner deals with “Experimentellen Untersuchung zur Querkraftermüdung von Spannbetonträgern mit geschädigten Spanngliedern” (Experimental analysis on shear force fatigue of prestressed concrete beams with damaged tendons). The findings can contribute to lengthening the life span of existing bridges and therefore saving resources and CO₂ emissions in new construction.
Michael Spechtenhauser, one of the four invited candidates, examines the crack formation due to broken wires under static and cyclic stress in prestressed concrete construction in his master thesis. FCP offered him part-time employment in which he can use 25 per cent for his master thesis. Mr. Spechtenhauser accepted the offer and has been employed with FCP since 1 September 2026.
“The fact that I can use part of my working time for the master thesis helps me to connect university graduation and career start. Thus, I can intensively deal with the research issues and gain insight into the daily work of an engineering office at the same time”, said Michael Spechtenhauser.
Also Mr. Gelencsér will work with FCP in future: As of 1 November 2026 he will support the team in the department of Bridge Design & Structural Analysis.
About the FCP Master Scholarship
The FCP master scholarship addresses students from TU Wien in the master programmes Civil and Environmental Engineering. It promotes the preparation of practice-oriented master theses. During sponsorship the scholars can additionally work part-time at engineering projects with FCP, employment is, however, no condition for the scholarship.
Fact box: FCP Master Scholarship 2026
Award
First award of the FCP master scholarship in cooperation with TU Wien
Scholars
András Gelencsér and Florian Pernsteiner
Promotion
300 € per month each since 1 September 2026 for two semesters
Selection
Ten applications, four invitations for presentation at FCP
Master thesis topics
Plattierte Bleche im Stahlbrückenbau (Clad sheets in steel bridge construction), Querkraftermüdung geschädigter Spannbetonträger (Shear force fatigue of damaged prestressed concrete beams)
