Academic Year 2026/2027
TERRA will launch its first edition in the academic year 2026/2027 as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM), co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. Each academic year will start in September and run until July of the following year. Applications are organized into three calls, as shown below. Note that the EU Scholarships will be available only during the first call, therefore candidates seeking EU funding are strongly encouraged to submit their applications within this call. The TERRA Consortium also provides Consortium Scholarships, most of which will be available during the first call.
TERRA Consortium actively promotes gender balance in its selection process. Admissions are based on the merit and strength of each application, and in cases of equally ranked candidates, gender balance will serve as a deciding criterion. The Consortium is committed to achieving a minimum of 35% female participation across the five planned EMJM editions. Additionally, 5% of all EMJM and Consortium grants will be reserved for students with special educational needs. Applications for the first call of the academic year 2026/2027 will open soon. The programme includes three compulsory physical student mobility periods:
- Coursework mobility
- Integration week mobility (financially supported by the Consortium)
- Dissertation mobility
First Call
The first call is open to students of all nationalities. Every eligible application submitted to the TERRA Master programme within this period is automatically considered for both an Erasmus+ scholarship and a Consortium scholarship.
- Application deadline: February 15, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the application form available below.
- Notification of preselected candidates for interview: by February 28, 2026.
- Interviews: March 02-06, 2026.
- Notification of the Application’s admission: by March 31, 2026.
Second Call
The second call is also open to students of all nationalities. All eligible applications submitted within this period are automatically considered for a Consortium scholarship (if available).
- Application deadline: April 15, 2026.
- Notification of the Application’s admission: by May 15, 2026.
Third Call (optional)
The third call, if opened, is also available to students of all nationalities. Eligible applications submitted within this period are automatically considered for a Consortium scholarship (if available).
- Application deadline: June 15, 2026.
- Notification of the Application’s admission: by June 30, 2026.
Deposit
Selected applicants must bear in mind that confirming their acceptance automatically prevents other interested candidates from joining the Master programme, as the number of applications greatly exceeds the available places. To ensure fairness and commitment, the TERRA Consortium requires all selected applicants to pay a deposit of 250 euros to confirm their enrolment in the programme.
This deposit will be refunded upon registration at the first host university. Its sole purpose is to ensure that places are reserved only for students who genuinely intend to participate, thus preventing the exclusion of other qualified applicants.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for applicants wishing to enrol in the TERRA Master Course are a degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture or equivalent qualifications. Applicants are expected to have a higher education degree with a minimum of:
- Bachelor’s degree with 240 ECTS-credit points (typically equivalent to 4 years of study), or
- Bachelor´s and/or Master’s degree(s) with 300 ECTS-credit points (typically equivalent to 5 years of study). This requirement is mandatory for all students whose mobility track includes UNIFI.
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English. Applicants from non-English speaking countries are required to provide one of the following certificates:
- TOEFL certificate (paper-based): minimum score 525
- TOEFL certificate (internet-based): minimum score 72
- IELTS certificate (academic version): minimum score 6.5
- Other recognised certificates of English language proficiency
Students who have not yet completed their qualifying degree but expect to graduate before July 31, 2026, can apply and be considered for a grant. If selected, admission will be conditional upon submission of the official degree certificate to the TERRA Secretariat by August 10, 2026.
When applying, candidates must provide the following documents:
- Letter of motivation (between 1500 and 3500 characters, including spaces).
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae in European format (https://europass.europa.eu/en).
- Certificates and diplomas from previous university studies.
- Transcripts of records, including grades and course syllabi from previous university studies.
- English language proficiency certificates.
- Certificates of relevant work experience or other professional qualifications (if applicable).
- Two recommendation letters (submitted directly by the applicant through the application portal).
- Proof of residence (issued within 12 months before the submission deadline) – required only for the first call.
- Documentation of special educational needs, supported by a report from a specialist doctor and/or a statement describing the type of need and its implications for participation in activities across TERRA partner institutions.
Admission is subject to the approval of the TERRA Managing Board and is based on the applicant’s academic ability, motivation, recommendation letters and language proficiency.
Ranking of Applicants
The selection procedure will be carried out by the Consortium Management Board at UMINHO (Academic Committee). Only complete applications will be considered. All applications will be pre-screened for formal requirements. Applications meeting these criteria will then be evaluated by the EMJM Academic Committee. Applications will be assessed solely on academic merit, ability 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:
- Academic evaluation of each candidate’s curriculum, based on the information provided through the online Application System;
- Interview with the 40 to 50 highest-ranked preselected candidates.
The academic evaluation of the candidate’s curriculum is based on the following criteria:
- Previous higher education studies.
- Content and relevance of prior studies/quality of the awarding institution.
- Relevant professional experience.
- Recommendation letters.
- Motivation letter.
- Additional information (publications, awards, etc.).
Interviews will be carried out via videoconference. A maximum of 5-7 applicants per country will be invited to interview. The consortium will take measures to increase the participation of women and of underrepresented groups, ensuring that their merits are adequately assessed. Applicants will be ranked according to their total evaluation score. The Academic Committee will then propose the 40 to 50 best-ranked candidates to form the list of admitted and reserve students. This list will be submitted to the Consortium partners for approval. Following the partners’ review, the Consortium will finalise the list of admitted students and identify those proposed for Erasmus Mundus Scholarships or other available funding. After incorporating all feedback, a final ranking list and a reserve list will be prepared and submitted to the European Commission.
Language
The language of instruction and examination is English. All courses (including course material), examinations and academic counselling are provided exclusively in English.
Students are, however, encouraged to attend national language courses (Portuguese, Spanish, French or Italian) offered by their host institutions or by accredited external entities.
Participation Costs
The tuition fee for the TERRA Master programme is 9000 Euro. This amount covers the administrative and academic costs of the programme, including registration, enrolment, administrative support, access to university facilities and services, organisation of case studies, dissertation defence, and other expenses directly related to course delivery. It also includes health insurance. Participation costs cover only the administrative and academic expenses of the programme. They do not include costs associated with living, housing or travel. Based on information from www.numbeo.com, the average minimum monthly expenses (excluding accommodation) are approximately:
- 650 Euro in Guimarães (Portugal).
- 700 Euro in Valencia (Spain).
- 1000 Euro in Lyon (France).
- 950 Euro in Florence (Italy).
Accommodation costs also vary significantly but typically range between 300 and 600 Euro per month on average. Students are strongly advised to carry out a careful financial assessment of all related expenses before deciding to enrol in the TERRA Master programme.
Students Guides
The Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (www.em-a.eu) is committed to supporting prospective and current Erasmus Mundus students throughout their entire participation in the Erasmus Mundus Master programme.
Student Guides are currently being prepared and will be made available soon.
Application Form
Please complete the application form to apply for the TERRA Master Programme (first call for the 2026/2027 academic year).