Admission procedure

The SMART Selection Committee will review all applications and select those applicants who will be accepted into the programme and to whom fellowships will be offered.

The selection process will consist of two steps; the Selection Committee will assign a maximum score of 50 points for each step.

Step 1: assessment of qualifications, academic merit, personal statement, research project proposal, references obtained.  A common template will be used for comparing candidates to inform selection for step 2, and also for compiling feedback to unsuccessful candidates. Candidates achieving a minimum score of 30 in step 1 will be admitted to step 2 (the interview).

Step 2: interview. This step is aimed at assessing the excellence of the candidates and the suitability of their scientific and educational backgrounds for undertaking research training in their area of interest and their academic potential. Where candidates cannot attend in person, the interview will be undertaken through a remote medium (teleconference, videoconference, skype).

The final ranking of candidates will be based on the overall score achieved during steps 1 and 2. This will produce a list of selected candidates and a list of reserve candidates. Please note that no more than two doctoral candidates with the same nationality can be awarded an EMJD fellowship in the same Doctoral cohort, and that selections must conform to the required mix of Category A and Category B candidates. Where a selected doctoral candidate is unable to commence the programme by the start date, their fellowship may be reassigned to a candidate from the same category on the SMART Selection Committee’s reserve list.

Successful and reserve list candidates will be informed of their selection after the approval of the Agency. Other candidates who are not successful nor on the reserve list will be informed by e-mail of the SMART Selection Committee’s decision as soon as possible after it has been taken.

Admission can be completed only when candidates have obtained and delivered to the Consortium all necessary documents, visas, permits and insurance policies for the enrolment (the SMART consortium will offer help with these procedures, but final responsibility to obtain the required documentation rests with the candidate).

The programme will start during September; late starts cannot be permitted.  Candidates who are unable to obtain and deliver all necessary documents, visas and permits by commencement in September will be excluded from the programme, and their fellowships reassigned to another candidate on the reserve list.