The Europeans Union offers Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for the Master in Marine Environment and Resources in the 2023/24 academic session.
Suitable for students with a good biological, geological and chemical background, the programme runs full-time over 24 months (120 ECTS) and consists of advanced courses (90 ECTS) and a Master Thesis, with a dissertation (30 ECTS).
Every student follows an individually-tailored study programme, by combining the different complementary disciplines that can be studied at each of the Partner universities:
- Advanced Oceanography & Coastal Zone Management, in UBx
- Advanced Oceanography & Coastal & Oceanic Environments, in Soton
- Marine Environmental Monitoring & Ecosystem Health Protection, in EHU
- Biodiversity Conservation & Ocean modelling, in ULiège
Throughout the coursework, students can make a selection between three alternative mobility pathways:
- A1 (UBx-EHU-Soton)
- A2 (UBx-EHU-ULiège)
- B (Soton-EHU-ULiège)
Irrespective of the mobility pathway, all the students follow together Semester 2 in EHU.
Through any of the pathways, the students have the opportunity to travel, from molecular biology to remote sensing issues and from short-term phenomena (e.g. tides and intertidal variability) to long-term issues (e.g. ocean acidification); thus achieving a translational science background, with a topical bias towards each partner’s expertise.
The MSc Thesis research is undertaken during Semester 4 (30 ECTS) and consists of a 5-6 month research under the supervision of a PhD holder. Upon completion of the MSc Thesis the student should demonstrate sufficiency for research in order to undertake the realisation of the PhD Thesis work, or a professional activity as researcher. The thesis should be written up and defended in front of an International Examination Board following the consensus procedure approved by the MER Consortium JPB.
Worth of Award
- The EMJMD scholarships are including student participation costs (including the tuition fees, full insurance coverage and any other mandatory costs related to student participation in the course), a contribution to student travel and installation cost and a subsistence allowance for the entire duration of the EMJMD study programme.
Eligibility
The MER Consortium JPB is responsible for the coordination of admissions between Partner Universities and will follow the policy and procedures provided by the University Academic Board (UAB), for each Partner University. Each UAB is sovereign and will provide policy and procedures according to its own university rules.
- The Programme is open to holders of a first cycle higher education degree (Bachelor degree, or equivalent) from Programme and Partner Country universities, in the field of biosciences, chemical sciences, geosciences, physical sciences and engineering. As such, the MER2030 EMJMD acts as a conversion for aspiring marine environment scientists.
- The relevance of the BSc degree (or equivalent) of the Applicant will be assessed. In cases of doubt regarding the quality of the issuing institution, external advisors will be consulted, in order to establish the status and quality of the institution concerned. In certain cases, the MER Consortium JPB can verify the student qualifications using Internet search networks, or through the collaboration of Associated Partners.
- Proof of proficiency in English is essential. Proficiency in French, Spanish and/or Basque is optional.
- Specific individual requirements will be established for each Applicant, according to his/her qualifications/prior learning, selected courses and expected academic and professional prospects. These specific requirements will be defined individually, by a system of mentor assignment to pre-registered Applicants.
- Students will be selected based upon the quality of their degree, the level of the marks obtained in previous studies and the relevance of the competences and skill acquired during the BSc studies in relation to the MER2030 EMJMD programme.
- The Letter of Statement (where the Applicant explains his/her background, why MER2030 EMJMD has been selected, and his/her prospects for the future) is a relevant criterion.
- Relevance of work experience, motivation, and future career objectives, as well as any additional information provided in the mentor’s report, will also be taken into consideration in reaching a final decision.
Additionally, applicants will need to:
- Accept (it may be conditionally) the Revised Study Plan; this is proposed by the MER Consortium JPB Chair upon revision of the documents, information and Proposed Study Plan provided by the applicant, only to identify the applicant’s academic profile.
- Accept the Student Agreement Draft (SAD); this is a non-signed on-line full draft version of the future Draft Agreement which upon acceptance by the applicants is considered as a proof that they know the rules, conditions, commitments, rights and duties, as well as the administrative, academic and economical main questions dealing with the MER2030 EMJMD programme they are willing to enrol if selected. The SAD is not a entailing document. The definitive legally binding Student Agreement will be signed by the selected students and the MER Consortium JPB Chair in two originals at the time of enrolment or later, and can be revised by common agreement.
- Indicate on the application whether they are applying for a scholarship, the nationality (including a copy of the passport as a proof, which is relevant in the case of those applicant with double/multiple nationality; only one must be selected), the residence country (including an official certificated proof), and a declaration of being in compliance with call-specific regulations (e.g., the 12-months Rule).
How to Apply
Applicants for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarships in Marine Environmentare required to complete the on-line application procedure, providing their personal data and the following compulsory documents and forms:
- Copy1,2 (pdf) of the official Transcript of Records of all courses taken to achieve the BSc degree
- Copy1,2 (pdf) of the BSc Degree Diploma, or equivalent suitable to be eligible for the MER2030 EMJMD Programme
- Copy1,2 (pdf) of the Secondary School Degree, or equivalent required to access University studies at the applicant’s home country
- Curriculum Vitae (pdf) in Europass format or equivalent
- Motivation Letter (pdf), explaining the applicant’s personal statement and motivation to participate in the MER2030 EMJMD Programme – maximum length (6000 characters)
- Two Reference Forms or Recommendation Letters submitted by academic/professional staff (on-line application procedure)3
- Complete the Proposed Study Plan Form (on-line), indicating the teaching modules of preference, research topics of interest and additional information4
- Copy2 (pdf) of your Passport or national identity card, as proof of applicant’s nationality
- Copy2 (pdf) of a Resident Official Document that verifies which the applicant’s place of residence at the time of application5
- Signed “Erasmus+ Scholarship Mandatory Declaration“ form, where applicants declare they comply with Erasmus+ eligibility requirements (e.g., 12 month rule, etc.)
- Proof of Proficiency in English
- Photograph (passport type)
- Signed “Self-Funded Student Declaration“ form (PDF); only to be uploaded by applicants without Erasmus+ Scholarship before they can be definitively admitted as self-funded students (can be uploaded after the submission deadline; e.g. once the Scholarship Selection Results have been published)
- Supplementary Information can be provided at the applicant’s convenience, uploaded altogether as one single pdf or zip file
Deadline: Application deadline for candidates applying for an Erasmus Mundus Scholarships in Marine Environment is March 15, 2023.