Application
How do I apply?
Please follow the instructions provided in the applications tab.
Can I send my application by e-mail or regular mail?
No. Applications must be submitted using the online form at the applications tab (available only when a call is open).
Do I need to have a valid passport to apply?
If you are not from the EU/Schengen area, you must hold a valid passport on the date of application. The passport must be from the country you select as your nationality.
Do I need to translate degree certificates, transcripts and other academic records?
If your original degree certificates, transcripts or other academic records are written in English, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish or French, no translation is required. If these documents are issued in any other language, you must provide a certified English translation prepared by an officially recognised translator.
Do I need to write the CV and letter of motivation in English?
Yes, the CV and letter of motivation must be written in English.
Why are the email addresses of the recommenders (who issued the recommendation letters) requested?
You must provide the email addresses of your recommenders. If necessary, our platform will contact them directly to complete an additional online form. Please note that your application will only be considered completed once the recommenders have submitted this form.
What documents must I send by mail after being pre-selected for the Master programme?
Only eligible applicants who have been pre-selected will be required to submit hard copies of the following documents after the selection process:
- Scanned copy of national identity card (EU) / passport (non-EU).
- Letter of motivation.
- English language proficiency certificates.
- Academic degree certificates in the original language.
- Certified translations of academic degree certificates.
- Transcripts or other academic records.
- Certified translations of the transcripts or other academic records.
- Curriculum vitae.
Please note that your application will not be considered valid if any document is missing.
What documents can be used as proof of residency?
The following documents may be accepted as valid proof of residence:
- Official document issued by local authorities.
- Recent utility bill (gas, water, electric, landline phone, cable TV).
- For EU citizens only: bank statement or mobile phone bill.
- National ID (if the address is visible).
- Passport (if the address is visible).
- Driver’s license (if the address is visible).
- Any other official document showing your full name and current address.
All documents must be issued in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, or Italian, and dated within 12 months before the Erasmus Mundus scholarship application deadline.
If your proof of residence is not in one of the above languages, please include an explanation in English stating:
- the type of document (e.g. residence certificate, electricity bill);
- the name of the issuing institution;
- the date of issuance;
- the name and address of the person to whom the document belongs (and your relationship to that person, if it is not you).
How can my documents be certified?
All documents must be submitted as certified true copies. Certification can be carried out by embassies, the police, a notary public or a state or municipal administration agency.
Please note: after you have been pre-selected for the master programme, you will be required to send all certified documents by regular mail to the University of Minho.
Language Requirements
Why do I need to be fluent in English?
The TERRA programme is taught in English. Therefore, it is essential that students can understand lectures, read academic materials, express themselves clearly and write essays in English. This is why non-native speakers are required to provide proof of English language proficiency (see the Admission Requirements page for details on the minimum standards).
What are the language requirements?
The TERRA programme is taught entirely in English, and all applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency. Applicants who are not native English speakers, or whose previous degree was obtained from an institution where the language of instruction was not English, are required to submit official English language test results:
- TOEFL Paper Based Test: 525 or higher.
- TOEFL Internet Based Test: 72 or higher.
- Cambridge ESOL IELTS: 6.5 points or higher.
- Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): B2 or higher.
- Cambridge English Scale: 180 or higher.
- Cambridge English (First): Grade B or higher.
- Cambridge English (Advanced): Level B2 or higher.
- Cambridge English (Business Vantage): Grade B or higher.
- Cambridge English (Business Higher): Level B2 or higher.
- Duolingo English Test: 105 or higher.
- Other recognized language proficiency certificate.
The language proficiency certificate must be less than 3 years old.
If you don’t have an official English proficiency certificate but consider that your English knowledge is enough to enrol in an English taught Master programme, you may still apply anyway. A relevant declaration/proof should be attached anyway in the application form in the field “other recognized language proficiency certificate”.
Please consider that if you opt not to submit an official English proficiency certificate, this may result in a lower score during the evaluation process. In case an applicant not submitted a recognised English certificate reaches an eligibility position for scholarship or enrolment, an interview will be scheduled for verification and validation of the claimed English skills, to assess the validity of the score attributed.
How recent should my English language test be?
If you are currently a student, your English-language test should be relatively recent (3 years at the most). However, if you are not a student anymore and can prove you have been working in English recently (with a certificate from your working place), we will accept an older English-language test.
Can I submit my English certificate after the application?
We do not accept any certificate sent after the application deadline. If you fail to submit the English certificate this may determine a lower score during the evaluation process.
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
How can I be sure that I am eligible for an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship?
By default, all applicants are eligible for the TERRA Master’s course are also eligible for a scholarship. These are attributed on the basis of merit and excellence only. The number of Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is limited per year and country.
What are the “Programme countries”? What are the “Partner countries”?
The full lists of countries that are part of the Erasmus+ “Programme country” and Erasmus+ “Partner countries” are presented in the Scholarships tab.
What should I do if I am eligible for both categories of scholarships?
You can only be eligible for both categories if you have two or more nationalities. In that case, you will need to decide to which category you will apply for by selecting the nationality with which you want to apply.
Can I apply for a second Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
No. Candidates who have already benefited from an Erasmus Mundus scholarship are not eligible to receive a second one for participation in another Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme.
Do I lose the scholarship opportunity if I decide to enrol as self-funded?
In case you decide to enrol as self-funded, your application is not removed from the reserve list for the scholarships. Should there be a change in the status of your scholarship application, you will be informed.
What does the Erasmus Mundus scholarship include?
The Erasmus Mundus scholarship consists of two components:
- (i) contribution to participation costs (9,000 Euro)
- (ii) contribution to travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs (1,400 Euro per month for the duration of the Master programme, up to a maximum of 12 months)
Academic Requirements
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must hold a degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture or an equivalent qualification, with a minimum of 240 ECTS credits (typically equivalent to a 4-year Bachelor’s degree) or 300 ECTS credits (typically equivalent to a 5-year Master’s degree).
The latter requirement (300 ECTS credits) is mandatory if your mobility path includes UNIFI.
I have not finished my first degree course yet. Can I apply to the TERRA Master?
Yes. Students who have not completed their degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture or an equivalent field but expect to graduate before July 31 may apply for the Master course and be considered for a scholarship. If selected, admission will be conditional upon submission of the degree diploma by the MSc Secretariat by August 10.
Participation Costs
What are the participation costs?
The tuition fee for enrolling the TERRA programme is 9,000 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 dissertation defence, and other expenses directly linked to the organisation of the course) and the health insurance.
What do the participation costs cover?
The participation costs cover all mandatory programme activities and the required health insurance. They also include the registration and student service fees charged by the hosting universities. The participation costs do not cover accommodation, meals, travel expenses, or other personal living costs.
Does TERRA offer scholarships?
For the cohorts 2026/2027 to 2030/2031, TERRA offers two types of scholarships: (i) Erasmus Mundus scholarships and (ii) Consortium scholarships.
Please find details in the Scholarships tab.
How is health insurance covered?
Health insurance is provided for all students, both scholarship holders and self-funded students.
Other Questions
What is the Erasmus+ Programme?
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s flagship programme for cooperation and mobility in higher education, launched in 2004. Its overarching goal is to support lifelong learning and to foster the educational, professional, and personal development of individuals in the fields of education, training, youth, and sport, both in Europe and beyond. By doing so, Erasmus+ contributes to sustainable growth, quality employment, and social cohesion, while promoting innovation, a strong European identity, and active citizenship.
The Erasmus+ Programme has the following specific objectives:
- Promote learning mobility of individuals and groups, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training;
- Promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth;
- Promote learning mobility of sport staff, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies.
What is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) programme?
An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) is a prestigious, integrated international study programme delivered by a consortium of higher education institutions (HEIs) from different countries, and, where relevant, by other educational or non-educational partners with specific expertise in the relevant fields or professional domains.
Students must study in at least two countries within the consortium, ensuring a truly international learning experience.
EMJMs are programmes of excellence that foster cooperation and integration between universities and contribute to the internationalisation and quality of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The distinctiveness of EMJMs lies in their high degree of academic integration and joint delivery among partner institutions.
The EMJM initiative aims to enhance the attractiveness and excellence of European higher education worldwide, attracting top talent to Europe through a combination of:
- Institutional cooperation, showcasing European excellence in higher education.
- Individual mobility, offering EU-funded scholarships to the best students from around the world.
Can I work while attending the TERRA Master?
This is an intensive Master course with a fixed schedule for the morning lectures (3 hours) and the afternoon study work (5 hours). Therefore, it will be very difficult to combine regular work with participation in the master’s degree.
Will students be admitted annually?
TERRA admits students annually. The coursework starts every September.
Will applications be excluded because of the nationality?
TERRA accepts applications from around the world; there are no exclusions with regard to nationality or citizenship.
How long does the TERRA study programme take?
TERRA is a two-semester MSc programme, starting in September and running until late July of the following year. Students complete coursework during the first semester at one of the four partner institutions in the consortium and develop their Master’s dissertation during the second semester at another partner institution.
TERRA does not offer a PhD programme.
Can I change my mobility plan?
Changes to the mobility path defined by the Consortium and communicated to the applicant will not be accepted, unless for exceptional circumstances. Any student requesting a change must provide a well-justified written request before the start of the programme. Once the programme has begun, no changes will be permitted.
How is my application evaluated?
The ranking of the eligible applicants is based on the following criteria:
- Previous higher education studies.
- Content of the previous studies/quality of the institution.
- Relevant professional experience.
- Recommendation letters.
- Motivation letter.
Further Questions
Find more at European Education Area.