FAQs

1. What are partner countries?
Partner countries are non-member states of the EU and non-programme countries. A detailed list can be found here: (https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/programme-guide/part-a/who-can-participate/eligible-countries_en)

2. What are programme countries?
Member states of the European Union, plus Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey.

3. What are partner country scholarships?
These are scholarships that can be awarded to students from partner countries.

4. What are programme country scholarships?
These are scholarships that can be awarded to EU students (including students from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Norway and Turkey).

6. What is SMACCs?
It is a two-year Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) Programme in SMArt Cities and Communities given by four partner universities in the field, divided into four mobility tracks.

7. How many credits does the Programme consist of?
The EMJMD SMACCs consists of 120 credits, 2 academic years, 60 credits per academic year.

8. What are the Universities taking part in the SMACCs Programme?
The partners of the SMACCs Programme are:
The University of Mons
Heriot-Watt University
The University of the Basque Country
International Hellenic University

9. What is the duration of SMACCs?
SMACCs is a two-year Master’s Programme.

10. How is the mobility scheme organized?
The general mobility arrangement within the academic programme is as follows:

  • SMACCs students start to earn their first 30 ECTS credits during their first academic year at HWU (U.K.) or UPV/EHU (Spain).
  • SMACCs students continue to earn their next 30 ECTS credits during their first academic year at UMONS (Belgium) or IHU (Greece).
  • During their 3rd semester, SMACCs students will study at HWU or UPV/EHU.
    That means that each student will have the opportunity to study at least 1 semester at 3 different Partner Universities and 3 different countries.
  • Study periods outside of the four SMACCs main partner universities (typically during the 4th semester) will be arranged on a student-bystudent basis depending on the courses and thesis supervision offered by the associated partners (universities, research institutes and companies) as well as the student’s interest, academic performance and language abilities.
    More information is available at: http://www.smaccs.eu/the-programme/programme-structure/mobility/

11. What are the Programme’s specialization topics?
The Specializations offered in SMACCs are on:

  • ‘Smart Grids and Demand Management’ (HWU, U.K.)
  • ‘Sustainable Urban Planning, Energy and Transport’ (UMONS, Belgium)
  • ‘Information and Communication Technologies’ (IHU, Greece)
  • ‘Energy Efficiency on Buildings’ (UPV/EHU, Spain)

The description of the offered course is available at:

12. How does the credit system work?
Students are expected to successfully complete a total of 60 ECTS credits per year. All academic achievements are assessed using the European Credit-Transfer-System (ECTS): 30 credits have to be earned during each semester (including the completion of a Master’s Thesis worth 30 ECTS in semester 4).

13. What is ECTS?
European Credit-Transfer-System (ECTS) is a standard for comparing the study attainment and performance of students of higher education across the European Union and other collaborating European countries. One academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS-credits that are equivalent to 1500–1800 hours of study in all countries irrespective of standard or qualification type and one credit corresponds to 25-30 hours of work.

14. Which is the grading scale used by EMJMD SMACCs?
Grades received by each partner are transferred into a common A-F grading scheme based on grade distribution tables in each individual university. The minimum passing grade for a course in SMACCs is D.

15. When does the programme start?
The program starts either in the first week of September in Edinburgh or the first week in October in Bilbao (depending on your chosen mobility path).

16. What certification do I get when I finish the master’s course?
You will receive a joint degree issued by Heriot-Watt University and recognised by the four Universities taking part in the Consortium.

17. Where can I find information on the courses?
More information on the courses can be found on http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/structure-diagram

1. How can I apply?
The application for EMJMD SMACCs has to be made online through the master’s programme website: http://www.smaccs.eu/practical/application/
See the http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/instructions for further details.
If you have any question or problem please email: info@smaccs.eu

2. Is there a deadline for applications?
Yes; Info on deadlines can be found on http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/deadlines.

3. Can both European and non-European students apply for the SMACCS Master’s Programme?
Yes.

4. My undergraduate degree is in XYZ. Am I eligible to apply in your programme using EMJMD Scholarship?
Yes; while the program is geared towards students with an engineering or science degree, this does not mean that candidates with a non-engineering or science degree cannot submit their application. It simply means that we will consider them on a case by case study as is indicated in the web site. More information about the admission criteria can be found on http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/admission-criteria/
Admission instructions are provided on http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/instructions/

5. Can students apply for EMJMD SMACCs through the European Commission?
No. The only way to apply for the programme or the scholarships is through the online application process indicated on the SMACCs programme webpage.

6. I am from (insert country of choice here) and I would like to know if I am able to apply for this programme.
Nationality is not a criteria to joining the program, so of course you are able to apply. Nationality/place of residence will be only considered to assign available scholarships. For more details see http://www.smaccs.eu/practical/scholarships/

7. I have not graduated yet, can I still apply?
Yes. Students in their final year of undergraduate education may also apply and can, if considered qualified, receive a conditional offer. If this applies to you, you should include a written statement from the degree administration’s office (or equivalent department), confirming that you are enrolled on the final year of your education and giving your expected completion date as well as your current academic transcripts.
However, you will be required to present (send by email to smaccs@umons.ac.be) the certificate for the Degree (original document to be translated in English).
Please note that generally only students having at least a Bachelor (or Master) degree awarded and who satisfy the relevant prerequisites will be eligible for the programme.

8. What are the selection criteria?
The selection process is based on an evaluation of the following: Academic record, Motivation letter, Work experience, R&D experience, and Reference Letters.

9. When and how will I know if I have been admitted to SMACCs and if I have been granted a scholarship?
You will receive a notification of acceptance with or without scholarship. Information about the deadlines for informing the applicants about their status can be found on http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/deadlines/

10. How shall I fill out the form? Is a hardcopy necessary?
There is an electronic form in our web site that you have to fill in with all the required questions and necessary documents so please read the web site information carefully.
No hardcopies are necessary for submitting the application, we prefer to receive the application electronically.

11. Do I have to send the original physical documents or just upload the original document in digital version?
You will need to upload the original documents in digital form on the platform when submitting your application; should your application be successful you will have to present the originals during registration.

12. Is there a specific format for the CV?
No, there is no specific format for the CV, but Europass template is highly recommended.

13. Is there a specific format for the letters of reference?
You can find the template for the reference letter at http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/instructions/
Please note that the reference letters must be signed, otherwise they will not be considered in the selection process.

14. I would like to apply for the SMACCs programme as well as other programmes that are offered at the Department of Engineering of the University of Mons/the Basque Country/Heriot-Watt/International Hellenic University. Can I apply for all of them?
You are able to apply for the programmes offered by the University of Mons/the Basque Country/Heriot-Watt/International Hellenic University during the regular Master application period. Please note that SMACCs is an Erasmus Mundus programme with its specific admission requirements, application procedure and application deadline. For other programmes at the partner universities, please refer to their respective websites and follow their instructions.

15. I have previously taken part in an Erasmus Mundus (EM) master’s programme and have been awarded a scholarship. Can I still apply for SMACCs?
You may apply, however you are not eligible for an EM scholarship since:
“Individuals who have already benefited from an EM master’s program scholarship are not eligible for a second scholarship in order to follow the same or another master’s program”.

16. Is an ID card an acceptable ID document instead of the passport?
Although an ID card for EU students is acceptable, we would prefer all applicants to get a passport (if existing).

17. What is meant by “Degree final mark” in the application form?
This is the general average (final) grade after you have got all the ECTS required to complete your studies.

18. May I use CGPA as ‘Degree final mark’ and ‘out of Degree Final Mark Max’ for applying in SMACCs programme?
Yes.

19. I have no scientific publications. Does that mean I have no chances in being considered for the scholarship?
Publications are only one of several criteria. We are aware that a lot of our applicants won’t have publications. So do not let this keep you from applying to the programme and scholarship.

20. What are the language requirements for the programme?
Please see http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/admission-criteria/ for information (paragraphs above the table with minimum test scores for English competency)

21. My first degree was taught in English. Do I still have to provide an English proficiency certificate?
If a candidate has completed his/her previous studies with English as the language of instruction, the SMACCs programme can usually accept this as evidence of the English level (an official letter confirming the language of instruction from the student’s university is required for confirmation). More information on http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/admission-criteria/

22. My IELTS centre does not issue any certified copy of Test Report Form (TRF). Can I use scanned copy of my original TRF instead?
Yes.

23. I have a TOEFL degree with a sufficient score that is 3 years old. Can I submit this to prove my proficiency in English or do I have to take a test for this exam again?
The language test should be reasonable recent, but there is no expiring date on your language skills per se. Test results from the last two years will be accepted for this year’s application as well; if your test results are even earlier, please contact us at info@smaccs.eu.

24. To what UMONS Department/Administration should I send my TOEFL Test Scores? (When selecting the UMONS UNIVERSITY (code: C194), a school/department must be provided).
The programme is offered by UMONS’ Faculty of Engineering.

25. I have booked a computer based IELTS test; the results will be available online before the deadline, while the hard copy (Test Report Form) will only be available after the deadline. Is the online result valid to secure my application?
Yes, you can forward the online results with the Test Report Form Number included.

26. I would like to ask about the length of the motivation letter. Is there a word count/page limit? Is it compulsory to submit only one page? Can I exceed one page?
There is a 1-page limit. We are aware that this could be a brief space for expressing everything, but the ability to express oneself short and concise is one of the aspects we are looking for.

27. Is it necessary to translate the documents?
If the supporting (official) documents, certificates or letters have been issued in a language other than English, you should enclose the corresponding legalized or sworn translation.

28. What is meant by a certified document/how shall I certify my documents/who needs to certify my documents?
The copies (in English) should be officially signed and stamped by a state authority (e.g. by a competent official at the municipal administration of the country) or an authorized office or by your University. Should they be in another language, you will need to have them translated by a certified translator. In this case the translator’s report would count as the certified copy.

29. Do I have to certify the Application form/Motivation Letter/CV?
The application form, the motivation letter and the CV are written by you, the applicant, and as such are considered originals by default.

30. Would a scanned certificate issued by a company where I did my internship counts as certified?
Both can be accepted given that they are officially signed and stamped by the Company and are in English. Should your application be successful, you will have to present the originals of these documents at registration.

31. I did not see any parts in the online application form where I can include my referees’ name
The referees’ details should be filled in the application form (Word document) found on https://smaccs-apply.ihu.edu.gr/
The referees have to submit the reference letters directly to the email address applications@smaccs.eu by the application deadline that corresponds to your case. More information on the deadlines can be found on https://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/instructions

32. Can I upload the reference letter myself?
The recommendation letters strictly have to be send directly form the referees and not from the candidate.

33. Can I provide more than 2 letters of reference?
Two letters of reference are enough; if you can provide more letters of reference, then one academic and one professional letter of reference would be best.

34. What is the deadline for my professors to submit their reference letters?
More information about the deadlines can be found on https://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/instructions

35. To get a proof of residency, I need to specify an address to send it to. Which address should I use?
Please address the documents to the project coordinator at the University of Mons:
Université de Mons
EMJMD Smart Cities and Communities
Service Inscriptions
Place du Parc, 22
7000 Mons, Belgium

36. In part A of the application form, in “Choosing the path of study”, what should I write exactly in the brackets?
Put your preferences in the brackets according to the study paths listed in the form; for example, if your preferred study path would be HWU – UMONS – UPV/EHU, then place a “1” in the bracket next to it; we will try to give each students their preferred path of study, but it might not be possible. So we ask you to identify your second and third favourite path as well by writing “2” and “3” in the brackets next to them, respectively.

37. Which type of document can I provide as proof of residency for a successful application?
The form of your “proof of residence” will depend on the administration/legal situation in your country. Some countries have a system in place that will give you an official proof of residence (i.e. Germany or Austria), some countries don’t have anything like that (i.e. the UK). In case that there is no official register, you can also use (for example) utility bills showing your name and address as proof of address.
Note: The document must be in English.

38. I am in employment; do I need to provide a document from my workplace?
You can submit a certificate from your current occupation and/or any other certificate available to support your application. In general, relevant professional background may enhance candidate’s profile during his/her application.

39. As reference letters will be sent as separate email, will you inform the applicant if the recommending person has successfully submitted the letters? Who should be giving these letters?
No information will be communicated to the applicant on the receipt of the letters to ensure confidentiality. Referees should be academics and/or professionals.

40. Will you inform the applicant if anything is lacking in his application documents?
No, there will be no notification. Any incomplete applications will be rejected. For more information: http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/instructions/.

1. How many applicants have passed the selection process and how many of them will be admitted?
The number of applicants varies every year. Some applicants do not fill in the online form and thus are not considered. Some others do not meet the general requirements and are not considered as well. The number of admissions depends on each year batch, their level of competency and the minimum acceptable level for SMACCs.
So it is not possible to mention a number for this question.

2. I have applied for SMACCs and all my documents are complete. I have not been selected to undertake the programme despite the fact that I am a top student from a top university who meets all the requirements. I would like to know why I have not been selected in the final round and what my weak points are. Am I in the reserve list?
Selection criteria are mentioned clearly on the SMACCs website under the “Student admission”, Student admission criteria link
http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/admission-criteria.
The number of study places available for SMACCs is limited and the application process highly competitive. The merit ranking is based on a total evaluation of the following: university content of degree/s, study success, motivation letter, references, work experience, publications and proficiency in English.
Your application was evaluated together with a large number of applications of the highest qualification. Based on this evaluation, your qualifications were not competitive enough as compared to the others. Those who are accepted in the reserve list are informed about being in the reserve list but without their ranking place in the list as the European Commission does not allow Universities to provide candidates with this information.
Please note that this is an extremely competitive programme: fulfilling the eligibility criteria alone is not sufficient for a scholarship offer.
Please note as well that no more than 3 students from the same country or with the same nationality will be awarded an Erasmus Mundus scholarship in the same intake.

3. I have not been awarded an Erasmus Mundus SMACCs scholarship and could not find any fund for my studies yet. Is it possible to apply for the SMACCs Erasmus Mundus Programme in my condition?
Yes. You can apply for SMACCs as a self-financing candidate and if admitted, join the SMACCs programme.

1. How will I know if I have been admitted to the SMACCs Programme?
You will receive a notification of the status of your application by the SMACCs programme. Information about the deadlines for informing the applicants about their status can be found on http://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/deadlines/.

2. What if by May I have received no email?
Then you are an excluded candidate.

3. As an admitted candidate, what is the next step?
Admitted candidates will have to enrol in the program, following the guidelines provided by the secretary of the SMACCs programme.

4. Do I need health insurance?
The Consortium will pay the health insurance costs for all scholarship students. Self-financing students should arrange their own health insurance.

5. How can I arrange journey and accommodation?
All admitted candidates, both scholarship holders and self-financing, will be sent a specific Student’s handbook containing information on visa procedures, journey and accommodation arrangements, among others, that will help them prepare everything.

6. How will I be transferred the scholarship money?
The scholarship money will be transferred once you have arrived in Europe and have opened a bank account.
Candidates need to have a European bank account for the scholarship money to be transferred. Those candidates who do not have a European bank account shall open one upon arrival in Europe. Staff from the corresponding University will guide and help them in the process of opening one.

7. Haven’t found the answer you are looking for?
If you haven’t found the answer you are looking for or you still have doubts, please contact us at info@smaccs.eu.