Requirements

All candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent at the moment of the deadline for application, having completed their first and second cycle of higher education in a relevant field within the scientific disciplines of the SMART programme (Civil / Environmental Engineering or Natural / Earth / Environmental Sciences, or Ecology, Biology, Geography, Physics or Applied Mathematics). Equivalent degrees that guarantee access to own country doctoral programmes with a non-Bologna higher education system will also be admitted to the selection process.

Candidates who will only obtain their postgraduate higher education degree at the end of the academic year preceding the one concerned by the fellowship application can nevertheless apply for a doctoral fellowship and be selected by the consortium under the condition that they acquire the required degree by July 23, 2012.

A thorough proficiency in English is also necessary: this will be confirmed by the candidates on the application form. If available, a statement of formal qualifications may be included although this is not compulsory. English proficiency will also be checked by the Selection committee during the interview. Doctoral candidates whose English is later found to be insufficient to progress successfully through the programme within the 3-year limit may have their fellowship re-assigned to another applicant or be otherwise terminated from the programme.