- Category A candidates: candidates who come from a country other than EU member states and who are not residents nor have carried out their main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in these countries. (The only exception to this rule applies to Third-Country (non-EU) candidates who have previously received an Erasmus Mundus masters scholarship).
- Category B candidates: Any candidate who does not fulfill the criteria of a category A applicant.
- Window candidates: Each year the EU can offer extra grants for candidates from specific areas. Usually 1 additional grant is available each year for candidates coming from Western Balkan (more info) and Turkey. These candidates should apply under "Category A".
2. Candidates WITHOUT an Erasmus Mundus PhD grant
MARES aims to attract PhD candidates without an Erasmus Mundus grant but who have secured funding for their PhD by other means (for example a national PhD grant). For these types of candidates only a yearly contribution to the MARES fund has to be paid (240 €). These types of candidates also need to fulfill the MARES requirements in order to receive a MARES PhD (admission requirements, language requirements, research in one of the 6 predefined scientific fields).
These types of candidates will have equal rights in the MARES network and thus will have access to the same facilities as MARES candidates with an Erasmus Mundus grant.
A major advantage of participating in MARES without a MARES PhD grant is that these candidates will have access to dedicated MARES trainings at much lower costs than other (non-MARES) candidates.
See here for the steps to follow on how to participate in the MARES Programme without an Erasmus Mundus grant