Erasmus Mundus Master Course

Student admission criteria

The EMMC STEPS consortium has adopted a single admission procedure, which will be administered and managed online.

All information for applicants will be published on the EMMC STEPS website and related information sites at least 3 months before the application deadline. The Application System will be operational by that date. The deadline for submitting the application to the EMMC STEPS will be 31st December of the previous year to the commencement of studies.

The application process for the EMMC STEPS consists of 2 steps:

1. First, applicants will have to fill out and electronically submit the application form within deadline via the Application System on the dedicated EMMC STEPS website.
2. Afterwards, the selected candidates will have to send in hard copies all required attachments by post, post stamped before the assigned deadline.

The Indicative application and admission calendar for each edition of the EMMC STEPS will be:

• Application procedure information: 1st October.
• Application submission deadline: 31th December.
• Selection process: January - February
• Informal notification to candidates on selection process results: 15 -31 March aprox.
• Official decision on Masters' accepted students: mid-end May aprox
• Start of enrolment: 1st June aprox.
• Deadline for confirmation on scholarship acceptance: 20th June aprox
• Deadline for completing enrolment documentation: 30th June aprox
• Confirmation of acceptance deadline for students from the reserved list: 1st July
• Deadline for completing enrolment documentation for students from the reserve list: 15 July aprox.
• End of enrolment: 31st July

NOTE: Admission process will be start the previous year to the commencement of studies. Selection process and Decision will be done the same year of the commencement of studies.

The Application System will provide applicants to fill out the application form on-line and indicate if they apply for Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, attach all supporting documents in digital form, including the relevant certificates and transcripts of previous studies, submit the form to the EMMC STEPS Coordinating University and will issue an acknowledgment of receipt. All application documents should be presented in English.

To be eligible for the EMMC STEPS master programme the applicant should fulfil these minimal requirements:

• Be holder of a Bachelor degree in Engineering (a minimum of three years' study at a university and of a minimum of 180 ECTS, or equivalent according to the regulations in the country of origin and to the European regulations)
• International students attending the EMMC STEPS Programme and whose first language is not English, are required to have an appropriate grade/score in an approved examination in English language equivalent to level B2 before they can register on an academic programme. The following are recognised English Language qualifications by the EMMC STEPS for this course:
  • The Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS): This is available world-wide through British Council Centres and we would request a score of 6 with no less than 5.5 in each element.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT with at least 79 point and at least 17 points in the writing section, 18 in reading and 20 in speaking.
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) with at least 55 and no less than 51 in each element.

Any English test will need to have been taken within 2 years of registration onto the course.

Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree or have successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve in one of the countries on the UKBA list of countries will automatically receive and English language waiver. More information about English language requirements and equivalences can be found here or contact postgraduate-enquiries@nottingham.ac.uk

The selection procedure: Only the complete applications will be assessed. The applications will be pre-screened for formal requirements. The applications fulfilling the formal requirements shall be given over to the EMMC STEPS Academic Committee for evaluation. The selection procedure is divided in two stages: 1) Academic evaluation of the candidate's curriculum based on the information provided by the applicants through the online Application System; 2) Interview to the 40 to 60 best ranked preselected students. Interview may also be carried out by videoconference. It is remarked that applicants performing a poor interview could be dropped out. The merits of the applicants will be weighted according to the following criteria:

• Academic records: 40% - up to 16 points
• Professional and research experience: 20% - up to 8 points
• Personal interview: 40% - up to 16 points

Applications will be considered solely on the basis of their academic merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant distinction. All partner Universities have special support services to students with special needs that will be fully and freely available to EMMC STEPS students, and to applicants to avoid any discrimination and ensure equal opportunities.

Applicants will be ranked according to their score and the Academic Committee will propose the 40 to 60 best ranked students to form the list of admitted and reserve candidates. This list will be submitted to the Consortium Committee for approval. The Consortium Committee approves the list of admitted students and of those which will be proposed for Erasmus Mundus Scholarships or any other available funding.