Frequently ask questions : how to apply
01. Who is eligible to apply?
What are the min. requirements for admission? Please read the entire website section admission criteria, EMJMD scholarship, self-funding, etc.
I’m not sure to have the adequate scientific and educational background…
The B.Sc. Background needs to be in the natural sciences in a wide sense. A solid basic knowledge in the following fields is required: general cell biology, basics of chemistry and biochemistry, physics and math. However, if you believe your knowledge meets these criteria and you can prove your motivation for Neuroscience, try and apply. Student selection is an open, competitive process. Are all nationalities accepted? Candidates from all countries can apply for the Erasmus Mundus Master Program in Neuroscience. I’m currently a Bachelor student…am I eligible? Yes, provided you validate your Bachelor degree before the Neurasmus Program starts. In the application form, instead of your Bachelor degree or Graduation certificate, you need to upload an official letter of your university stating that you are registered as a Bachelor student and will be delivered the Bachelor’s degree (date of graduation appreciated), before the Neurasmus program starts. At the time of application, you need to provide transcripts of exams already taken. Please note, that if you’re accepted in our program after selection, we urgently will need your bachelor degree in June/July I’m holding a Master degree…am I eligible? If you already have a Master’s degree, you are eligible to apply, except for following restriction “Individuals who have already benefited from an EMMC scholarship are not eligible for a second scholarship in order to follow the same or another EMMC.”
02. Who are PaC' / 'PrC' applicants?
‘Partner country applicant (PaC)’ , as defined by the European Commission is: any candidate who comes from a Third Country, who is not resident in one of the country of the 28 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey,Serbia and Republic of North Macedonia.
All other candidates who are not referred below
‘Programme country applicant (PrC)’, as defined by the European Commission is:
- Any candidate whose citizenship is one of the 28 EU Member States: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, UK, Sweden, Bulgaria, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Croatia.
- Any candidate whose citizenship is one of the following countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, Serbia and Republic of North Macedonia.
- Any candidate from Partner countries who are residents or have carried out their main activity (studies, training or work) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the Programme countries specified above (the five-year reference period for this 12-months rule is calculated backwards as from the submission deadline of applying for the master).
Here you can find a list of the Partner/Programme countries.
03. What is an ECTS?
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme of study. Its aim is to facilitate the recognition of study periods undertaken abroad by mobile students through the transfer credits. The ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits are equivalent to the workload of full-time student during one academic year.
04. Can I enrol in the program part-time?
No. The European Master in Neuroscience is a two-year, full-time program. Even if you already validated a first year of any Master’s degree, you cannot enroll for the second year only.
05. Do Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees scholarships (EMJMD) cover all expenses?
Students must be able to finance their study and living expenses, owing EU scholarships, non-EU scholarships or other funding sources.
The amount of money awarded to scholarship recipients will be:
• For Partner Country scholarship-holders:
Contribution to travel: 2,000€/year scholarship holder resident in a Partner Country whose location is situated at less than 4,000 km from Bordeaux, France OR 3,000€/year scholarship holder resident in a Partner Country whose location is situated at more than 4,000 km from Bordeaux, France;
Contribution to installation: 1,000€/2-years;
Monthly allowance: 1,000€/month.
• For Programme Country scholarship-holders:
Contribution to travel and installation:
- 1,000€/year scholarship holder resident in a Programme Country;
- 2,000€/year scholarship holder resident in a Partner Country whose location is situated at less than 4,000 km from Bordeaux, France OR 3,000€/year scholarship holder resident in a Partner Country whose location is situated at more than 4,000 km from Bordeaux, France;
Monthly allowance: 1,000€/month.
06. Can I choose courses from different Study Tracks?
No. When you apply you must indicate four study track preferences (on page 1 of the application). Once you are admitted into the European Masters programme you will be assigned to one of the tracks you indicated on your application.
You take the courses in this Study Track at the institutions listed for your study track.
At the end of the 1st Semester, you will define a mobility scheme (Personal Training Plan) for year 2.
07. Translation requirements
All documents should be translated in English.
Please provide also a copy of the original documents affiliated to the translated documentation in the native language of the institution of origin.
The translation can be done either by your university of origin or by an official translator.
08. How can I prove my English proficiency? Which documents are required?
A thorough proficiency in English is required.
- Which English test do I need to take ?
IELTS: 6.5 (with no score below 6) – please note that candidates must take the Academic test and not the General one. - TOEFL paper-based test: 580
- TOEFL computer-based test: 237
- TOEFL Internet-based test: 92-93
- Cambridge International Examinations CAE/CPE: B/C
The test must have been completed no more than two years before the course starts.
Please note that Primary and Secondary Education certificates or 1-year exchange program documentation are not accepted as English certificates. Without one of the below-mentioned official proves of your English level, your application will be declared as ‘incomplete’ and will not be considered for evaluation.
You do not need to take one of the above mentionned English certificates, if: You have completed your education in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa or Australia. In that case, an official letter (with stamp and signature of official representative) from your university of origin stating that your studies were undertaken in English, is required.
You registered for an English test, but the exam takes place after the NEURASMUS application deadline… We are aware that you might be able to have your exam after the deadline for application. In that case, please attach a proof of registration to the exam before the deadline. As soon as you receive the results, please send us the certificate by e-mail, before 1st of January.
How do I submit the results of the English test?
At the time of application, you can provide either the online screenshot of your results or the temporary paper certificate you received to neurasmus-application@u-bordeaux.fr. The results can also be sent directly to the Head Office:
Ms Jessica CHABANAIS
Université Bordeaux-DRI Talence-A37
Neurasmus Coordination Office
351 cours de la Libération
CS 10004
33405 Talence cedex
France
Please note that we do not have an institution code. Once you get the original certificate, should you be selected, you will have to send a scanned copy of it directly to neurasmus-application@u-bordeaux.fr
At the time of enrollment, the original certificate will be required, depending on the university of study.
09. Which identity document should I provide?
I’m a EU Candidate: You can provide a copy of your European national ID card or a copy of your Passport, if you hold one.
I’m a non-EU Candidate : Please provide a copy of your Passport.
I have two nationalities (EU and non-EU) : You can provide a copy of your passport or EU national ID card.
Please upload the page(s) of your passport/ID card showing identification n°, photo, holder’ name, citizenship and date of birth, date of issue and date of expiration, and signature.
Please check that the validity of your Passport / Identity Card encompasses the two years of study of our program (that is, if you apply for the Neurasmus Master for the academic year 2017-2019, your passport/identity card should be valid until September 2019).
Should not be the case, please note that it is your responsibility to obtain a new passport/identity card before the expiration date of your current passport/identity card.
If you don’t have a passport yet…
- Please use the official national identity card proving your nationality.
- As soon as possible ask for a passport, you will have to send the pages of your passport showing your name, your citizenship and the expiration date of your passport directly to neurasmus-application@u-bordeaux.fr
It is worth also to precise that students will need to use their passport for visa purposes. Please note that it is your responsibility to obtain a visa if you are accepted in the Neurasmus program.
10. What is the Europass CV template?
We strongly recommend to use the Europass CV template to edit your Curriculum Vitae. Download template here
Please find more information here:
http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/hornav/Downloads/EuropassCV/CVTemplate.csp
11. What is the Motivation letter about?
You need to provide a strongly convincing letter of motivation/statement of intent, It should be constructed in several paragraphs, max. 500 words. If it is longer, the reader may lose interest; if it is much shorter, it will seem as if you have nothing to say. The motivation letter should explain to the Selection Committee how your experience, qualifications and personal qualities make you a good candidate for the Master Program. The motivation letter is of critical importance. The motivation letter must include the following information:
- Reasons for choosing Neurosciences,
- Reasons for choosing the Neurasmus Track indicated as 1st choice in the application form (see Track descriptions here).
12. What is the Reference letter about and how can my referees submit their reference letters?
The reference letters should be provided by academic / scientific persons (teachers, researchers, internship supervisors, previous employees, etc.) who are familiar with applicant’s work or character and who have positive remarks to make. The referees should attest also the adequation of applicant’s background with the Neurasmus Master Course.
The reference letter should consist of 1-2 pages, written in English, including the referees signature, presenting on institutional headed paper and bearing an institutional stamp/seal.
I’m not sure to understand how the reference section works…
Please note that it is your responsability to inform your referees of the procedure settled by the eform. In the referees section of the e-form, you have to write e-mails of your 2 referents. After you validate this information, the e-form is sending an automatic e-mail to your referees. The e-mail sent includes the link where the reference letter has to be uploaded on you e-form. As this is a confidential document, you’re not allowed to add yourself the reference letter in the application, but your referees will have to follow the instructions presented in our e-mail.Your referees have to check their mailbox (the e-mail might be redirected in the SPAM folder, be alerted of that problem). If your referees followed the instructions properly, you will be able to see a green V instead of a read X in the attachments list on your e-form. Please be careful by writing the information of your referees in the eform. The referees section will be locked after you validate it, and you won’t be able to modify it. The automatic e-mail can be sent only once. In case of misprint, your referee will not receive the e-mail and cannot upload his/her reference letter. In case of misprint in the referee section or in case your referees did not receive the automatic email sent by the eform, please contact the Neurasmus Secretariat as early as possible.
My referee(s) did not receive the eMundus automatic e-mail with link to upload his/her (their) reference letter(s)…
1) EITHER you correctly write down the e-mail: there is a possibility that the automatic Neurasmus mail with the link to upload the reference letter has been redirected in the “spam” folder of your referee mailbox.
2) OR you’ve made a mistake when writing the e-mail address of your referee: in that case, he/she did not receive the link to upload the reference letter
Problem 1: You’re not allowed to correct any information regarding referees information in the application, this section is automatically locked once this page of the e-form is validated (confidentiality of the reference letters).
Problem 2: The e-mail is sent automatically by the e-form and cannot be sent a second time.
Solutions proposed:
1) Please ask your referee to check 1st in his/her SPAM folder.
2) If he still has no e-mail, ask your referee to confirm the NEURASMUS Coordination Office through an e-mail enquiry ( neurasmus@u-bordeaux.fr) he/she did not receive any mail from us.
13. What is GRE (Revised General Test)?
We remind you that GRE is not necessary to apply for our programme. More information : http://www.ets.org/gre/
You do not hold a GRE certificate…
We remind you that GRE is not necessary to apply for our programme. Please insert ‘0’ in each box of the e-form where the GRE score is required.
- You hold a GRE certificate and you don’t know where you can upload your certificate…
You have to report the results of your GRE exam as indicated in the e-form:
Test date - Verbal : number of points you received for this part of the test
- Quantitative : number of points you received for this part of the test
- Analytical : number of points you received for this part of the test
- Total : global score
You can upload the copy of your test in the attachments section: See ‘Other documents’, click on [+/-] to add your GRE Certificate
14. When do I apply?
Application deadline for a scholarship: December {year n-1}
Application deadline as a self-funding candidate: February {year n}
Official results: May {year n}
Programme Start: August {year n}
Programme End: August {year n+2}
15. I applied last year and I cannot reactivate my account...
Please note that accounts of non-selected applicants have been deleted due to limitation of storage capacity.You need to activate a new account preferably with different login and password. However, you can use the same e-mail address.
Accounts of candidates who applied for a scholarship last year and obtained a position on the Reserve List are archived 5 years long, since the European Commission requires the storage of selected candidates data in case of Audit. These candidates may ask the Neurasmus Helpdesk for account reactivation, in case they would like to apply again for the EMJMD scholarship. Please send a request to: neurasmus-application@u-bordeaux.fr
16. How can I be sure that my application has been submitted?
I’m not sure if my application has been submitted (or) I think a technical problem occurs…
Make sure:
- you filled in all the parts of the e-form
- you attached all required documents (see check-list)
- your referees submitted their reference letters
–> In this case you completed 100% of the e-form
Make sure:
- you clicked on the button “submit”
- you received an email confirming that your application has been saved.
In the case you received NO e-mail and you are sure all previous steps have been done, please contact neurasmus-application@u-bordeaux.fr
I’m not sure whether I need to submit a paper-based application…
It is definitively not necessary to send your application via postal or electronic mail.
However, you might be required to submit the hard copies later. So keep it anyway.
I do not hold all required attachments at the time of submission…can I still submit my application?
At the time of application, you need to provide all required attachments.
Exceptions are made in the following cases:
1) You registered for an English test, but the exam takes place after the NEURASMUS application deadline… We are aware that you might be able to have your exam after the deadline for application. In that case, please attach a proof of registration to the exam before the deadline. As soon as you receive the results, please send us the certificate by e-mail, before 1st of January.
2) I’m currently a Bachelor student and will be graduated in a few months… We remind you that you can apply, provided you validate your Bachelor degree before the Neurasmus Program starts. In the application form, instead of your Bachelor degree, you need to upload an official letter of your university stating that you are registered as a Bachelor student and will be delivered the Bachelor’s degree, before the Neurasmus program starts. Please note, that if you’re accepted in our program after selection, we urgently will need your bachelor degree in June/July
17. What can I do if my Neurasmus application has not been selected?
After the ranking of all applicants, only 24 students can be accepted to the Neurasmus Programme. The lists of students selected for an Neurasmus EMJMD Scholarship and students accepted to enroll under a self-funding scheme will be provided.
If you are not among the happy winners, you still have a chance to start a Neuroscience M.Sc.- Course in one of the partner universities. If you wish so, please contact the partner University directly.
Frequently ask questions : Scholars
01. Who is eligible to apply?
Scholar scholarships are awarded to high-level scienfitic / academic / staff members / guest lecturers of recognized Higher Education Institutions/ private sector for student-centered teaching / lecturing, research or cooperation activities; Master thesis support, academic/professional networking in the framework of the Neurasmus Program. That means Bachelor, Master or Doctoral students are NOT eligible to this type of Scholarship. Scholars may come from both Programme and Partner Countries and selected to bring added value to the EMJMD student intake of the joint programme.
Scholar/guest lecturers’ mobility is considered eligible in the following cases:
- mobility between the partners of the consortium (including to/from associated partners);
- mobility from outside the consortium, in case such mobility is clearly linked to the Master course.
02. How do I apply and what documents are required to apply?
03. What type of activities can be conducted as a Scholar/Guest lecturer?
04. Duration & amount of scholarship?
Scholars will receive scholarships of € 1,950 per week for a minimum one week stay. A “week’ is defined as minimum 4 out of 7 consecutive calendar days including travelling time. Note that it is not possible to consider 8 consecutive days as 2 weeks.
The exact duration and amount is thus defined according to the cooperation/research/teaching/professional activities selected by the Neurasmus Consortium.
05. Does the scholarship cover all expenses?
06. Can different Scholars/Guests lecturers from my own institution apply at the same time?
07. Can a Scholar/Guest lecturer benefit from another funding during the period he/she receives the Neurasmus scholarship?
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