FAQ – SELECTION PROCEDURE

1. Who can apply?

1.2 Study Requirement
A prerequisite for admission is that applicants have received a 2nd Level Master Degree (120 ECTS after 180 ECTS of bachelor) or a Single Cycle Degree (minimal 300 ECTS), or a comparable university degree (Second Cycle qualification), as required by the partner universities for admission to doctoral studies.

The title must be obtained before the deadline for the application. See the “Call for application” for further details.

1.3 Language Requirements
It’s required a recognized international English test Certificate obtained in the last two years before the deadline indicated in the “call for application”. For those who studied in countries where the English is the official language, is required an official letter stating that your university studies were undertaken in English.

The English Language Proficiency is required accoding to the following criteria
-  IELTS min: 6.5;
- TOEFL min: 220 CBT, 550 PBT, 80 iBT;
- TOEIC min: 780;
- Cambridge min. C.A.E;
- Trinity min. GESE and ISE Intermediate, GRE min. Verbal Reasoning. 480, Quantitative Reasoning 600, Analytical Writing 4.0.

2. How do I apply?
Use the online application form, more detailed information is available here and in the “call for application”. For the 2013 the call is close.

The signed original application package can be submitted using the web service OR sent by the regular post to: LAST-JD – CIRSFID, University of Bologna,Via Galliera 3,40121 Bologna (Italy).

3. How many PhD grants are available?
For the call 2013 nine grants are available. These 9 grants are split as follows:

  • 5 grants for Category A candidates (more info)
  • 1 grant for Western Balkan and Turkey Candidates (more info), this scholarship is in condition and needs to be confirmed by EACEA.
  • 3 grants for Category B candidates (more info)

4. Can I apply to both categories A and B if I have a double nationality?
No, you can only apply choosing one of the categories – either A or B.

5. To how many joint programmes can a student apply?
Doctoral candidates can apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship/fellowship to a maximum of three (3) different joint programmes (EMMC and EMJD together).

6. Is there a deadline for submitting my application?
The deadline for submitting the application is  February 01, 2013, 23:59pm CET. The 2013 call is now close.

7.  Where can I find the template of the European CV format?
The template of the European CV format is available at http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/hornav/Introduction.csp

9. How long should the draft research project be, and what should it include?
The draft research project, based on a field study or on a critical review of articles referring to one of the topics of the LAST-JD programme, must include but may not be limited to:

(a) a working title of the project;

(b) a brief description of why the study is relevant;

(c) a formulation of the problem to be studied;

(d) a goal of the study;

(e) methods and materials;

(f) a time table in agreement with the lengh of the Ph.D program.

The draft thesis proposal should be about 3000 words.

10. I did my TOEFL two years ago: are the scores still valid?
No, TOEFL scores are valid for no more than two years.

11. I should graduate after the deadline for application,  can I still apply?
No, you can’t: we will consider only those applicants who have obtained the required qualification before the expiration date of the call for applications.

12. I am currently studying under another Erasmus Mundus program, which has English as the teaching language. Do I still need to submit an English certificate?
The English certificate is obligatory to the students who are not native English speakers. Those students, who studied in the countries where the English is an official language, must provide an official letter stating that their university courses were taught in English.

FAQ – ADMISSION – ACCEPTANCE OF STUDY

1. Do I have to pay enrolment fee? What are the participation costs?
Enrolment fee are included in the participation costs for the Erasmus Mundus fellowship holder. The participation costs will be retained directly to the Coordinator. This means that € 10.800 (€ 300 x 36 months) will not be transferred to the candidate’s bank account but will instead be used to cover the monthly participation costs, including the enrolment fee.
If you are a non-scholarship holders the participation costs are 1.000 euro per term.
Participation costs include enrolment cost, insurance costs, training costs, diploma cost, general service costs, linguistic courses costs, etc.

2. When do I have to sing Doctoral candidate agreement and “Contract for temporary research fellow”?
The Doctoral candidate agreement (DCA) is signed by every doctoral candidate, at Bologna University when the Ph.D activity will start (between 1 October till 7 October). The “Contract for temporary research fellow” is signed by the fellowship holders, in the same time.

3. What documents are required for enrolment procedure?
- For candidates holding an academic qualification from an extra-UE University: the legalised original copy of their degree together with the DICHIARAZIONE DI VALORE IN LOCO, issued by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the Country where such degree has been awarded. THE DICHIARAZIONE DI VALORE must clearly specify that such degree allows the applicant to enrol in a Ph.D programme in that Country.
- For candidates holding an academic qualification from a European University: the legalised original copy of their degree together with the Diploma Supplement instead of the DICHIARAZIONE DI VALORE IN LOCO. In case of doubts about the validity of the Degree, the University of Bologna reserves the right to ask the candidate to provide the DICHIARAZIONE DI VALORE IN LOCO.

IMPORTANT: the documents you will present MUST clearly indicate that your degree allows you to enrol in a Ph.D programme in Italy.
So please, check this requirement!

4. Is there a deadline for the enrolment procedure? When should I arrive in Bologna?
In October there will be the  WELCOME DAY for the Erasmus Mundus Doctorate Candidates.
The Welcome Day is a form of orientation from which doctorate candidates will greatly benefit. The LAST-JD staff will provide you all the information needed to organize yourself for your study period and inform you of what administrative steps need to be taken, including other documentation which needs to be filled in and the enrolment parocedure. You will also have the opportunity to meet the other international students.
The Welcome Day will take place at the CIRSFID, please check, hereinafter, the LAST-JD website for further information.