FAQ

If the students already holds a Master's degree in the concerned domains, he / she is welcome to apply for Mamaself.

Students can apply if they are able to provide their Bachelor Diploma before summer. Students can not register in the program without a Bachelor degree.

The selection comittee for Mamaself applications will take the following criteria into consideration for the selection of the Mamaself students :

• Very good study results
• Academic potential
• Level in English
• Motivation
• Recommendations
• Internship or work experience

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

The expected background of applicants must be compatible with studying fundamentals of materials and related advanced characterization techniques. B.Sc. in physics, chemistry, or materials science are the most suitable degrees for application. Bachelors in Mechanical engineering are not adapted to the Mamaself program. If your profile is different, then please check that you have basics background in the following topics:

Chemistry: general and inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, chemical lab practice.

Physics: general physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetics), modern physics (basics in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics), introduction to solid state physics.

Materials: crystal structure, classes of materials, solid state analytics.

Mathematical tools: linear algebra, fundamental calculus, differential equations, complex analysis.

You can upload a complementary document to your application : syllabus of your lectures in these topics.

Students can apply if they have a Bachelor in Physics, or Chemistry or Materials science or Materials science engineering with very good results and with a good level in English. Bachelors in Mechanical engineering are not adapted to the Mamaself program.

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

The student must study at (at least) 2 different Universities of the consortium. He/ she must change country between year 1 and year 2. University choices are subject to the students background and to Mamaself advisory board.

For more details about the programme, see MaMaSELF website : http://www.mamaself.eu

Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders will obtain a degree from at least two European institutions.

It is recommended that you provide a syllabus of the courses taken in Bachelor, which means a document giving the explicit names of the courses, and a short description of the content and outcomes of the course.

Non-EU students who want to apply to the Erasmus Mundus scholarship must submit their application before the deadline  for Non-EU students. Non-EU students can apply until 15 May each year without scholarship. Students from Turkey will apply with the European students. Non-EU students who spent a year in Europe before the start of the prohram will apply with the Non-EU students.

1. How many reference letters are required?
You are required to provide contact details for two referees in your application. At least one recommendation letter must be received before you can submit your application.

2. How will I know when a reference letter has been submitted?
You will receive an email notification each time a recommendation letter is added to your file. However, please note that you will not have access to the content of the letters.

3. Who should I choose as my referees?
Select professors or supervisors who know your academic or professional background well and who can provide a strong and relevant recommendation. Inform them beforehand about your request and make sure they are willing to provide a reference for you.

4. Can I use a personal email address for my referees?
You should provide an official institutional email address (e.g., university or organization email). Personal email addresses like Gmail or Yahoo can be used only n case there isn't an official adress, and will be less considered as they cannot allow to verify the referee’s official affiliation.

5. What happens after I save the reference section of my application?
When you save the page, an automatic email will be sent to each referee you have listed, requesting a recommendation letter. The email will be sent from [contact@mamaself.eu] with the subject line: "Erasmus Mundus MaMaSELF | Referent".

6. What should I do if my referee does not receive the email request?
- Check spam/junk folders: Ask your referee to check their spam or junk folders. The email will come from [contact@mamaself.eu], and some email providers may flag it as spam.

- Resend the email request: You can resend the email request yourself. Go to the referees section of you application, and resubmit the form to resend the email. This will send a new request to your referee.

- If the referee still does not receive the email: If your referee does not receive the email after a second attempt, please provide an alternative email address for your referee if available. Then if it still does not work, contact us as soon as possible and explain the situation. This is crucial, as your application cannot be considered without the reference letters.

7. Can I change the email address of a referee after saving the form?
Yes, you can update the email address of a referee in your application. However, please note that if you do so, a new email request will automatically be sent to the updated email address.

8. Will I be able to see the contents of the recommendation letters?
No, for privacy reasons, you will not have access to the content of the recommendation letters. The letters will be sent directly by the referees and will remain confidential.

9. Why is it important to choose the right referees?
The validity and impact of a recommendation letter depends on the authenticity and credibility of the referee. We may contact referees directly for verification purposes to ensure the letter’s authenticity.

The English level certificate is compulsory. All lectures during the MaMaSELF programme are given in English, so the level in English is an important criterion.

Students must provide one of the accepted English tests, see the precise list below. Please take into consideration that the level required at each site of the consortium can be different, so please read the following information carefully.

AT UR, UM, UniTO and AMU:

•  Internet based Test (iBT): 80. Only the Test Date Score is valid (MyBest Score will not be accepted).
•  iBT Home Edition: 80. Only the Test Date Score is valid (MyBest Score will not be accepted)

AT LMU and TUM:

•  Internet based Test (iBT): 88. Only the Test Date Score is valid (MyBest Score will not be accepted).
•  iBT Home Edition: 88. Only the Test Date Score is valid (MyBest Score will not be accepted)

CAMBRIDGE

• CAE (Cambridge Advanced English), Grades A, B, C
• CPE (Cambridge Proficiency English), Grades A, B, C

CECR (Common European Framework of Reference) 

The CECR, will be accepted at the University of Rennes, University of Montpellier and University of Turin, level B2, C1 or C2.

English as a medium of instruction

If your education in your country was in English, then please provide a certificate from your university confirming this. This document will be compulsory if the student does not provide an accepted English test. In thiscase, the language of instruction needs to have been English for at least 50% of the programme, for at least one year.

• Bachelor's Degree

This page contents information regarding the application process AND reglementation. Please read it carefully before you begin preparing your application. Download the document.

Master's Admission Requirements

To be qualified for admission to the Master Mamaself you must:

1. Have earned a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or higher; be in the process of finalizing your Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), in Materials science, Physics, Chemistry or related disciplines
2. Have a high level of English language.
3. Complete all required forms for admission and submit all required documents.

All expenses related to the application, including translation and certification services, English tests costs, postal expenses, etc. must be covered by the applicant.

Required documents

1. A copy of your valid passport or European Union ID
2. A copy of your Bachelor degree or any other relevant degrees earned to date. If you have not obtained your Bachelor’s degree yet, you can still apply by providing a university letter which indicates that you are registered in your third Bachelor year. The student must provide the degree before registration at Univesity for Mamaself Master course.
3. A copy of your university transcripts (list of courses and grades). Please provide certified tranlations in English.
4. A letter of motivation stating your career aspirations and the reasons of your decision to apply for Mamaself. Please write in essay format and limit it to 1-2 pages.
5. Curriculum Vitae/Résumé
6. 2 letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources. At least one of the reference letters must be written by a professor.
7. Proof of proficiency in English. There are multiple ways to prove your proficiency in English. Please see the “Proof of Proficiency in the English Language” section to see which option is best for you.

Gathering documents for an application might be a long and time-consuming process, please plan in advance !

Proof of proficiency in the english language

All applicants are required to prove their proficiency in the English language. Applicants can prove proficiency in English by meeting one of the following conditions before enrolling:

• English as a native language
• TOEFL – Minimum score: 230 (computer based), 80 (internet based), or 550 (paper based)
• IELTS – Minimum score: 6.5
• Cambridge ESOL, Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Minimum score: C
• English as the language of instruction during previous studies. The student must have studied at least one year in classes taught in English.

Application deadline

The official deadline are published on our website, our flyer and our application site every year and is updated before each application session.

There are 2 different deadlines for Mamaself application : First deadline for applications with scholarship, second deadline for applications without scholarship (15 May).

All applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The application deadline is calculated in French local time.

Recommendation letters

Applicants will provide 2 reference letters, using the online system in the application site. The reference letters must be written in English. There is no specific format required, but they should be written on letterheaded paper.

The letters must be uploaded by the professors themselves on the students file using the direct link provided. Please carefully check the professors email before entering it in the form.

Reference letters sent by email separately will not be considered. No hard copy is needed.

Communication

The Mamaself admission comittee will answer your questions through the application site before and during the application. Please also refer to the FAQs ! All communication will be done in English.

Applicants must mention their Students application number in order to avoid confusions. Application questions in mails without the students number will not be considered.

Selection criteria

The selection comittee for Mamaself applications will take the following criteria into consideration for the selection of the Mamaself students :

• Outstanding academic study results
• Academic potential
• Level in English
• Motivation
• Recommendations
• Internship or work experience

The scholarships are granted on a competitive basis. 

After application

1. The Selection comittee will review your application and will be in touch with you if more information is needed or some additional documents are required. Please, regularly check your mailbox corresponding to the email that you provided in your application form.
2. After the deadline, the selection comittee will meet and evaluate all applications. The Admissions office will publish the results on the application site : students can check the result online on their personal account. The student will also receive a mail with the results. If you don’t see your status at the date given for the results, please contact the Mamaself Admissions comittee.
3. If you are awarded a scholarship, the tuition fees will be paid from the stipend. In that case, the student does not need to pay the tuition fees in advance, it will be undertaken from the scholarship payment during the course.
4. If you are selected for Mamaself Master Course, but are not awarded the scholarship, you might want to search for other funding opportunities available and look for alternative financing : please see the page dedicated to other funding on the Mamaself website (https://www.mamaself.eu/other-financing).

Appeal procedure

The purpose of the appeal is to verify that the procedure has been applied correctly and in accordance with the principles communicated to the applicant and that no error has been made while evaluating the application. All appeal procedures must be done through the Appeal form (see FAQ).

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

Letters of recommendation are compulsory.

While filling the application form you will see the part "reference letters" in this form you are asked to propose 2 contacts among your professors. please indicate the mail of the reference professors. He/ she will receive a mail asking he / she to upload the recommendation letter to your file.

Before entering the email of the Reference professor, please make sure that he/ she will be able to send a letter for you. Also check that the email adress is still the correct one. If there is a mistake in the email adress the student enters, the professor will not receive the automatic email.

There will be no change done by Mamaself on the application, so be really carefull in the information you enter before submitting the application.

The recommendation letters can be written by a Professor or a non-academic relation (for example the intership responsible). We recommand that at least one reference letter  will be written by a university professor.

If your professor did not receive the automatic email for sending the recommendation letter, maybe it is in the SPAM of your professors e-mail  box. Please ask him/ her to check.

In a second time, student can resend the mail from his own account to send the automatic mail with link to the professor again.

In a third time, eventually, the Professor can send the letter directly to Mamaself administration. We do not advise this last solution, as it is possible that a reference letter in that context can get lost. The secured way is that your reference professor will upload the letter directly to your application file.

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

Letters of recommendation are compulsory.
 

While filling the application form you will see the part "reference letters" in this form you are asked to propose 2 contacts among your professors. please indicate the mail of the reference professors. He/ she will receive a mail asking he / she to upload the recommendation letter to your file.

Before entering the email of the Reference professor, please make sure that he/ she will be able to send a letter for you. Also check that the email adress is still the correct one. If there is a mistake in the email adress the student enters, the professor will not receive the automatic email.

There will be no change done by Mamaself on the application, so be really carefull in the information you enter before submitting the application.

The recommendation letters can be written by a Professor or a non-academic relation (for example the intership responsible). We recommand that at least one reference letter  will be written by a university professor.

If your professor did not receive the automatic email for sending the recommendation letter, maybe it is in the SPAM of your professors e-mail  box. Please ask him/ her to check.

In a second time, student can resend the mail from his own account to send the automatic mail with link to the professor again.

In a third time, eventually, the Professor can send the letter directly to Mamaself administration. We do not advise this last solution, as it is possible that a reference letter in that context can get lost. The secured way is that your reference professor will upload the letter directly to your application file.

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

• Bachelor degree (with certified English translation)
• Transcripts (with translation)
• English competencies certificate
• Reference letters
• Passeport

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

English competencies

The certificate for English level is compulsory.

We advise the students to register for the English Test early in order to have the results before the application deadline.

All non-native speakers must demonstrate their English proficiency e.g. with a test result in the International English Testing System (IELTS) or TOEFL test.

Proof of good English competencies, e.g. TOEFL CBT 230 and PBT 550 IBT 80 / IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, except for applicants native from English speaking countries and for students having been educated in English at secondary or/and university. Students who intend to have a mobility at TUM must have following level for admission at TUM : TOEFL IBT 88, CBT 234/ PBT 605.

In case the students education was in English, please provide instead of the IELTS or TOEFL a certificate from your University stating that your lectures were in English.

In case the student had a study period mobility at an English speaking University, please also add a certificate that the medium of instruction was English

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

Category A scholarships can be awarded to Master students (selected by the consortium) who come from a Non-European country.
That means country other than an eligible applicant country and who are not residents nor have carried out their main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of these countries.
Eligible applicant countries include: the 27 EU Member States and the EEA-EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). For more details, please check the EACEA web site at: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/tools/faq_general_en.php#9).

Category B scholarships : this scholarship is for EU students and for non-EU students who already spent 12 months in Europe before the application deadline. This scholarship can be awarded to any Masters students selected by the consortium consortia and who do not fulfill the Category A criteria defined above.

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

The Erasmus Mundus scholarship covers tuition fees and allows to cover all expenses that non eu students normally face during their studies.

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

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 by mobile students through the transfer of credits. The ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits are equivalent to the workload of full-time student during one academic year.

• IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 80 (au TUM 88)
• PbT 550 (at TUM 605)
• CbT 230 (at TUM 234)
• CAE/CPE

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

Upon exceptionnal derogation (for example high level sportive students)

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu

You should get an email with an activation link less than 20 minutes after registration, if not :

1. Have you checked your emails spam folder ?
2. Did you enter a valid email address ?

Information relating to individuals (personal data) is collected and used in accordance with the Directive 95/46 EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 (Official Journal L 281 , 23/11/1995 P. 0031 – 0050)
Notice that personal data will be sent to the Agency and may be used by other bodies involved in the management of Erasmus Mundus (i.e. European Commission, Erasmus Mundus National Structures, EU Delegations, Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association) for facilitating the student candidate access to the joint programme.

The Mamaself consortium will use your personal details to record your registration and to contact you if necessary.
We will only use your details within the Mamaself Consortium for administrative purposes of the project. We will by no means communicate your details to non-involved third parties, nor will we use these details or allow them to be used for commercial purposes.

We have taken all the necessary security measures to prevent the loss, unlawful use or alteration of your personal details.

In agreement with the Belgian Act of 8 December 1992 on the protection of private life with respect to the processing of personal details, you shall have the right to consult your details in our database at any time. If necessary, you can request the correction of your details or oppose the processing of these details.

To this end, please contact the above address.

Philippe Rabiller
Master Erasmus Mundus Mamaself
Université Rennes 1
Campus de Beaulieu
Bat 11 A, Bureau 101
CS 74205 35042 RENNES cedex
FRANCE

Disclaimer
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Please refer to the information given on the Mamaself website www.mamaself.eu