Erasmus Mundus ACES/ACES+ Scholarships for the Joint Master Degree in AquaCulture, Environment and Society

The EMJMD ACES/ACES+ is a two-year, full-time Erasmus Mundus joint Master in AquaCulture, Environment and Society, and it comes with Erasmus Mundus scholarships for strong applicants. The course is for European and international students who hold a Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in aquaculture, marine science, marine biology, biology, environmental or social sciences and want to build on that background. The 2021-2023 intake is the one open for scholarship applications.

Finish the programme and you receive either a joint degree, meaning one certificate issued on behalf of at least 2 higher education institutions in the consortium, or multiple degrees, meaning at least 2 certificates from two institutions in the consortium.

• Host: Erasmus Mundus consortium coordinated by UHI-SAMS, UK
• Level: Masters Degree
• Study destinations: UK, Greece and France
• Deadline: 15 February 2021
• Course starts: September 2021
• Awards: number not specified
• What is covered: travel, installation and a monthly subsistence allowance

The programme moves students across several EU countries:

Semester 1: Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an academic partner of the University of Highlands and Islands, UK. UHI-SAMS specialises in the environmental effects of aquaculture, especially in cold water marine settings, and in new technologies and systems that reduce those effects.
Semester 2: University of Crete, Greece, with a focus on finfish aquaculture.
Semester 3: University of Nantes, France, with a focus on shellfish aquaculture.
Semester 4: an industry-based research project. Students are spread across the partner universities (SAMS-UHI, Crete, Nantes or Radboud) according to their chosen topic and the availability of staff with the right research expertise.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in AquaCulture, Environment and Society (EMJMD ACES/ACES+)

Not specified

Non-EU and EU students from Partner countries and Programme countries

Scholarships fall into 2 categories: Partner Country scholarships and Programme Country scholarships.

Partner Country scholarships give up to € 8,000 per year per scholarship holder from a Partner Country. That figure includes € 2,000 per year for travel costs plus € 1,000 for installation costs for holders resident in a Partner Country less than 4,000 km from the EMJMD coordinating institution (UHI-SAMS). Holders located 4,000 km or more from UHI-SAMS get € 3,000 per year for travel costs plus € 1,000 for installation costs. On top of this, a monthly allowance of € 1,000 per month is paid as a contribution to subsistence for the whole EMJMD study programme (24 months). At least 75% of the scholarships go to candidates from Partner countries.

Programme Country scholarships give up to € 4,000 per year per scholarship holder from a Programme Country. This includes € 1,000 per year per scholar for travel and installation costs. A monthly allowance of € 1,000 per month is also paid as a contribution to subsistence for the whole EMJMD study programme (24 months).

For both Partner Country and Programme Country scholarships, the monthly subsistence contribution is not paid for EMJMD periods (study, research, placement, thesis preparation) spent in the holder's country of residence. It is also not paid to holders from a Partner country for EMJMD periods longer than 1 trimester (3 months or the equivalent of 15 ECTS credits) spent in any Partner country.

In short, subsistence costs are not covered for EMJMD periods spent in your country of residence, and Partner country holders lose the monthly allowance for periods beyond one trimester (3 months or 15 ECTS credits) spent in any Partner country.

Partner Country scholarships are open to students who are not nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Turkey or the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). They must also not be residents of these countries, and must not have carried out their main activity (studies, training or work) for more than a total of 12 months over the last 5 years in any of them. The 5 year reference period for this 12-month rule is counted backwards from the submission deadline set by the consortium for EMJMD student scholarship applications.

Programme Country scholarships are open to all other students who do not meet the Partner Country criteria. That includes all nationals of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Turkey and FYROM, as well as people who have spent more than a total of 12 months in the EU over the last 5 years.

Applicants to EMJMD ACES/ACES+ must hold a Bachelors degree (or equivalent; second class or higher at Honours level) in 1 of the fields of environmental or social sciences. Accepted backgrounds include Aquaculture-related studies, Marine Science, Aquatic Biology, Biology, Environmental Sciences or Marine Resources, Environmental Economics and Environmental Policy. English competence equivalent to 6.5 Academic IELTS, with a minimum of 6.0 in all 4 components, is required. Mature students and applicants with practical working experience in the aquaculture industry are particularly welcomed.

This programme suits graduates with a science or social science background who want to work on aquaculture and its environmental side, and who are ready to study in more than one European country. If your degree is in aquaculture, marine science, aquatic biology, biology, environmental sciences, marine resources, environmental economics or environmental policy, you meet the subject requirement.

It also fits applicants with hands-on aquaculture industry experience, and mature students, since the programme states these candidates are particularly welcomed. Check the Partner and Programme Country rules first, because they decide which scholarship category you fall into and how much funding you can receive.

For the 2021-2023 intake you must complete two application forms in full: a University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) form and an ACES form. Send both, together with all supporting documents, as a single PDF file by email to Helen Bury at ACES[at]sams.ac.uk by 15 February 2021.

Read the official website (link below) for full details on how to apply for this scholarship before you submit.

• Who can apply for the scholarship? Both EU and non-EU students can apply. Partner Country scholarships are for students outside the listed countries who also meet the residence and 12-month rule, while Programme Country scholarships cover everyone else.
• What does the scholarship cover? Travel and installation costs, plus a monthly allowance of € 1,000 per month for the 24 months of the programme, subject to the residence rules.
• What degree and English level do I need? A Bachelors degree (or equivalent; second class or higher at Honours level) in one of the listed fields, and English equivalent to 6.5 Academic IELTS with at least 6.0 in all 4 components.
• When is the deadline? 15 February 2021. Applications go by email as a single PDF to Helen Bury at ACES[at]sams.ac.uk.
• Where will I study? Semester 1 at UHI-SAMS in the UK, Semester 2 at the University of Crete in Greece, Semester 3 at the University of Nantes in France, and Semester 4 as an industry-based research project with a partner university.

• Read the official guidelines and the Partner and Programme Country definitions before you start, so you know which scholarship category applies to you.
• Prepare your degree certificate, transcripts and English test evidence early, since everything must be sent as one PDF file.
• Complete both the UHI and the ACES forms in full rather than sending one and planning to add the other later.
• Explain any aquaculture industry or practical work experience in your application, as the programme says these candidates are particularly welcomed.
• Submit before the deadline rather than on the day, so email or file problems do not cost you the application.