APPLICATIONS

NORISK will have its second edition in 2025/2026 as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Course, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme.

THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026

NORISK will have its second edition in 2025/2026 as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) Course, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. NORISK Master Course starts on October 1, 2025, and finishes at the end of September every academic year.

The opportunities to apply are grouped into three calls, as shown below. Note that the EU Scholarships will only be available during the first call, so it is important to submit applications within this call, if funding by EU is sought. NORISK also provides Consortium Scholarships. Most of the Consortium Scholarships will be available during the first call.

Balanced gender participation issues are addressed by NORISK during the selection of the applicants. The selections will be based on the merits and strength of applications/applicants. In cases of ‘tie evaluation’, the gender balance will be taken into account as a criterion for the selection. Given the low participation of women in engineering related studies and the need of the increase of women participation in the future competitiveness worldwide, NORISK will secure 5% of the EMJM and Consortium grants for woman students. Similarly, NORISK will secure 5% of the EMJM and Consortium grants for students with special educational needs.

Applications for the academic year 2025/2026 are closed!

There will be three compulsory and one optional physical student mobility: i) 1st mobility – coursework (Mandatory); ii) 2nd mobility – Integration Week (Mandatory); iii) 3rd mobility – dissertation (Mandatory); iv) 4th mobility – NORISK Workshop (Optional). While the Integration Week is financially supported by the Consortium, the students may need to support the physical presence at NORISK Workshop – optionally they can also participate virtually (the participation is Mandatory either physical or virtual). However, local sponsors will be perused to, at least, support partially the costs.

FIRST CALL

The first call is opened to all students of any nationality. Every eligible application submitted to the NORISK Master programme within this deadline is automatically considered also as an application to an Erasmus+ scholarship and Consortium scholarship.

• Applications deadline: January 15, 2025 at 23:59 (UTC – Coordinated Universal Time) – You can download the sample application form HERE. Please note that applications must be made on our application form, available below.
• Notification of the best ranked preselected students for the interview: February 15, 2025.
• Interviews: February 17 to 21, 2025.
• Notification of the Application’s admission: until March 14, 2025.

SECOND CALL

The second call is opened to all students of any nationality. Every eligible application submitted to NORISK Master programme within this deadline is automatically considered also as an application to a Consortium scholarship (if available).

• Applications deadline: April 7, 2025 at 23:59 (UTC – Coordinated Universal Time).
• Notification of the Application’s admission: April 30, 2025.

THIRD CALL (Optional)

The third call is opened to all students of any nationality. Every eligible application submitted to the NORISK Master programme within this deadline is automatically considered also as an application to a Consortium scholarship (if available).

• Applications deadline: May 19, 2025 at 23:59  (UTC – Coordinated Universal Time).
• Notification of the Application’s admission: June 16, 2025.

DEPOSIT

Any selected applicant must bear in mind that, the confirmation of acceptance by the student implies automatically that other interested applicants will not be able to join the Master, as the number of applicants is much larger than the number of vacancies.

Therefore, the NORISK Consortium will request to all selected students the payment of a deposit of 250 Euro to confirm their acceptance of the enrolment in the Master Course.

This deposit will be returned to students only if they register at the University. The only purpose of this measure is to avoid filling up the Master Course places with students that will not finally participate and that will compromise the enrolment of other interested students.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to NORISK will be decided on a competitive basis; the students are assessed on the basis of their previous academic record. To be admitted, applicants must:

• Have completed at least 240 ECTS education in Civil Engineering, Industrial and/or Systems Engineering, Materials Engineering, Environmental Engineering or related fields or equivalent, having been awarded a recognised degree in any of such fields. For students having a study period in UNIPD (either coursework or dissertation) a minimum of 300 ECTS education in Civil Engineering, Industrial and/or Systems Engineering, Materials Engineering, Environmental Engineering (in particular 6 ECTS in Hydraulics, 6 ECTS in Hydraulic and marine constructions and hydrology, 6 ECTS in Structural mechanics, 6 ECTS in Structural engineering, 4 ECTS in Geotechnics, other 12 ECTS obtained in Civil engineering and architecture, and other 8 ECTS in Mathematics, Physics and/or Chemistry) is required. Consortium considers this wide spectrum of previous education to be an asset of the Master, which will provide students with opportunities for inter-specialty collaboration.
• Be proficient in English. Students from non-English speaking countries are required to have passed one of the following tests: TOEFL (score 525 – paper based / 72 – internet based or higher) or IELTS (score 6.5 or higher) or equivalent qualifications.
• Students who have not completed their degree but expect to graduate before September 21st, can apply to the Master’s course and receive a grant. If selected, their admission will be conditional on the receipt of the degree certificate by the MSc Secretariat before July 31st (EM scholarships) and September 21st (other applicants). 

Upon application, students must provide:

• Letter of motivation between 1500 and 5000 characters (spaces included);
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae in European format (https://europa.eu/europass/pt/create-europass-cv);
• Certificates and diplomas from previous universities studies;
• Transcripts of records including grades and course syllabus from previous university studies;
• English proficiency certificates;
• Certificates of relevant work experience and other professional certificates, if any;
• Two recommendation letters (sent by the applicant directly through the application portal);
• Proof of residence (issued within 12 months before the submission deadline) – only for the first call;
• Special educational needs evidenced by a report from a specialist doctor and/or, in specific cases, describing the type of special educational need and its impact for the demands of the NORISK involved Partners setting.

Admission is subjected to the approval of the NORISK Managing Board and is based upon the applicant’s ability and motivation, recommendation letters and language skills.

RANKING OF APPLICANTS

The selection procedure will be carried out by the Consortium Management Board at UMINHO (Academic Committee). Only complete applications will be assessed. The applications will be pre-screened for formal requirements. The applications fulfilling the formal requirements shall be given over to the EMJM Academic Committee for evaluation. Special care will be taken to avoid any discrimination on student selection. Applications will be considered solely on the basis of their academic merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant distinction.

The selection procedure is divided in two stages: i) Academic evaluation of the candidate’s curriculum based on the information provided by the applicants through the online Application System; and ii) Interview to the 50 to 70 best ranked preselected students. 

The academic evaluation of the candidate’s curriculum is based on the following criteria:

• Previous higher education studies;
• Content of the previous studies/quality of the institution;
• Relevant work experience;
• Recommendation letters;
• Motivation letter;
• Additional information (publications, awards, etc.).

The interviews will be carried out by videoconference. A maximum number of 5-7 applicants from the same country will be called for interview. The consortium will take measures to increase the number of women and of underrepresented groups to be called to interview, to ensure their merits are adequately assessed. Applicants will be ranked according to their score and the Academic Committee will propose the 50 to 70 best ranked students to form the list of admitted and reserve candidates. This list will be submitted to the partners in the Consortium for approval. The partners in the Consortium shall approve the list of admitted students and of those which will be proposed for Erasmus Mundus Scholarships or any other available funding. After their feedback, a final ranking list and a reserve list are prepared and proposed to the European Commission.

LANGUAGE

The language of instruction and the language of examinations is English. Courses (including course material), examinations and study counselling are available in English only.

PARTICIPATION COSTS

The tuition fee for the NORISK programme is 9000 Euro. This covers the administrative costs of the programme (registration, enrolment, subscription, administrative support, access to faculty and university services, the organisation of the case studies, the thesis defence, and other expenditures directly linked to the organisation of the course) and the health insurance.

Participation costs only cover administrative fees and the academic costs of the programme. They do not include costs for living, housing and travel.

The cost of living is variable, depending on the course location. On average terms, minimum monthly expenses, excluding accommodation, are about (information collected from www.numbeo.com):

• 585 Euro in Guimarães (Portugal)
• 771 Euro in Barcelona (Spain)
• 873 Euro in Padova (Italy)
• 908 Euro in La Rochelle (France)

The accommodation cost is also very variable and, on average, are about:

• 675 Euro in Guimarães (Portugal)
• 1,156 Euro in Barcelona (Spain)
• 757 Euro in Padova (Italy)
• 917 Euro in La Rochelle (France)

Therefore, the student is strongly advised to perform a careful economic survey about all the costs involved prior decide to enroll in the EMJM NORISK

STUDENTS GUIDES

The Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (www.em-a.eu) are envisaged to assist prospective and new Erasmus Mundus students throughout the whole period of their involvement with the Erasmus Mundus Master programme.

Student’s Guides to assist NORISK applicants and students are available here:

Coming soon…