Read the website carefully to prepare and complete your application:

• Application procedure
• Selection procedure
• Participation costs
• Scholarships

The following documents must be uploaded on the online application tool:

• Copy of valid passport (with photo, date of expiry, and personal details / ID can be accepted for European students only)

• Curriculum Vitae (if possible in European Format, see the Europass Website)

• Letter of Motivation There is no minimum nor maximum length for the motivation letter. However the average is 1 to 2 pages. The letter should be addressed to the Bioceb Consortium. You should explain why you are applying to Bioceb, how it relates to your previous studies and/or projects, how it fits in with your future career plans, etc. This is an essential part of the application file, as it allows the evaluators to get to know you better, to find out whether you have understood Bioceb and whether you know how to integrate it into your future projects.

When applying to EMJM Bioceb, candidates express their mobility choices based on their preference for one of the five study track offered, in line with their professional goals, thereby developing the skills necessary to thrive in their future careers. The EMJM Bioceb includes compulsory physical mobility for all enrolled students (EMJM scholarship-holders or not) consisting of a minimum of two study periods (1 study period = 30 ECTS) in two countries, which must be different from the country of residence of the student at enrolment stage. The number of students that can be accepted into Bioceb universities/tracks is limited due to logistical and human resource constraints. As a result, candidates may be admitted to Bioceb but not to their first choices of tracks. The Bioceb Consortium will make the final decision and will communicate the mobility assigned to each selected student in the official Bioceb admission letter.

• Copy of Bachelor of Science (BSc) or equivalent (Scan of the official degree or temporary certificates required). If you have not yet completed your BSc, please upload a document from your university stating that you are following the last year of your BSc and the expected graduation date.

• Translation of Diploma(s) (official translation in English, if applicable)

This document is compulsory! If your Bsc is already in English, upload it again. You will not be able to validate your application without it. 

• Transcripts of academic records for each year of the BSc degree or equivalent (official signed and stamped transcripts with an explanation of the grading system, and, if applicable, an official translation in English)

• Recommendation letters: Two reference letters (signed and stamped, if possible, use the Bioceb template) by two different referees (University teacher, employer, internship supervisor...). Your referees will automatically receive the reference letter template once you have completed their email addresses in the application platform. The referees have to complete the letter and upload it by themselves to the application platform. Please also inform your referees that you are requesting a letter from them, and ask them to check their spam folders.

• Proof of English proficiency: Proof of English level ("B2 advanced level" according to CEFR, advanced).

Only these official English tests will be accepted:

– IELTS Academic with an overall minimum score of 6.5, and 6 for Writing.

– TOEFL:

• TOEFL iBT (Internet-base Test) with a minimum overall score of 92 and 22 for writing. TOEFL iBT® Home Edition test is accepted.
• TOEFL PDT (Paper-deliveredTest) with a minimum score of Reading 22, Listening 22, and Writing 24.
• Only TOEFL iBT or PDT tests are accepted, for example, TOEFL Essentials or TOEFL ITP tests are not accepted.

– Cambridge C1 Advanced/ C2 Proficiency:

• C1 Advanced (previously called Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE): A, B or C.
• C2 Proficiency (previously called Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE): A, B, C or Level C1.

– Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A): min overall score 62, and 54 for writing.

– An English language test is not required ONLY IF: you have earned a degree in an English-medium programme (a certificate from the university is required to prove this) at a Higher Education Institution of applied sciences in an EU/EEA country, or an English-speaking country with English as its official language.

• Proof of your Place of Residence at the time of application: a residence certificate following your municipality registration rules or a certificate from your place of work, study, or training issued by the employer or institution in question, in English (or officially translated into English) and not older than 12 months. This document is not part of the eligibility process, but is still absolutely necessary. If you are admitted, additional information may be requested.

• Copy of your High School Diploma and/or transcripts of records or equivalent, required to access University studies in the applicant’s home country (official translation in English, unless the document is in French, German, or Dutch).

• If needed, official documents for the past five years if they are not covered by your last diploma: please provide them year by year, in a single PDF (Official declaration of enrolment for higher education or university studies, original employment certificate - specifying occupation start and end dates, declaration of military service, etc.). Translation in English or French if needed.

• If needed: supporting documents for special needs (Ex: declaration of honor from a doctor, recent medical exam, etc.)

Contribution for individual needs can be allocated to students admitted to the Bioceb programme (with or without scholarship)

– with disabilities (e.g. long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments),

– certified by a competent national authority

– of such nature that the participation of the students to the EMJM Bioceb would not be possible without the special needs items or services

– to cover the cost ofs the acquisition of special items or services (e.g. assistance by third persons, adaptation of work environment, additional travel/transportation costs)

– the special needs items or services are not already covered from another source (such as social security or health insurance)

• If needed: supporting documents for socio-economic, social or political vulnerability

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration. Read carefully the list of documents and make sure you attach everything to your application, including translations.

NO DOCUMENT may be sent by post or email at that stage.

Your applications must be validated (the last thumbnail of the online application tool) to be considered. You can start an application folder and come back later to fill it and add documents.

The application process is extremely selective: only the best candidates will be admitted to the programme. A cohort is composed of a maximum of 25 students.

Eligibility criteria:

Applications are checked by the Bioceb secretariat. Incomplete applications and those sent after the deadline are rejected. All ineligible candidates are informed, with the reasons for their ineligibility, and may appeal if they believe that an error has been made or that their application has been unfairly prejudiced.

Minimum admission requirements:

Only students meeting the following formal admission requirements will be considered for the selection procedure:

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) or equivalent degree of at least 180 ECTS in engineering or science, including a strong background in at least one discipline related to biology: biotechnology, biochemistry, microbiology, biophysics, bioprocess engineering, molecular biology;

• Preferred but non-mandatory: a complementary background in chemistry, physics or environmental sciences;

• Demonstrated English language proficiency - B2 advanced

Selection criteria and procedure:

Students who meet the minimum admission criteria will then be assessed, as part of a two-stage selection process, by two members of the Bioceb selection committee on the basis of the following qualitative selection criteria:

Selection – first step:

1) Excellence : including: Relevance of the academic background, content of studies, GPA and University ranking (weight 35%)

2) Experiences and activities: including but not limited to: CV, internship, professional experience, conferences, mobility (weight 10%)

3) Motivation, based on the motivation letter: Why Bioceb? Future plans, personal attitude, team spirit (weight 20%)

4) Recommendation, based on the 2 reference letters (weight 10%)

Selection - second step:

Shortlisted candidates only will be invited to an interview with the Bioceb selection committee. Being interviewed does not mean that you will be selected.

5) Interview: motivation, language and communication skills, interpersonal skills (weight 25%)

This will be a short interview (around 20-30 minutes), face-to-face (by video conference) about the motivation and the choice of the study track.

Notification of application results

All applicants will be notified of the selection process results in April. Please check your spam folder.

Appeal Procedure:

Bioceb has an appeal procedure in place for candidates who disagree with their selection results. There are two possibilities for non-selection:

• your application was fairly assessed, but your application was not ranked high enough to be granted a scholarship

• your application was not fairly assessed

The appeal procedure cannot be implemented in the first case: an appeal is not a second chance. However, the appeal procedure is possible for the second case: it means that an error or an unfair bias has occurred. In this case, please provide details as to why you think an error happened. To use the appeal procedure, contact the Bioceb Secretariat bioceb@agroparistech.fr within the time limit specified in your email.

Privacy statement

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in the context of managing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, collects and processes the personal data of some of the candidates. In particular, certain data of the scholarship holders and non-scholarship holders is shared with the Agency and treated according to this privacy statement.