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Frequently Asked Questions:
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Who can apply?
- See Admission Requirements , Candidate Types and also Mobility Rules
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Study Requirements:
- A prerequisite for admission is that applicants have a Master degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Oceanography, Marine Sciences, Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, or other equivalent degrees with a minimum of 60 credits.
- In fact a minimum requirement of 240 ECTS combining the B.Sc. and M.Sc. (or equivalent to 4 years of graduate studies with thesis) is eligible. Certain bachelors can be eligible if they meet the requirement of being a 4 year full time study and include a thesis.
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Language Requirements:
- A recent (max 3 years old) proof of knowledge of the English language is also a requirement (CEF-level –C1). The following proofs of English will be allowed:
- A recent TOEFL Certificate: minimum score: 570 points (Paper) or 87 points (Internet)
- A recent IELTS Certificate: minimum score: 6.5
- A recent First Certificate in English of the University of Cambridge
- A recent Certificate of a University Language Centre testifying that the student masters the necessary knowledge of English to function academically (specify CEF-level) - C1 level
- A recent proof that the candidate followed at least 2 Years of higher education taught in English
- Important Note:
- If you are unable to provide the test result or certificate for one of the above language tests due to time constraints (if the test itself takes place after the application deadline), then you need to upload a proof of registration for one of these tests instead.
- You then need to send us the test results by email as soon as you receive them.
- Note that you will have to prove that you meet the language requirements before we can definitively award a fellowship.
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How do I apply?
- Use the online application form, more detailed information is available here.
- For the 2013 call (Fourth Edition), the applications will be opened on September 1st 2013, with the application deadline set at December 1st 2013.
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How many PhD grants are available?
- Each year MARES will receive 8-10 EM PhD grants. Usually 9 grants are available and these are split as follows:
- 5 grants for Category A candidates (more info)
- 3 grants for Category B candidates (more info)
- 1 grant for Western Balkan (more info) and Turkey Candidates
- MARES aims to attract PhD candidates without a MARES EMJD grant but with other grants (for example a national PhD grant). For this type of candidate only a yearly contribution to the MARES fund has to be paid (240 euro), they also need to fulfill the MARES requirements in order to receive a MARES PhD. 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.
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What is the amount of the MARES PhD grant?
- See the Financial Section for a full overview.
- An Erasmus Mundus PhD grant lasts for 3 years (36 months). With the grant PhD candidates get an employment contract (including social security). The monthly salary will be approximately 1400 euro (depending on the country and institute where the candidate will be employed).
- Next to the employment finances an Erasmus Mundus PhD grant also foresees in bench fee money of 600 euro per month (7200 per year). From this budget the following costs are paid:
- Yearly contribution to the MARES fund of 240 euro
- Costs of training course participation
- Costs related to research activities
- Participation costs of conferences
- Enrollment costs at universities
- Participation to the obligatory MARES annual meetings
- Travel costs between host institutions (partner 1 - partner 2) are normally not paid from this budget. The doctoral guidance committee however can decide on this case per case.
- Category A candidates will also receive a "travel / installation costs" budget of 7.500€, which will be paid out in different installments. There is no such budget available for Category B candidates.
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What are the mobility rules?
- The doctoral candidates holding an Erasmus Mundus fellowship must perform their training/research periods in at least two different countries represented in the consortium. Institutional mobility and a placement of minimum 6 months is foreseen at the start of the doctoral period by involving at least two MARES partners per doctoral subject. At least one of the partners should be eligible to award the doctorate degree; this partner will be acting as the 'main doctorate promoter'.
- For Category B fellowship holders, these two countries must be different from the country in which the doctoral candidate has obtained his/her last university degree. (The candidate may choose his/her last degree (usually masters) awarding country if this degree was awarded in the context of a joint/double/multiple degree scheme.)
- To qualify as a category A applicant, the applicant must not have carried out his or her main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the EU Member States or the countries participating in the Consortium. The only exception is for third-country doctoral candidates, who held an Erasmus Mundus Master Course before.
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Is it possible to apply to more than one Erasmus Mundus programme?
- Yes, you can apply to a maximum of three programmes in total.
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Is it possible to apply for part-time enrolment?
- No, all the EMJD fellowships are awarded exclusively for full-time enrolment.
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Can I apply if I get my Master degree after the application deadline but before the coming academic year?
- Yes, but you will need to submit proof that you are close to finishing your Master, e.g. a proof from your university that states you are enrolled in your last year (or a statement from your thesis supervisor confirming that you will shortly be submitting your thesis and are expected to graduate by the end of the academic year.)
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Am I eligible for an Erasmus Mundus category A Doctoral candidate scholarship?
- See Candidate Types
- Only third-country applicants and the Western Balkans and Turkey Window applicants (meaning applicants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244/99, as well as from Turkey) are eligible to apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship category A.
- With the exception of the 27 EU Member States, the EEA-EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), the candidate countries for accession to the EU and Switzerland, all countries of the world are considered third countries.
- "Third-country Doctoral candidate means a national of a third country other than those from EEA-EFTA States and candidate countries for accession to the European Union; who has already obtained a first higher education degree; who is not a resident of any of the Member States or the participating countries; who has not carried out his or her main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the Member States or the participating countries; and who has been accepted to register or is registered in an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course."
- To qualify as a category A applicant, he/she must not have carried out his or her main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the EU Member States or the countries participating in the Consortium. The only exception is for third-country doctoral candidates, who held an Erasmus Mundus master fellowship before.
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Am I eligible for an Erasmus Mundus category B Doctoral candidate scholarship?
- See Candidate Types
- Only Doctoral candidates who do not belong to the Category A are eligible to apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship category B.
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When will the selection results be available?
- By the end of February preliminary selection results will be communicated. All applicants will then receive a feedback email regarding their selection. The official approval from the funding agency (EACEA) is usually expected by early May.
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Which documents do I need to send by post?
- You do not need to send any documents by regular mail after the submittal of your online application form. After the evaluations and when the selections have been made, we will ask you to submit some documents by regular mail. You will then need to:
- Print a copy of your electronic application form and add date, name and signature on the last page. You will automatically receive this form as a pdf file by e-mail after submitting it online.
- Add a clear copy of your higher education diploma(s), including all transcripts of records, duly stamped and signed by the issuing institute(s). If you have not yet completed your Master degree, add the transcripts of records of the years you have completed and a proof of inscription of the year you are currently finishing.
- IMPORTANT REMARK: if your higher education diploma(s) are not issued in English, French, Portugese, German, Spanish or Dutch, then they need to be translated by a certified translator and the original AND translation need to be added to your application.
- Add language certificate(s) as described in the application form: a TOEFL certificate, IELTS certificate or document from your higher education institute.
- Add a copy of your international passport if you have stated your international passport number on the application form. If you do not have an international passport, add a copy of your national ID card.
- IMPORTANT REMARK about LEGALISATION: should you be admitted to the MARES program then you need to submit a legalised copy higher education diploma(s) soon after the provisional admission.
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How to participate without an Erasmus Mundus PhD grant?
- Summarized: 1) You need to be academically admissible; 2) You can ask for a pre admission letter ; 3) You need to find funding ; 4) As soon as you secured funding, the MARES Secretariat will ask the approval of the promoter in question. Please read the full answer to this question here.
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